The Archers: The history of the longest-running soap

Nigel marries Elizabeth at St Margaret's Church, Hanbury

The Archers, which marked its 60th anniversary episode by killing off a major character, has close links to Worcestershire.

The drama unfolded during a new year's party hosted in the fictional village by Nigel Pargetter and wife Elizabeth.

It ended with Nigel falling off the roof of Lower Loxley Hall while trying to untie a banner.

Several of the locations in the mythical county of Borsetshire, where the soap is set, can be easily linked to real Worcestershire places:

• The Bull, Inkberrow claims to be The Bull, Ambridge.
• St Margaret's Church, Hanbury, has been used as St Stephen's Church, Ambridge, in publicity shots.
• Hanbury Hall in Worcestershire is linked with Lower Loxley Hall in Ambridge.
• The Blackberry Line, which features in The Archers, bears more than a passing resemblance to the Severn Valley Railway.
• The church bells of St Mary The Virgin, Hanbury, have been used in programme.

Archers archive photos

Chris Gittins as Walter Gabriel, photographed in 1985.

These pictures, dating right back to the early 1950s, show many of the best-loved characters who've featured in The Archers.

They include Walter Gabriel, Tom Forrest, and Dan and Doris Archer.

There are also some great shots of some of the celebrity appearances on the Archers, including Princess Margaret, Dame Judi Dench and Terry Wogan.

In pictures: Archive Archers

VIDEO: Terry Wogan on The Archers

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The Archers: Terry Wogan appears

VIDEO: Norman Painting tribute

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The Archers: Norman Painting tribute

VIDEO: The Archers at 50

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The Archers: The 50th anniversary