I have followed The Archers since the late eighties and it is the only “soap” I follow.
However, I am really unhappy about the new storyline involving David & Ruth Archer and their family.
David is the main witness to an assault on his cousin and the gang involved are intimidating him to not give evidence. So far they have mutilated their lifestock, obtained the children’s mobile numbers and threatened them, shot out security lights, cause a stampede on an open farm day, opened gates allowing lifestock out, interfered with farm equipment and so it goes on.
While such things might be normal goings-on in Albert Square, this is NOT Ambridge. The storyline is unreal.
I have no problem with the original assault on Adam, but the intimidation is ridiculous.
Threats to witnesses happen to fewer than 1% of people and, even then, are firmly dealt with by the police and usually defused once and for all. Systems are also put in place by police to identify the culprits and further more serious charges brought. See police crime statistics.
This storyline is giving the impression that intimidation actually works and David has been put in the situation where his own mother and wife are pleading with him to cave in to this bullying.
What message does this send out to criminals – who also watch and listen to soaps, incidentally?
I don’t know whether there has been a change in writers for the Archers, but this is all way off normal Archers stories and someone needs to do something about making this particular storyline end quickly and effectively. To think that this nonsense might drag on until the September court case is anathema.
I cannot be the only person who feels like this. BBC take note. You are changing the character of your programme for the worse. There are a multitude of interesting rural and agricultural storylines which could be followed without inventing something so rare and so unrealistic as this.
Dare say the writers will do what they want anyway. Criminals must be getting some great ideas from this particular storyline.
BBC RESPONSE:
Thanks for contacting us regarding ‘The Archers’.
We understand you feel the current storyline with David and Ruth Archer is it too disturbing.
Soaps try to reflect as many aspects of modern life as possible, with stories ranging from social issues, to personal, human tragedy and light character comedy and humour.
That said, a programme which attracts as many listeners as this one inevitably appeals across a wide range of tastes and it’s impossible to please all the people all the time. We hope you continue to tune in and that you find there are storylines which you do enjoy in the future.
We’d like to assure you that we’ve registered your feelings on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily. It ensures that your points and all other comments we receive, are made available across the BBC.
Thanks again for taking the time to contact us.
Kind Regards
Michelle Wiggins
BBC Complaints
My further response:
Your response was “We understand you feel the current storyline with David and Ruth Archer is it too disturbing.” That was NOT my complaint.
The storyline is both idiotic in its rarity plus it encourages criminals to try their hand at intimidation. Only a fool believes that the Archers is not watched by people with trials coming up. When they hear what you are doing in the Archers, they will no doubt wonder if they could get their rape victim or burgled houseowner or victim of car theft to withdraw their story by telling them something bad will happen if they don’t.
Contrary to your response this is extremely rare in real life – as rare as a Jumbo Jet wiping out Grey Gables in a crash (for God’s sake don’t take that as an idea suggestion). It is such a stupid idea, too, because the police are not tapping the phone or giving it anything like the seriousness it deserves i.e. by putting up their own cameras, recording voices and liaising with the family.
I am not distressed by this storyline, I am very, very annoyed by the crass stupidity of it. IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN!
I don’t know if you have changed scriptwriters recently, but this is so out of character for the programme that it gives the distinct impression of a change of direction,
My complaint was obviously not read properly or understood for that quote from the response to be serious. Also the “is it” shows no care at all was taken in replying!!