Podcast
The Archers
Hosted by BBC Radio 4 · EN
Contemporary drama in a rural setting.
137episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
08/06/2026
Jun 800:13:02Tap to summarizeAfter conducting pregnancy tests on the Brookfield cows Alistair chats to David about the poisonous atmosphere at Home Farm, wondering if David might be able to soften Brian’s hardline stance. When David mentions trade stand bookings for the Borchester Show are right down Alistair says a client complained about the payment system on the showground last year. David says he’ll investigate, before Alistair chases up numbers for the minibus trip to the Women’s T20 World Cup on Friday. Amber’s pleased by the uptick in social media engagement for the Borchester Show since she took over strategy from George. The money they earn will help cover the cost of all the baby gear they need. David calls, asking Amber to use her contacts at Farm Supplies to find out why trade stand bookings are down, and to target local businesses with positive messaging. Later, Amber and George are able to confirm the slow wi-fi led to payment difficulties last year, putting businesses off booking again. David vows to try and fix it. Stella enthuses about wedding preparations to distracted Pip, who’s waiting for the call from a genetic counsellor. After several false alarms Pip finally speaks to the counsellor, then later tells Stella about the issues they covered, including potential risks to having children in future. Stella suggests focusing on the next step and Pip says she’s agreed to take the private BRCA gene variant test. It’s hard, but once Pip’s done the test, they’ll know for sure without having to wait for Ruth’s NHS referral, which she hasn’t even asked for yet.
Transcribe →07/06/2026
Jun 700:13:04Tap to summarizeHelen’s having a hard time concentrating on the cheese-making demonstration she’s giving as part of Open Farm Sunday, so Tracy steps up and smooths things over. Helen is tired after moving into her new house yesterday, but grateful for the help she received from neighbour Tracy and family. Susan then steps in to do the next demonstration with Tracy. Later, Tracy and Susan relax in the Tearoom, wondering why Jim has stopped his newspapers and taken his name off the volunteer rota. Susan acknowledges Tracy has borne the brunt of the burden caring for Bert. They’re surprised he’s lasted this long at Clive’s. Helen comes in, pleased the day has been so successful, then pushes Tracy for an answer to her offer of full-time work in the Dairy. Tracy promises to let her know soon.Ed finds Adam is already doing some jobs that Brian asked him to do at Home Farm. Ed feels awkward, but Adam suggests a different job and gives Ed further instructions for the rest of the week. Catching Ed later Brian is put out to discover that Adam has countermanded his instructions with an alternative schedule for Ed’s work. Adam defends his actions before telling Brian that Martyn wants to talk about the Borchester Land contracts on Wednesday. Brian reluctantly agrees to a time. Having discovered they’ve paid a bill twice Adam asks Brian to leave all invoices, ordering and scheduling to him, while the partnership is still in charge, whether Brian likes it or not.
Transcribe →05/06/2026
Jun 500:13:11Tap to summarizeAfter a sleepless night, Ian worries over his temporary promotion and Adam despairs over Brian’s chaotic rule at Home Farm. Adam reckons his lawyer thinks their case -that Brian’s incapable of managing the farm - isn’t watertight. Brad and Zainab catch up at Grey Gables, where Zainab confesses to missing Fletcher, the budgie. After a strange staff meeting, they question Ian’s mad new management style, while Zainab admits she lied during Ian’s team bonding activity. Later, Brad asks for advice as George wants to name his baby Brad, if it’s a boy. It feels wrong to Brad, but he supposes he’ll get used to it.When Adam turns up for work at Home Farm, Brian warns he’s not welcome, having been fired by email with immediate effect. Adam insists his contract is with the partnership and goes off in the Land Rover to spray the barley. Martyn catches Adam, who’s parked up complaining to Ian about Brian’s behaviour. Martyn’s concerned by the wild rumours flying round about Home Farm and needs to know if it will affect BL’s contract. Then a police officer comes up looking for Adam, while he’s trying to reassure Martyn. The Land Rover’s been reported stolen by a Mr Aldridge and Adam named as the thief. After calling Brian to clarify the situation PC Trueman advises the pair to resolve the issue between them. Adam then tells Martyn that Brian has lost the plot. Martyn decides this has gone far enough and resolves to call a meeting between them as soon as possible.
