‘Fantastic Noise: Making Radio Drama’ will lift the lid on the secrets of spoken-word storytelling in the digital age with a spotlight on the success of the world’s longest running British radio soap drama, The Archers. Get insider knowledge from special guest Jeremy Howe who has been tirelessly bringing to life the fictional folk in the land of Ambridge since taking up the position of the show’s Editor in 2018 after being BBC Radio 4’s Commissioning Editor for many years.

For many British households this radio soap has been a daily staple since 1951, originally starting out as an educational drama for the farming community. The Archers has since become a significant show in British popular culture with millions of listeners in the UK and internationally, developing storylines to reflect real-life events, celebrations and social issues, including domestic abuse, civil partnerships, the royal family and agricultural emergencies (such as foot and mouth disease).

After Jeremy, the discussion will venture into the podcasting realm, which has seen a dramatic increase in popularity over the last few years. Guest speaker Adam Jarrell – the man behind award-winning mockumentary ‘The Offensive’ – will discuss the challenges of creating new audio dramas without the traditional backing of a radio station.

Terry Lee, Senior Tutor in Radio & Audio at the University of Bedfordshire and Coordinator of award-winning community station Radio LaB, said: “Radio is such a fascinating platform and it’s a great way to entertain and educate people of all ages and backgrounds. In our Beds Talk on 26^th February, I’ll be focusing on how radio fiction is made and looking into the future of radio drama with my special guests, which I hope will enlighten our audience and inspire the next generation of audio producers.”

This event be live-recorded to be published on the Fantastic Noise podcast platform and will include a special quiz with prizes, complimentary refreshments and networking opportunities. Tickets are free but attendees must register their place online via Eventbrite.