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==Topicality== Unlike some soap operas, episodes of ''The Archers'' portray events taking place on the date of broadcast, allowing many topical subjects to be included. Real-life events which can be readily predicted are often written into the script, such as the annual [[Oxford Farming Conference]]<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/backstage/oxford_conference.shtml | title= Oxford Farming Conference | access-date= 17 February 2008 | publisher= BBC Radio 4 | date= 3 January 2008 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080628092518/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/backstage/oxford_conference.shtml | archive-date= 28 June 2008}}</ref> and the [[FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite episode|title= 27 June 2006|series= The Archers |network= BBC Radio 4 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20060625&day=2}}</ref> On some occasions, scenes recorded at these events are planned and edited into episodes shortly before transmission. More challengingly for the production team, some significant but unforeseen events require scenes to be rewritten and rerecorded at short notice, such as the death of [[Princess Margaret]] (particularly poignant because she had appeared as herself on the programme),<ref name="princess margaret">{{cite web | url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/backstage/princess_margaret.shtml | title= Princess Margaret Remembered | access-date= 17 February 2008 | date= 10 February 2002 | publisher= BBC Radio 4 | archive-date= 30 June 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080630085953/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/backstage/princess_margaret.shtml | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title= 10 February 2002 |series= The Archers |network= BBC Radio 4 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20020210&day=0 |access-date= 7 June 2012 |archive-date= 30 May 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120530222752/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20020210&day=0 |url-status= live}}</ref> the [[September 11 attacks|World Trade Center attacks]],<ref>{{cite episode |title= 12 September 2001 |series= The Archers |network= BBC Radio 4 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20010909&day=3 |access-date= 7 June 2012 |archive-date= 25 February 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250225000613/https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20010909&day=3 |url-status= live}}</ref> and the [[7 July 2005 London bombings]].<ref>{{cite episode|title= 11 July 2005|series= The Archers |network= BBC Radio 4 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20050710&day=1}}</ref> The events and implications of the [[2001 foot-and-mouth crisis]] required many "topical inserts"<ref>{{cite episode|title= 22 February 2001|series= The Archers |network= BBC Radio 4 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20010218&day=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title= 23 February 2001 |series= The Archers |network= BBC Radio 4 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20010218&day=5 |access-date= 7 June 2012 |archive-date= 22 February 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250222195823/https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20010218&day=5 |url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title= 27 February 2001|series= The Archers |network= BBC Radio 4 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20010225&day=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title= 1 March 2001 |series= The Archers |network= BBC Radio 4 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20010225&day=4 |access-date= 7 June 2012 |archive-date= 23 February 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250223154415/https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/archive_synopsis.shtml?week=20010225&day=4 |url-status= live}}</ref> and the rewriting of several storylines.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/backstage/drama_in_a_crisis.shtml| title=Drama in a Crisis| access-date=17 February 2008| publisher=BBC Radio 4| date=2 March 2001| archive-date=29 June 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629120146/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/backstage/drama_in_a_crisis.shtml| url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2012, Oliver Sterling, owner of Grange Farm, together with his tenant, Ed Grundy, elected to vaccinate the badgers on their farm in an attempt to prevent the spread of bovine [[tuberculosis]]. The plotline came within weeks of the government confirming a [[Badger culling in the United Kingdom|badger cull trial]].<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01b1g9d/The_Archers_25_01_2012/ | title= The Archers 2012-01-25 | access-date= 2 February 2012 | publisher= BBC Radio 4 | date= 25 January 2012 | archive-date= 31 January 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120131191112/http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01b1g9d/The_Archers_25_01_2012/ | url-status= live}}</ref> It was announced on 29 March 2020 that the programme would include reference to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]] from 4 May onwards.<ref name="BBC-29mar20">{{cite web |title=Changes to The Archers during Coronavirus pandemic |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/coronavirus-archers |website=www.bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |access-date=29 March 2020 |date=29 March 2020 |archive-date=30 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330003127/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/coronavirus-archers |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[death of Queen Elizabeth II]] on 8 September 2022 was discussed by Lynda Snell and Lilian Bellamy as the first section of the episode broadcast on Sunday 11 September.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Archers marks the death of the Queen |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62874876 |access-date=17 September 2022 |work=BBC News |date=12 September 2022 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913231155/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62874876 |url-status=live}}</ref>
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