The Archers cast angry as BBC scraps new Birmingham studio
Cast members of The Archers have spoken of their anger after the BBC dropped plans for a new Birmingham studio at the Tea Factory in Digbeth, a move that could lead to the long-running radio drama being recorded away from its home in the West Midlands.
The Archers cast angry as BBC scraps new Birmingham studio
Cast members of The Archers have spoken of their anger after the BBC dropped plans for The Archers Birmingham studio at the Tea Factory in Digbeth, a move that could lead to the long-running radio drama being recorded away from its home in the West Midlands.
What the BBC has decided
Staff were informed last week that the corporation had ditched plans for a new radio drama theatre at the Tea Factory in Digbeth, the site of its new Birmingham headquarters. The scrapped scheme formed part of the BBC's £500m cost-cutting drive.
Production staff will still move into the Tea Factory, but the BBC is now searching for an existing UK studio where The Archers could be recorded. The West Midlands is included in that search, though there is no guarantee the show stays in the region.
- The show has been based in the West Midlands since its launch 75 years ago
- Cast members met on Monday to discuss the announcement
Why Ben Norris says quality is at risk
Ben Norris, who plays Ben Archer in the world's longest-running soap opera, said the decision risked a real impact on the show's quality and an "extraordinary burden" on its crew. Under the current plans, production staff would work in a separate location from the actors recording the show.
He pointed to practical problems, including the need for last-minute script discussions and specific facilities. The Archers, he said, is recorded in a very specific way that is unlike almost all other audio drama, and few studios match its specifications.
...would need transporting, building and striking with any new space we travel to, placing an extraordinary burden on the technical team
That, he argued, would burden the technical team and incur extra cost.
Costs and regional commitments
Norris said he was told the additional cost of shipping people to a new location would cancel out the cost of building the new studio within five years, calling the plans classic short-termism that does not represent value for money for the licence fee payer.
He also argued the move contradicts commitments to the region. The cast, he said, has a big Midlands connection, with people who grew up, trained or live there. Day player roles often go to local actors, as with the writing and production teams.
In his words, the decision flies completely in the face of the BBC and the government's commitment to pursue as much regionality as possible.
Where the show goes from here
The cast is worried about the sustainability of the working model and the relationship between cast and crew, and Norris feared that at some point the show would suffer and listeners would perceive it. But he stressed the anger is not about resisting change.
This isn't us actors being averse to change
Rather, he framed the opposition as solidarity with production colleagues, and concern for quality, heritage and the BBC's promises to the region.
The performing arts union Equity has said it will oppose the BBC's plans. Meanwhile, BBC director general Matt Brittin said he met West Midlands mayor Richard Parker on Wednesday to explore opportunities to keep recording the show in the region.
