It was launched more than seventy years ago to tell the story of everyday country folk.
But now Radio 4’s The Archers has been branded ‘woke‘ and ‘offensive’ for broadcasting a storyline about Ramadan in the run up to the Christian festival of Lent.
Fans of the show which is set in the fictional English village of Ambridge are furious about the storyline which features local stalwart and practising Christian Lynda Snell fasting out of respect for Dr Azra Malik a local GP and her family who are Muslim.
One fan, who has been tuning into the show for more than sixty years, complained: ‘I never thought the BBC would impose their new woke policy on Ambridge.
‘Last week’s episode of the Maliks and Lynda sitting down to a Ramadan meal and prayers was a real low for me.’
In an episode broadcast on Monday 24 February local bed and breakfast owner Lynda, played by Carole Boyd, announced her intention to fast over the upcoming weekend.
She turned down an opportunity to participate in Shrove Tuesday because of the fast and then left her husband Robert in no doubt that she expected him to fast as well.
When he turned down a glass of wine over lunch, she told him: ‘I take it from that performance you are now onboard with Ramadan.’
In an episode broadcast on Monday 24 February local bed and breakfast owner Lynda, played by Carole Boyd, announced her intention to fast over the upcoming weekend
BBC Radio 4’s The Archers has been branded ‘ woke ‘ and ‘offensive’ for broadcasting a storyline about Ramadan in the run up to the Christian festival of Lent
When Lynda’s husband Robert turned down a glass of wine over lunch, she told him: ‘I take it from that performance you are now onboard with Ramadan’ (stock image)
In a subsequent episode broadcast on Sunday 2 March Lynda explained to her GP neighbour why she is participating in the Islamic tradition.
She said: ‘Well I feel any opportunity to expand the human experience develops character and deepens our understanding of our fellow travellers upon this earth.’
Later in the same episode Lynda shared an evening meal with the Maliks to mark the end of that day’s fast.
Lynda’s curiosity is sparked by the saying of prayers at the beginning of the meal.
She asked her hosts, ‘Are these words another prayer?’ before being told: ‘They are the words we say in Arabic before breaking fast.’
When Lynda remarks how beautiful the prayer is a member of the family translates the prayer into English.
Many Archers fans have welcomed the arrival of the Malik family into Ambridge.
But they say the idea that Snell, the village busybody, would suddenly fast for Ramadan is ridiculous.
Listeners who have complained to BBC Radio 4’s Feedback programme say the show should have concentrated on Lent not Ramadan.
One fan complained: ‘The idea that Lynda Snell would fast is nonsense’
Lynda turned down an opportunity to participate in Shrove Tuesday because of the fast and then left her husband Robert in no doubt that she expected him to fast as well
One fan complained: ‘The idea that Lynda Snell would fast is nonsense, it’s one thing to introduce them [the Malik family] to the village. No one could object to that. But the prayers and doctrine have no place in an everyday story of country folk.’
Another added: ‘While I am not offended by the Muslim characters observing Ramadan, I do find it offensive that two Christian characters are being woke by fasting alongside them.
‘This is supposedly a story of everyday country folk who live in a farming community and are not there to promote the BBCs woke identify.’
Several listeners said the show which has been on air since 1951 was guilty of sidelining Christianity.
One said: ‘I am shocked that during the time of Lent – a time that is sacred to followers of Jesus Christ – there is no mention at all of our Christian religion during this important period. It’s very upsetting that the programme supports Ramadan but absolutely sidesteps any mention of Lent. BBC bias? I think so.’
One orthodox Christian, who fasts over Lent told the BBC’s Feedback programme: ‘I am all in favour of diversity and explaining about Ramadan in this context but what about mentioning it is also Lent’
Meanwhile, Ann Widdecombe, the former Home Office minister, who is a practising Christian, said: ‘I haven’t got any objections to a Muslim family moving into Ambridge, but this storyline is just the BBC being achingly politically correct. Of course they won’t do Christian prayers. Of course they won’t embrace Lent in the same way. This is the BBC all over.’
And Jeremy Black, the historian and author of A History of the British Isles, said: ‘While millions of British Muslims celebrate Ramadan, such activity is scarcely typical of rural life in agricultural areas. To imply otherwise is to misrepresent British society and in particular to downplay the salience of Christianity in these areas.
‘If the Archers wished to focus on their seasonal religious life, then Lent should be foremost.’
Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, agreed, adding: ‘It is a shame that the Archers have become enveloped by the ideology of multiculturalism.
‘Suddenly it is all about Ramadan on the farm and Lent is passed over as culturally insignificant. How long before one of the Archers comes out as a trans activist?’
Tim Dieppe, Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern, said: ‘It is interesting that the Archers story has chosen to focus on Islamic fasting in Ramadan at precisely the time when the Christian season on Lent is being observed.
‘This appears to be an example of the BBC going out of its way to respect and promote Islamic practice in a popular drama. The BBC was set up with a vision of promoting Christian values. Islamic values are quite different as is very evident in the treatment of Christians in Islamic nations.
‘Would the BBC ever dare to promote Christianity as objectively better than Islam today?’
A spokesperson for BBC Radio 4 defended the storyline and said Lent had been mentioned in recent episodes.
They said: ‘The Archers has a long history of reflecting faith in its storylines, and regularly features storylines centred on Christian faith, such as the annual carol service, celebrations of Palm Sunday, Lent, and Harrison’s baptism.’
They added: ‘Ambridge is a reflection of real-life rural communities in the UK today, and so it is home to people with a range of faiths and beliefs.
‘Recent storylines around Ramadan and Shrove Tuesday have explored how the developing friendships between characters in Ambridge have led them to engage with each other’s faith traditions.’