Archers target 50th birthday

Phil and Jill Archer (Norman Painting and Patricia Greene) have a big decision

The Archers will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a double episode of the soap on New Year's Eve and a programme featuring tributes from celebrity fans.

Listeners will finally learn who is to inherit Brookfield Farm, the home of Phil and Jill Archer, ending the year-long speculation.

A BBC spokeswoman said various possible storylines were being considered for the special, ranging from a happy ending to disaster, but Phil will definitely make a big decision about the farm.

The soap was first broadcast on January 1, 1951 and is the longest running on either TV or radio, attracting a weekly audience of 4.5 million listeners.

It was originally the brainchild of civil servants at the Ministry of Agriculture who hoped the programme would encourage people back to farming after the war.

It was promoted as "an everyday story of countryfolk" but tips and advice about changes in agriculture were woven into storylines.

To celebrate the programme's birthday a raft of programme devoted to the soap will also be broadcast.

Some of the soap's biggest fans, including EastEnders actress Wendy Richard and comedian Victoria Wood, will speak about the show in five programmes, called Letters to Ambridge.

A special edition of BBC Radio's Archive Hour on 30 December will be devoted to the history of The Archers and Radio 4 will play classic moments from the series in between programmes during the week between Christmas and the New Year.