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Coercive Control and Domestic Violence on The Archers

For months now Archers fans have suffered the discomfort of Helen and Rob's relationship. The programme's editor and the actor who plays Helen discuss the developing storyline.

The storyline of Helen, Rob and his increasingly controlling behaviour has gripped The Archers audience. The programme's editor and the actor who plays Helen join Jane to discuss how an everyday story of country folk became a dark tale of coercive control and domestic violence.

Sandra Horley, chief executive of the domestic violence charity Refuge, and Guardian television critic Julia Raeside deliberate the effects of The Archers' storyline on listeners.

Vanessa Altin has reported widely on the Syrian crisis for the UK tabloids. She has now written an unsparing book about the Syrian crisis, The Pomegranate Tree. Its narrator is a 13-year-old Kurdish girl from a Syrian village close to the border with Turkey who has been forced to leave her village, flee to Turkey and has been witness to shocking events. All the characters and storylines in Vanessa's novel are based on real people and events.

Available now

58 minutes

Chapters

  • Coercive Control and Domestic Violence on The Archers

    Sean O'Connor, Editor of The Archers and Louiza Patikas (aka Helen) on domestic violence.

    Duration: 13:45

  • Domestic Abuse and The Archers

    Sandra Horley, chief executive of Refuge & Guardian TV critic Julia Raeside.

    Duration: 09:55

  • Farm Work for Twenty-First Century Women

    Emma Barnett visits Wright’s Lettuce Farm in Lancashire & talks to female farm labourers

    Duration: 09:58

  • Vanessa Altin

    Duration: 07:13

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jane Garvey
Producer Lucinda Montefiore
Interviewed Guest Sean O'Connor
Interviewed Guest Louiza Patikas
Interviewed Guest Sandra Horley
Interviewed Guest Julia Raeside
Interviewed Guest Vanessa Altin

Broadcast

  • Tue 29 Mar 2016 10:00

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