Archer’s fans have jumped to the defence of their favourite series following claims that it does not actually follow the lives of people in the country but is fabricated in a Birmingham inner city studio.
“It’s laughable” said Doris Haversham, a fan of the series for more than 40 years “These are real people living real lives in the beautiful village of Ambridge. How on earth could they milk a cow or use a combine harvester in a tiny studio? It’s simply ridiculous.”
Rumours first started to circulate on Twitter and Facebook after tenant farmer Ed Grundy was allegedly seen shopping in Harvey Nicholls in Birmingham’s Mail Box shopping centre, close to the BBC studios. Hundreds of Tweeters joined in the conversation “He’s not a fucking farmer” said @knobhead “He’s got a penthouse suite in Edgbaston” said @jprescott.
Further fuel was added to the fire when he was seen entering the BBC studios with his best mate Jazzer who was carrying a small yellow Selfridges’ bag. They were also spotted together in the Chinatown area of the city at ‘Lovely Garden Fingers & Brows’. “Just seen the bloody poofs having a manicure” said @prettyinpink.
A spokesman for the Archers said, “These conspiracy theories have been circulating for a long time. There will always be Archers Deniers; it goes with the territory, which is about 1200 acres just off the A38.”
Columnist, Julie Birchall a long time follower of The Archers said “Viewers and listeners are basically lazy bastards these days. They’ve been spoon fed a bit too much Jordan and Katona and overdosed on Essex. If it’s outside their own take on reality they refuse to believe it’s true.”
Another lifelong fan 99 year old Albert Aspell commented “I’ve actually been on the coach trip to Ambridge and Borsetshire and can confirm that the Snells, the Grundys and the wonderful Archer clan are respectable country folk eeking out a living on the land and taking time out to do a bit of recording. Mind you I didn’t see the gay ones when I was there, good job really or I might have had something to say. You don't ever put all your bulls in one field if you know what I mean”