Ambridge Extra is an extension of the long-running radio drama The Archers. It began broadcasting sporadically on the digital radio station BBC Radio 4 Extra from 5 April 2011. The programme ran for five series, before it was "rested".
Ambridge Extra ran in addition to The Archers and gave an insight into other areas of the characters' lives.[2] 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."[3] He stated that the team wanted the series to be accessible for people who had never listened to The Archers before.[3]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.[2] The programme was broadcast on Tuesday and Thursday with an omnibus on Sunday, all following The Archers on Radio 4.[4]The Archers theme tune "Barwick Green" was re-arranged for Ambridge Extra, and was performed by folk group Bellowhead.[5]
The first series of Ambridge Extra ran for 13 weeks (26 episodes) from April through to June 2011.[4] A second 13-week series began airing from 4 October 2011 at 2.15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.[6] It was produced by Sara Conkey and Rosie Boulton.[7]Ambridge Extra was recommissioned for a third series, which began airing from 3 July 2012.[8] A fourth series was broadcast from 4 December 2012.[9] When the fifth series of Ambridge Extra began on 2 July 2013,[10] there was much criticism over key scenes appearing in the show rather than The Archers.[11]
On 30 January 2014, it was confirmed that Ambridge Extra would not be returning for a sixth series and was going to be "rested".[12] Anita Singh from The Daily Telegraph reported that the show was "highly unlikely" to return.[12] 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."[12]
Reception
Listener response to the early episodes were largely negative.[13][14][15] 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".[13] The show was nicknamed AMEX by listeners.[5] 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.[12]
References
^Davies, Keri (5 August 2013). "New Archers editor announced". BBC. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
^ ab"About Ambridge Extra". BBC Radio 4 Extra. 16 May 2011. from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
^ abStimpson, Tim (5 April 2011). "Ambridge Extra, by the writer of the first episode". BBC. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
^ abDavies, Keri (16 March 2011). "Ambridge Extra on BBC Radio 4 Extra". BBC Archers website. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
^ abAnita Singh (5 April 2011). "Folk-rock Archers theme tune fails to charm listeners". The Daily Telegraph.
^"Network Radio BBC Week 40: Tuesday 4 October 2011". BBC Press Office. BBC. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
^Davies, Keri (27 September 2011). "Ambridge Extra returns". BBC. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
^"Ambridge Extra". Radio Times. Immediate Media Company Limited. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
^"Returns in December". BBC. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
ambridge, extra, extension, long, running, radio, drama, archers, began, broadcasting, sporadically, digital, radio, station, radio, extra, from, april, 2011, programme, five, series, before, rested, logo, used, websitegenresoap, operarunning, time15, minutesc. Ambridge Extra is an extension of the long running radio drama The Archers It began broadcasting sporadically on the digital radio station BBC Radio 4 Extra from 5 April 2011 The programme ran for five series before it was rested Ambridge ExtraAmbridge Extra logo used on the BBC websiteGenreSoap operaRunning time15 minutesCountry of originUnited KingdomLanguage s EnglishHome stationBBC Radio 4 ExtraProduced byJulie BeckettSara ConkeyRosie BoultonEdited byVanessa WhitburnSean O Connor from mid September 2013 1 Recording studioBBC BirminghamOriginal release5 April 2011 2011 04 05 5 September 2013 2013 09 05 No of series5No of episodes112Audio formatStereophonic soundOpening theme Barwick Green arranged by BellowheadWebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 Overview 2 Reception 3 References 4 External linksOverview EditAmbridge Extra ran in addition to The Archers and gave an insight into other areas of the characters lives 2 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 3 He stated that the team wanted the series to be accessible for people who had never listened to The Archers before 3 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 2 The programme was broadcast on Tuesday and Thursday with an omnibus on Sunday all following The Archers on Radio 4 4 The Archers theme tune Barwick Green was re arranged for Ambridge Extra and was performed by folk group Bellowhead 5 The first series of Ambridge Extra ran for 13 weeks 26 episodes from April through to June 2011 4 A second 13 week series began airing from 4 October 2011 at 2 15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays 6 It was produced by Sara Conkey and Rosie Boulton 7 Ambridge Extra was recommissioned for a third series which began airing from 3 July 2012 8 A fourth series was broadcast from 4 December 2012 9 When the fifth series of Ambridge Extra began on 2 July 2013 10 there was much criticism over key scenes appearing in the show rather than The Archers 11 On 30 January 2014 it was confirmed that Ambridge Extra would not be returning for a sixth series and was going to be rested 12 Anita Singh from The Daily Telegraph reported that the show was highly unlikely to return 12 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 12 Reception EditListener response to the early episodes were largely negative 13 14 15 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 13 The show was nicknamed AMEX by listeners 5 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 12 References Edit Davies Keri 5 August 2013 New Archers editor announced BBC Retrieved 9 August 2013 a b About Ambridge Extra BBC Radio 4 Extra 16 May 2011 Archived from the original on 7 April 2011 Retrieved 16 May 2011 a b Stimpson Tim 5 April 2011 Ambridge Extra by the writer of the first episode BBC Retrieved 4 September 2013 a b Davies Keri 16 March 2011 Ambridge Extra on BBC Radio 4 Extra BBC Archers website Retrieved 16 March 2010 a b Anita Singh 5 April 2011 Folk rock Archers theme tune fails to charm listeners The Daily Telegraph Network Radio BBC Week 40 Tuesday 4 October 2011 BBC Press Office BBC Retrieved 30 September 2011 Davies Keri 27 September 2011 Ambridge Extra returns BBC Retrieved 3 April 2012 Ambridge Extra Radio Times Immediate Media Company Limited Retrieved 26 June 2012 Returns in December BBC Retrieved 22 September 2012 Brown David 29 June 5 July 2013 Ambridge Diary Radio Times Immediate Media Company Ltd 27 131 Furness Hannah 12 July 2013 Go digital or you will miss even more drama Archers fans warned The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 9 September 2013 a b c d Singh Anita 30 January 2014 Archers bosses axe Ambridge Extra from BBC Radio 4 Extra The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 30 January 2014 a b Vicki Power 6 April 2011 Ambridge Extra is a damp squib first review The Daily Telegraph Gonsalves Rebecca 6 April 2011 First Listen Ambridge Extra BBC Radio 4 Extra The Independent Archived from the original on 8 April 2011 Day Elizabeth 17 July 2011 Rewind radio Today The World at One PM Richard Bacon Ambridge Extra Bigipedia review The Observer External links EditAmbridge Extra at BBC Radio 4 Extra Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ambridge Extra amp oldid 1086701933, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