Transcribe →04/06/2026
Jun 400:13:11Tap to summarizeZainab moans to Akram that she wouldn’t have brought Khalil tickets to the T20 if she’d known how much he’d keep talking about cricket. They discuss work – Zainab’s finding Ian easier to work for than Dane, but Akram feels Bridge Farm rather dismissed his idea for a care farm. Helen tells Tom the farmer accepted their offer for the Monteys: all ten of them. Tom can’t believe Helen went back on her word, but Helen’s convinced it will be good for the farm and asks Tom to be pleased for her. Helen asks Akram to help in the dairy. Akram’s willing to help, but only as a one-off – working in the dairy isn’t the reason why he came to Bridge Farm. Helen then explains why Akram’s care farm idea wouldn’t have worked. Later, Akram talks to Tom about Bridge Farm’s increased focus on dairy, which Helen’s just told him about. Annoyed by Helen seemingly taking control of the farm’s direction Tom starts arguing with her, but Helen walks away. Akram then suggests to Tom that the reason Tracy hasn’t agreed to more hours may be down to how it feels working at Bridge Farm.At the end of their long days Akram and Zainab decompress, with Zainab wondering whether work should be fun. Akram confesses he’s happiest working with the land, but maybe he should return to plumbing. Zainab reminds him of his own advice to follow his dream, and stick to the path, even when it’s crooked. Akram is grateful for a daughter like her.
Transcribe →03/06/2026
Jun 300:12:52Tap to summarizeNatasha helps Helen pack clothes ahead of moving to 5 The Green. Henry’s become very organised, labelling all his boxes, whilst Jack is less helpful. They talk about the dairy and Helen’s excitement over expanding her herd. Natasha confesses she’s almost jealous of Helen’s enthusiasm. Driving to Shropshire, Tom points out the irony of using the money from selling retired Tony’s Anguses to buy Montey’s from another retired farmer. Helen points out how they’re saving money by not having to bring them over from France. They then admire the cows in the field and Helen tries to persuade Tom to buy the full herd of ten. Tom points out their mobile dairy would struggle to handle the extra cows and Helen reluctantly agrees to only buy the six they came for. Later, while chatting over a cup of tea, enthusiastic Natasha confesses she has a new business idea for Bridge Farm, to branch out into Botanicals and organic skincare. It could finance sending the twins to private school. Helen tells her to go for it, if that’s what they want to do. When Rex catches Alice at The Stables, they agree neither wants to break up. Rex then apologises for what he said to Brian. Alice doesn’t know the specifics, so Rex tells her everything. Recalling their fight on Sunday, Alice says she’s inherited the Aldridge habit of lashing out. Rex admits to his own flaws and they agree to put it behind them, before Rex reveals his dad texted him, asking to meet Alice. Would she be up for that?
Transcribe →02/06/2026
Jun 200:13:08Tap to summarizeWhen Alice bumps into Ed in the village shop, she inquires if Ed would be available for extra hours at Home Farm. Ed says he’ll let her know after talking to Emma. As Will and Eddie admire Ed’s Texels, Will warns Ed to stay out of the Aldridge family drama, but Eddie reckons Ed should just keep his head down and take the money. Ed says he’d only go back if the hours were flexible enough to allow him to continue with the tree surgery. George then convinces Ed to be in a social media video on selecting a sheep for Borchester Show. Will and Eddie then heckle awkward Ed, before George banishes them until the filming’s done. Finding Rex on Alice’s doorstep, Brian confesses the last time he spoke to Alice it didn’t end well. He starts rambling on about her, before Rex cuts him off. Rex thinks it’s inappropriate for Brian to be saying this stuff to him, pointing out that Brian’s ego is a major source of the Aldridge family problems. Rex continues that he knows about fathers who insist on always getting their own way, calling Brian out when Alice appears. Brian and Alice both hate all the fighting, and Brian wants things to go back to normal. Alice insists that Brian cannot run Home Farm alone and says she’s found someone who could help. To her surprise, Brian agrees to give Ed a chance. Later, Ed visits the Nest, telling Alice he’ll take the extra hours subject to agreeing suitable pay and flexibility.
Transcribe →01/06/2026
Jun 100:12:53Tap to summarizeAt Berrow farm, Ian nervously rambles to Martyn Gibson before apologising for yelling at him yesterday. Martyn accepts and agrees to not escalate his complaint further, as his brunch date wasn’t going well anyway. Seeing the pressure of his role on Ian, Martyn offers his advice on working in management over coffee. As they talk about managerial techniques and goals for Ian, Martyn plays bingo with cliché phrases.Tom is admiring climate-controlled greenhouses online and planning to futureproof Bridge Farm. Natasha encourages him to talk to Helen, but Tom doesn’t want to pitch his ideas until Helen has moved house this weekend. Natasha raises Loxley Barratt School’s negative Ofsted report and how Helen wants Tom and Natasha involved in the PTA when Seren and Nova start in September. As they start to mention considering sending them elsewhere, Pat turns up with the twin’s missing water bottles. Later, Pat and Tom are working in Bridge Farm’s garden as they admire how all the planting is coming together. Pat mentions the Ofsted report to Tom, who lets slip they’re looking at alternative options to Loxley Barratt. Pat is outraged at the idea of sending the girls to private school and questions how they would even afford it. Following an appointment at a local Pre-Prep school, Tom and Natasha feel deflated by the cost involved and Natasha suggests a loan or even selling her Summer Orchard business to cover it. Tom takes this as motivation to push on with expanding his veg business through buying a new greenhouse.
