- First sketch featuring Rob Titchener released ahead of Sundays opening episode 
- More illustrations published on The Archers website during the Trial Week

As listeners tune in to hear the start of Helen Titchener’s trial tonight on Radio 4 at 7pm, fans of The Archers will have a view into the courtroom throughout the week, with sketches by the well-known court artist who covered the trial of Harold Shipman and the Soham Murders, Julia Quenzler.

To launch the Trial Week, the first illustration has been released ahead of tonight's broadcast, portraying Rob Titchener in the witness stand. The trial, which the outgoing Editor of The Archers Sean O’Connor has described as ‘both shocking and deeply moving’, will follow the trajectory of a real life trial as Helen faces two charges, Attempted Murder and Wounding With Intent.

New sketches by Julia will be published after most of the episodes during The Archers Trial Week on the programme’s website with relevant audio clips and released via The Archers social media accounts.

Julia has been a court artist for 30 years. She began her career in the States and now illustrates court cases for the British press as well as the BBC.

On drawing The Archers Trial Week, Julia said: “It’s been fascinating, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. But of course I haven’t been able to tell anyone I was doing it so I’ve had to refer to it as a secret project. I didn’t want anyone asking me any questions and my face giving anything away.”

Julia has illustrated real-life domestic violence cases in the past and is often asked if knowing what someone stands accused of impacts the way she portrays them. She says: “I’m often asked if I make the accused look evil. Generally murderers don’t look like murderers. I can’t presume anyone’s guilt, it’s not for me to do that. I’m not judging the case, I’m going strictly by what I see, and what the jury see. Somebody might look completely benign when they may have been accused of the most awful crimes. They just look like the guy next door.”

On knowing about Rob’s abusive behaviour towards Helen, she adds: “I can’t let that influence me at all. I was basing his appearance on the actor’s photograph but also the script. I was reading the script and noting his reactions, the tone of his voice, imagining what he would be doing with his hands while he was in the witness box.”

While Julia is used to working from notes and memory, as sketching inside the courtroom is considered contempt of court, drawing The Archers Trial Week required her to work almost entirely from imagination. She explains: “In this case, having to work from a script, I was working from imagination. I was given a few photographs of the actors but I was reminded that obviously many listeners have conjured up their own image of how each character looks. I was also told that the trial would be held in a typical 19th century court building so I drew the sort of panelling they might have had.”

"Normally I will leave the court room after fifteen minutes, then I take my notes off to a press room where I can work on my drawing. I usually have about an hour to work on it, and then it will be ready to be filmed for the lunch time news. These took quite a lot long longer because of the research and referring back to the script.”

The second Trial Week sketch by Julia Quenzler will be released on The Archers website and in social media after Monday night's episode with an audio clip.

Julia Quenzler’s illustrations of The Archers Trial Week will be hosted on The Archers website.

The Archers Trial Week starts on BBC Radio 4 tonight, Sunday 4th September at 7pm.

For further details about the trial please see the press pack on the BBC Media Centre: www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/thearcherstrial