News
The Duchess of Cornwall visits BBC Birmingham to meet cast and crew of The Archers
16th February 2011
The Duchess of Cornwall admitted to being a huge fan of BBC Radio 4 show The Archers during a tour of its studio in Birmingham today.
Her Royal Highness, who admitted she cried when character Nigel Pargetter, played by Graham Seed, died in January, said of the BBC Radio 4 show: "I couldn't do without it."
The soap is celebrating its 60th year, making it the world's longest-running drama.
During a two-hour visit to BBC Birmingham, where the programme is recorded, The Duchess, who will be appearing in the programme as herself in this evening’s episode, met some of The Archers cast and tried out a couple of the sound effects used in the studio, joking "You have got a lot of ding dongs here" as she rang a doorbell.
Speaking after her tour, she said: "As a self-confessed Archers addict it has been a fix for me to be here today. I am so excited to meet everybody and put names to faces.
"I just really wanted to thank everybody for giving me such enjoyment."
The Duchess said she had been a fan of the show for more than 30 years, even making an effort to keep up with the plot while on official engagements oversees.
She said: "I couldn't do without it. In some very tricky situations abroad, I have just switched on The Archers and it has made me feel a lot better. I just hope the next 60 years are as successful.
"I just want to say a very Happy Birthday and thank you very much."