It's supposed to be a series on an agricultural theme,

[Gilps]

Archers listeners not happy about the affairs and the gayers

 

BBC Radio 4's soap opera The Archers has lost nearly 200,000 listeners in the last year after featuring controversial storylines.

Recent plots included an extra-marital affair and a civil partnership ceremony between two gay characters.

 

Industry figures reveal the show has lost 197,000 of its 4.4 million weekly listeners over the past 12 months.

 

Overall, listening figures for radio reached a record high, with more than 45 million people tuning in each week.

 

It is the highest number ever recorded, since Rajar began monitoring the nation's listening habits in 1992.

 

It is thought the growing number of people using the internet, digital television, and mobile phones has contributed to the popularity of radio increasing.

 

BBC director of audio and music Jenny Abramsky said: "It proves that radio still plays an incredibly important part in people's lives."

 

Listener complaints

 

Listeners bombarded Radio 4 with complaints when Ruth Archer cheated on her husband of 18 years with Sam the herdsman.

 

"I thought The Archers was supposed to be a radio series on an agricultural theme, not an audio version of a Jackie Collins novel," one wrote on the Radio 4 website.

 

Figures for another high-profile Radio 4 show, Desert Island Discs, also dipped slightly, with 2.54 million people tuning in, compared with 2.69 million last year.

 

Kirsty Young took over from Sue Lawley as host of the programme in October.

 

But a BBC spokesman said: "The figures for Desert Island Discs are steady. It is normal for them to fluctuate slightly."

 

Radio 2 remains the nation's favourite station with an audience of 13.27 million.

 

Among its big names, that c*** Terry Wogan attracts 7.98 million listeners each week for his breakfast show, while the inexplicably still employed Steve Wright's afternoon programme pulls in 6.51 million listeners.

 

On Radio 1, breakfast presenter Chris Moyles is heard by 6.82 million idiots each week.

[charlie clown]

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Edited February 1, 2007 by charlie clown

[ManxRed]

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[Coyler]

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