A letter in today's Guardian has reminded me of something I'd quite forgotten - and I think it's the reason I've never been too keen on The Archers:

"You extol the Archers (In praise of, November 8). I haven't forgiven them for the "death" of Dick Barton, Special Agent."

What the writer meant is the slot on the radio which they gave to The Archers was the one which had previously been reserved for the exploits of Dick Barton. It was like taking away Doctor Who and replacing it with Come Dancing.