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- At January 3, 2011
- By Rachael
- In Village life
31
(Or, The One Where Rachael Listens To the Archers and Ends Up A Page Three Girl)
So, last night was the 60th anniversary of that British institution, The Archers. I’ve been a fan since I was ten and my friend Polly’s family introduced me to the delights of the village of Ambridge. Since then I’ve listened on and off for most of my life. There was much excitement here in our English village, as we all sat round the wireless waiting with bated breath to hear what would happen.
Actually, that’s a lie. It was just me, in the kitchen, with a stiff drink and the radio. We’d been promised an episode which would ‘shake Ambridge to the core’ and the Archers lovers on Twitter were gathered, all tuned to Radio 4 and chatting nerdily to each other.
I said this:
and it was retweeted (which for non twits amongst you means that she liked it and sent it onwards) by one of my writing idols, India Knight. Look!
which was rather exciting in itself because I have a bit of a public schoolgirl pash on her. Hurrah.
But then look what happened this morning.
Yes that’s me being quoted, alongside Stephen Fry. And in the print edition I was there on page three. So the episode (which was a bit of a damp squib, although not if you were Nigel Pargetter) may not have shaken Ambridge to the core, but it was a bit exciting round these parts.
polly jones
fabulous! I love India Knight, you, and the archers! Plus I feel a bit famous cos you mentioned me as being the source of your archers addiction! I still listen to it to this day, and I believe Miranda has an internet listening habit these days as the Australians don’t understand the everyday tale of farming folk….. yet
Brooke
Too terrific. I’m delighted for you, my famous friend.
Rachael
Hahahaha! Thank you. A tiny little bit famous for a day, before I turned into chip paper!
Rebecca
It has been a very emotional week in The Archers, I have to say, I really could not be doing with regular extended episodes, my nerves really could not take it. Well done on your Guardian appearance.
I just discovered your blog and have very much enjoyed browsing through. I love the setting of your book and wish you every success with it.
Rachael
Thanks Rebecca – I know, it’s been really quite stressful. I need a nice relaxing storyline about sausages now. Glad you like the blog!
jay
Blimey lady, er autograph please! That’s so cool. And there’s a lesson here about tweeting sensibly, or…something else I know nothing about…
*applause*
Rachael
Am now frantically deleting all my very un-sensible tweets. Can you imagine our Snape conversations splashed all over the newspapers? Haha!
Muddling Along
Aren’t you glad I made you go up and accost India at Cybermummy! That’ll be when you became bestest friends
Still VERY impressed with you as a page 3 girl!
Rachael
I know! Mad stalker complete with friend shoving her from behind. Tee hee!
Kat
Huzzah – you are famous!
Rachael
In a very small, 2 centimetres sort of way, yes!
Helen in Switzerland
I was glued to the radio – well the radio played over the laptop – too. I’m so sorry to see the end of Nigel. He started out as an upper class twerp, but over the years ended up as a downright decent chap…there were others I’d rather have seen go…but there you are, Nigel is no more and what will become of Elizabeth and Lower Loxley – well it’s enough to keep me glued to the tranny in the weeks ahead!
Rachael
Ooh, I know. I really wanted Helen to pop her clogs. She drives me mad.
Amy
Haha! Soooooo cool!
Rachael
I know! If I was properly cool I’d not blog about it, but I am, er, not. Haha.
Saskia
Hi Rachael, I’m on Twitter and was following the Archers tweets the other day and I saw your comment retweeted by India Knight. It’s the only one that stayed in my mind. A very acute observation. Well done. Saskia
Rachael
Hi Saskia. What a gorgeous, gorgeous blog you have! And thank you. It’s the old thousand monkeys typing the works of Shakespeare thing. Once I a while I say something that actually makes sense. Tee hee.
TheMadHouse
How cool is that!
Rachael
I know! I know! Am highly amused.
Tatjana
… and I can say “I knew her back then”
Rachael
Hahahahaha. Yep. Famous for fifteen minutes, c’est moi.
homemademummy
I love it! How many copies did you buy and are you using it as wallpaper?
Rachael
One, and no. Because I am hopeless. I bet it’s in the recycling pile by now – I better go and fish it out!
notSupermum
Oohh, get you! Are you going to get all fancy an’ stuff?
Rachael
Ahem. I already AM fancy. Didn’t you notice? I hope Stephen Fry realises how lucky he is to share column space with me. Hahaha.
Louise
So exciting!
Also saw your long tweet exchange re: odd dreams with India Knight – v. funny. I read her book over Christmas, and liked it a lot. I have to say, the excerpts of your book you’ve been posting here are quite similar in style – looking forward to seeing more!
Rachael
Well, as a long time fan of India Knight’s writing, that’s a huge compliment. And ending up having a bonkers conversation with her about visiting Bulgarian Ikea – well, that’s just why I love Twitter!
Liz
That’s just fantastic!
Rachael
Squee! I know!
Deer Baby
Very excited for you. I was squealing to my husband when I saw it in The Guardian. “I know her! I know her!”
Rachael
Sadly none of my family read the Guardian besides me, so I have had to email the evidence. You’re all much more excited than them! Tsk.