Not so long ago, it was hard to imagine Radio 4’s The Archers making headlines. The portrait of country life was better known for its iconic theme tune and reputation as an easy Sunday afternoon listen than it was for groundbreaking drama. Yet the domestic violence storyline between Helen and Rob Titchener – building up gradually over time, and coming to a dramatic climax this week – has changed that.
Reactions were divided between those who thought the programme had diverged too far from its prior tone, and those who were relieved to see the writers take on an issue that, after all, some estimates suggest one in four women will have to deal with in their lifetime.
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