TO celebrate 75 years of the world’s longest-running radio drama, The Archers, six of the series’ most popular characters are coming to Scotland, stopping at Glasgow’s King’s Theatre on 4 October and Edinburgh’s Playhouse the following evening, 5 October.
Broadcasting six times a week to five million listeners, The Archers follows the everyday lives, loves, and dramas of residents of Ambridge, the fictional village deep in the heart of the English countryside. A cornerstone of the British cultural landscape, the show has chronicled seven decades of significant social and cultural changes and events in Britain. It is one of the BBC’s most popular programmes and is currently the top on-demand show for listeners of all ages.
The Archers: Live at 75 is a brand-new live theatre show bringing The Archers out of the studio and onto the stage, offering audiences a chance to experience Ambridge in a way that’s never been seen – or heard – before. Set within a playful reimagining of the Ambridge Flower & Produce Show, the evening combines behind-the-scenes insights, archive material, quizzes and a look at how the programme’s distinctive sound world is created in real time with specially written episodes acted out on stage.
Appearing at both Scottish dates will be Tim Bentinck, who plays David Archer, Annabelle Dowler, who plays Kirsty Miller, Charlotte Martin, who plays Susan Carter and Ben Norris, who plays Ben Archer, alongwith the programme’s live sound effects specialist Vanessa Nuttall, collectively known as ‘The Flower Cast’, with comedian and Archers’ devotee Angela Barnes hosting the evening.
Martin says, “I’m so thrilled to be part of The Archers tour – bringing 75 magical years of Ambridge to the stage is an absolute dream come true! Can’t wait to share the laughter, tears and heart of Ambridge with fans everywhere.”
Bentinck adds, “I’m so excited to be part of the upcoming tour. We’ll be on stage but the show will be very interactive, and Archers listeners and fans will be just as much a part of it as us. So come and join us at the Flower and Produce Show, and as an added treat get to see how the clever sound effects are achieved. Hint, it’s all done with yoghurt and ironing boards.”
For host Barnes, the tour is far more than just another job, she reveals, “I am not just an Archers superfan, I am obsessed with all things Ambridge. So to be asked to host The Archers: Live at 75 is like winning a prize at the Flower and Produce Show and being cast as the lead in a Lynda Snell production, all rolled into one. I can’t wait to hang out with all of my favourite characters and really immerse myself in Borsetshire life.”
Touring across the UK until November, other dates will include ‘The Produce Cast’ – Charles Collingwood, who plays Brian Aldridge, Ryan Kelly, who plays Jazzer McCreary, Susie Riddell, who plays Tracy Horrobin and Sunny Ormonde who plays Lilian Bellamy.
First broadcast on 1 January 1951, with more than 20,000 episodes now broadcast, this theatrical, one-of-a-kind celebration offers newcomers an accessible introduction to the drama’s world, while giving long-time listeners a rare look into how Ambridge is created – revealing the artistry behind the character work, development of storylines, and the unmistakable soundscape that define the series. There will also be an audience Q&A, an interactive pub quiz straight out of The Bull and, of course, a sing-along to the programme’s famous theme tune.
Tickets for the Glasgow Kings date are HERE | Tickets for the Edinburgh Playhouse date are HERE
FULL TOUR
September 2026 | Thursday 3 New Wimbledon Theatre, London Flower Cast | Friday 4 – New Theatre, Oxford Flower Cast | Saturday 5 G Live, Guildford Flower Cast | Sunday 6 New Victoria Theatre, Woking Flower Cast | Wednesday 9 Symphony Hall, Birmingham Produce Cast | Thursday 10 Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-On-Sea Produce Cast | Friday 11 De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-On-Sea Produce Cast | Sunday 27 Convention Centre, Harrogate Produce Cast | Monday 28 Royal Philharmonic, Liverpool Produce Cast
October 2026 | Sunday 4 King’s Theatre, Glasgow Flower Cast | Monday 5 Playhouse, Edinburgh Flower Cast | Tuesday 6 Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle Flower Cast | Thursday 8 The Forum, Bath Flower Cast | Saturday 31 Festival Theatre, Chichester Flower Cast
November 2026 | Tuesday 3 Great Hall, Exeter Produce Cast | Wednesday 4 Swansea Arena, Swansea Produce Cast | Thursday 5 Bath Forum, Bath Produce Cast | Thursday 19 Bic Windsor Hall, Bournemouth Produce Cast | Tuesday 24 Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury Flower Cast | Wednesday 25 Warwick Arts Centre, Warwick Flower Cast | Thursday 26 Civic Hall, Wolverhampton Flower Cast
Full details and tickets for all venues HERE
