Arena: The Archers

To mark its 56th year on the air, Arena investigates the enduring appeal of Radio 4's rural soap, which began in 1951 as a public service programme to help Britain's beleaguered post-war farmers get back on their feet. The everyday tale of Borsetshire folk has evolved slowly over the years, and reached new heights in November 2006 with its 15,000th episode about the love triangle of David and Ruth Archer and herdsman Sam Batton, which prompted 1.2 million hits on the official Archers website from distraught and incensed devotees. Actors, fans, editors and writers share their affectionate memories of a national treasure. Part of Radio Week