Transcribe →31/05/2026
May 3100:12:58Tap to summarizeAlice is waiting for Rex to take her on a date whilst Adam tells her how he was sacked by email by Brian. Alice is horrified, but Adam states as the Partnership employs him, not Brian, he will continue to work. Rex arrives and encourages Adam to drop by The Bull later, as rumours of the Aldridge family’s falling out have spread through the village. Later, Alice is ordering lunch at the Bull, when Martyn Gibson comes in complaining about Ian’s service at Grey Gables. When Adam turns up for a drink, Alice tries to warn him before Martyn Gibson asks Adam for a word. Martyn praises Ian’s talent as a chef but questions his management skills, before asking about the rumours of Home Farm.When passing by Home Farm, Stella sees Brian struggling with a drench backpack. She offers to assist with the yearlings as it’s a lovely day and she’s concerned for him. Brian insists he’s fine and feels better reclaiming the farm as solely his. Brian and Stella work well as team, when Brian asks if Stella would ever consider coming back to Home Farm? Stella quickly shuts that down, but Brian notes that Stella will have her own farm once she’s married Pip. On the way home, Stella bumps into Alice and asks what is Brian thinking? Alice decides to find someone to help him on the farm. Rex tries to invite Alice back to the boat, but they start to fight as she insists she’s not good company right now.
Transcribe →29/05/2026
May 2900:13:08Tap to summarizeLilian admits to Adam in The Bull that her conversation with Brian had been frustrating. In a parallel universe, Brian and Jennifer would be celebrating their Golden Wedding and things would be better. Lilian had checked on Ruairi yesterday and he’s doing better away from Ambridge. Adam discretely confides that he knows about Ruairi, George and the cover-up. Lilian assures Adam that Brian really does love him and Debbie but Adam refutes this. Ian’s being hounded, because of being on the PTA, by parents worried about the OFSTED report. But he can’t help them, he’s not a governor. He confirms that Kate’s taking some shifts at Grey Gables – she’ll either be brilliant or a nightmare. Adam receives an email from Brian– he’s been sacked! He’s not to set foot on Home Farm. He reassures Ian that he has a plan; with the backing of a lawyer he’s going to invoke the mental incapacity clause in the partnership agreement.At Glebe Cottage, Carol tells Anna over dinner that she doesn’t want her to put her life on hold – she knows she has no room for a private life. Hopefully the impressive care assessor will be able to suggest more support. Carol confesses that she feels useless, but that she’s still capable, curious and interested. Conversation turns to Richard but Carol doesn’t see the point of talking about her son. Anna suggests they do something in his memory. Carol softens and, unusually, praises Anna. Although she resists losing autonomy, she appreciates how much her daughter does for her – she’s grateful.
Transcribe →28/05/2026
May 2800:12:54Tap to summarizeAt Kirsty’s first appointment, the midwife advises that based on her previous history and being an older mum, her care will be consultant led. Anything that’s not right should be picked up early. Upset, Kirsty just wants to know that this time the pregnancy will go well. Back at Willow Farm she decides to excitedly confide in Kate that she’s 10 weeks pregnant with Erik’s baby. She wishes she was at 40 weeks already. Although Kate offers cautious optimism, Kirsty repeats her worry – why did her last pregnancy go wrong and what can she do to stop this happening again?Natasha spots some of Tony’s unused tools in the packing shed and wonders if she could sell them online and split the proceeds. She’s stopped in her tracks by the pre-school group chat – Loxley Barrett has received a negative OFSTED report. Tom advises her not to panic – after all Martha, Rosie, Xander and Jack are all doing well there. Natasha feels Nova would be fine anywhere, but Seren lacks confidence and they can’t afford for her to be overlooked in a stretched school. On calling the school, Natasha’s appalled to hear that the head is on long – term sick leave and the deputy did not defend the report. They need to start researching other options, even if they have to travel. She brings up the question of private schools – but how would they afford that, especially for twins? Tom suggests taking one step at a time – and to avoid telling Pat, who has strong opinions on private education.
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