The Archers is the BBC's longest-running serial, much loved by millions of fans who weave its story-lines and characters into the fabric of their own lives. When major crises occur, like the death of Nigel Pargeter, the audience is in uproar. In the last year, the serial - under its new editor - has provoked much comment from listeners about dramatic stories, character changes and especially the possible move of the Archer family from Brookfield Farm. In this lively and light-hearted discussion, one of the main characters, David Archer (Tim Bentinck) and two of the show's scriptwriters, Mary Cutler and Keri Davies, will discuss the serial's popularity, how they feel about the saga, and how they deal with the passions and prejudices of its fans. Also joining the discussion is Archers fan and award-winning author Helen Dunmore.

Chaired by Helen Taylor, there will be lots of time for audience questions and participation.

Speaker's Biographies

Timothy Bentinck is best known as the voice of David Archer in the BBC Radio series, The Archers. He is also an accomplished stage, film, radio and television actor. From the swashbuckling Tom Lacey in the 80s series By The Sword Divided to starring with David Jason in 2012's The Royal Bodyguard, he has recently featured in Twenty Twelve, The Politician's Husband, Eastenders, Lucan, Gangsta Granny and The Game. He starred as a bank robber in the short film Locked Up, which won Best Short Film at last year's Lanzarote Film Festival. He trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Follow him on Twitter @timbentinck

Mary Cutler has been a scriptwriter for The Archers since 1979. She has dramatised five of Lindsey Davis' Falco novels for Radio 4, and three dramatic series - Live Alone and Like It, Three Women and a Boat and Three Women and a Baby - for Women's Hour. She has also written for the stage and television.

Keri Davies has worked on The Archers as a producer, senior producer and web producer. Since 2003, he has been an Archers scriptwriter. He has directed over 700 episodes, including the notorious armed raid on the village shop, and has written over 300 scripts, including in 2015 Eddie Grundy trying to pass himself off as an eccentric millionaire. He created and wrote ten editions of the pocket guide Who's Who in The Archers. He was also on the team that established The Archers' sister programme Ambridge Extra, and wrote scripts for the first three series. Follow him on Twitter @keridavies

Helen Dunmore is a poet, novelist, short story and children’s writer. She has published thirteen novels and three books of short stories, including Zennor in Darkness (1993), winner of The McKitterick Prize, and A Spell of Winter(1995), winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction. Her latest novel, The Lie, was shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction and the Royal Society of Literature’s Ondaatje Prize. Her poetry collections have been awarded the Poetry Book Society Choice and Recommendations, the Cardiff International Poetry Prize, the Alice Hunt Bartlett Award and the Signal Poetry Award. Bestiary was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize. She reviews for The Times and the Guardian. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Helen Taylor is Professor of English, and Humanities Arts and Culture Fellow, University of Exeter, as well as Honorary Fellow of the British Association of American Studies. She has published widely on women writers and the literature and culture of the American South, and is writing a book about women's memories and experiences of reading fiction.

This is a Festival of Ideas event.

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