Ambridge Extra

Ambridge Extra ran in addition to The Archers and gave an insight into other areas of the characters' lives. Writer Tim Stimpson explained the show "should be a little extra gift to our regular Archers listeners, crafted with affection and giving them a new perspective on life in Ambridge." He stated that the team wanted the series to be accessible for people who had never listened to The Archers before.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thearchers/posts/ambridge_extra_by_the_writer_o|title=Ambridge Extra, by the writer of the first episode|last=Stimpson|first=Tim|date=5 April 2011|publisher=BBC|accessdate=4 September 2013}} Ambridge Extra featured a number of new or previously silent and minor characters from the main series and initially focussed on several of the younger characters.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/the-archers/content/ambridge-extra/|title=About Ambridge Extra |publisher=BBC Radio 4 Extra|date=16 May 2011|accessdate=16 May 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110407064054/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/the-archers/content/ambridge-extra/| archivedate= 7 April 2011 | url-status=dead}} The programme was broadcast on Tuesday and Thursday with an omnibus on Sunday, all following The Archers on Radio 4.{{cite news|last=Davies|first=Keri|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thearchers/2011/03/ambridge_extra_on_bbc_radio_4.html|title=Ambridge Extra on BBC Radio 4 Extra|publisher=BBC Archers website|date=16 March 2011|accessdate=16 March 2010}} The Archers theme tune "Barwick Green" was re-arranged for Ambridge Extra, and was performed by folk group Bellowhead.

The first series of Ambridge Extra ran for 13 weeks (26 episodes) from April through to June 2011. A second 13-week series began airing from 4 October 2011 at 2.15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/radio/2011/wk40/tue.shtml#tue_radio4extra|title=Network Radio BBC Week 40: Tuesday 4 October 2011|work=BBC Press Office|publisher=BBC|accessdate=30 September 2011|archive-date=8 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008050508/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/radio/2011/wk40/tue.shtml#tue_radio4extra|url-status=live}} It was produced by Sara Conkey and Rosie Boulton.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thearchers/2011/09/ambridge_extra_returns.html|title=Ambridge Extra returns|last=Davies|first=Keri|date=27 September 2011|publisher=BBC|accessdate=3 April 2012}} Ambridge Extra was recommissioned for a third series, which began airing from 3 July 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/q9hf8/ambridge-extra--series-3---episode-1|title=Ambridge Extra|work=Radio Times|publisher=Immediate Media Company Limited|accessdate=26 June 2012|archive-date=8 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008061855/http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/q9hf8/ambridge-extra--series-3---episode-1|url-status=live}} A fourth series was broadcast from 4 December 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zwn0j|title=Returns in December|publisher=BBC|accessdate=22 September 2012|archive-date=22 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922202536/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zwn0j|url-status=live}} When the fifth series of Ambridge Extra began on 2 July 2013,{{cite journal|last=Brown|first=David|date=29 June – 5 July 2013|title=Ambridge Diary|journal=Radio Times|publisher=Immediate Media Company Ltd|issue=27|page=131}} there was much criticism over key scenes appearing in the show rather than The Archers.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10177497/Go-digital-or-you-will-miss-even-more-drama-Archers-fans-warned.html|title=Go digital or you will miss even more drama, Archers fans warned|last=Furness|first=Hannah|date=12 July 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=9 September 2013|archive-date=20 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820203033/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10177497/Go-digital-or-you-will-miss-even-more-drama-Archers-fans-warned.html|url-status=live}}

On 30 January 2014, it was confirmed that Ambridge Extra would not be returning for a sixth series and was going to be "rested".{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10607929/Archers-bosses-axe-Ambridge-Extra-from-BBC-Radio-4-Extra.html|title=Archers bosses axe Ambridge Extra from BBC Radio 4 Extra|last=Singh|first=Anita|date=30 January 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=30 January 2014|archive-date=31 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131072307/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10607929/Archers-bosses-axe-Ambridge-Extra-from-BBC-Radio-4-Extra.html|url-status=live}} Anita Singh from The Daily Telegraph reported that the show was "highly unlikely" to return. The commissioning editor for Radio 4 Extra stated "Our Ambridge Extra decision won't impact on The Archers in any way, but across the BBC we are having to make tough financial choices and prioritise and protect the services and content that deliver the most value to audiences."

Listener response to the early episodes were largely negative.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/first-listen-ambridge-extra-bbc-radio-4-extra-2263666.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408075451/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/first-listen-ambridge-extra-bbc-radio-4-extra-2263666.html |archive-date=2011-04-08 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=First Listen: Ambridge Extra, BBC Radio 4 Extra|newspaper=The Independent|date=6 April 2011|first=Rebecca|last=Gonsalves}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/jul/17/rewind-radio-phone-hacking-coverage|title=Rewind radio: Today; The World at One; PM; Richard Bacon; Ambridge Extra; Bigipedia – review|newspaper=The Observer|date=17 July 2011|first=Elizabeth|last=Day|archive-date=18 July 2011|access-date=21 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718181021/http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2011/jul/17/rewind-radio-phone-hacking-coverage|url-status=live}} Vicki Power from The Daily Telegraph suggested that the series showed potential, but needed to include storylines that the main show could "not afford to ignore", suggesting that the current format felt like listening to "the reserve team".{{cite news|author=Vicki Power|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8429108/Ambridge-Extra-is-a-damp-squib-first-review.html|title=Ambridge Extra is a damp squib: first review|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=6 April 2011|archive-date=24 September 2015|access-date=21 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924224309/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8429108/Ambridge-Extra-is-a-damp-squib-first-review.html|url-status=live}} The show was nicknamed AMEX by listeners.{{cite news|author=Anita Singh|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8430362/Folk-rock-Archers-theme-tune-fails-to-charm-listeners.html|title=Folk-rock Archers theme tune fails to charm listeners|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 April 2011|archive-date=1 April 2025|access-date=21 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401130400/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8430362/Folk-rock-Archers-theme-tune-fails-to-charm-listeners.html|url-status=live}} It was also dubbed "Archers Lite". The show attracted an average audience of 250,000 listeners per week, compared with the main show's five million.

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• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zwn0j Ambridge Extra] at BBC Radio 4 Extra

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Category:2011 radio programme debuts

Category:2013 radio programme endings

Category:BBC Birmingham productions

Category:BBC Radio 4 Extra programmes

Category:The Archers