unny Ormonde has played vivacious Ambridge resident Lilian Bellamy since the year 2000. She still recalls the excitement of her first day in the studio: “I remember one of my very first scenes; it was with Lynda [Snell, Carole Boyd] and Eddie [Grundy, Trevor Harrison]. These were iconic characters for me because I was a long-time listener to the programme. It was quite daunting because everyone else was so established.

“I don’t know where the 20 years since I joined have gone - it’s flown by! I’m thrilled to be part of it and the fact the programme is still going is such a testament to the editors, producers, writers, actors, directors over the years - it’s just fantastic.”

As for highlights Sunny recalls when Lilian ‘hitched up’ with slippery businessman Matt Crawford [Kim Durham]: “That’s when we started to get some much more emotional storylines, particularly when Matt was up for fraud and went to prison. I had some fantastic storylines all through that and was really able to explore Lilian in a way that in the first couple of years I’d not been able to.”

Sunny also points to the relationship between Lilian and Lynda which has recently been tested. As Lynda recovers from the explosion at Grey Gables it has been Lilian’s tough love which has aided Lynda’s road to recovery: “Before there’s always been an edge between them. I’m sure there will be conflict again, but it’ll be different because they are true friends and they know that. They couldn’t be more different as characters but there is a bond now that has developed between them.”

Moments like The Archers’ productions of Calendar Girls and The Canterbury Tales are also high on Sunny’s list, but perhaps it’s her Ambridge family who take the top spot: “I love all my scenes with June [Spencer, Peggy Woolley], my ‘mum’. She just loves working and her voice is as strong as ever. I love her to bits and I find that a huge privilege. I just love working with her. Who else in the world is performing at 101 in the way that she is?”

Sunny regards the secrets to The Archers’ success as the million dollar question: “I think about it so often. There is something about it that gives you a feeling of safety and consistency. I know The Archers deals with issues like domestic abuse, and that was a fantastic storyline, but at the same time we have the village cricket team, we have the Flower And Produce Show, we have Bonfire Night and so on and so forth, which is just lovely.”

Hollie Chapman (Alice Carter) attributes the programme’s success to the fans: “They don’t just dip in and out - they’re in it for the long haul and that’s just wonderful.” Louiza Patikas (Helen Archer) says: “The Archers has an unparalleled breadth and depth to draw on. The characters, the cast and the listeners range from the brand new to those who have been a part of it for 70 years.”

Arthur Hughes (Ruairi Donovan) and Annabelle Dowler (Kirsty Miller) point towards the drama’s transportive powers. Arthur says: “I think the secret to The Archers’ success and longevity is its reflective quality. Listeners can have a place to escape to where they can relate to issues they face in their own lives. It’s escapism, but to somewhere comforting and relatable.”

Similarly Annabelle says: “The Archers provides bite-size village escapism with brilliant drama and characters we feel we know intimately, and it can all be caught up on while you do the washing up, go for a walk or run the bath. It becomes a comforting part of the listener’s daily or weekly routine.”

A theme that comes up many times is a sense of familiarity: “I think one of the secrets to The Archers’ success and longevity is that for a few minutes a day people can switch off from the world and go back to catching up with old friends. The familiarity and daily habit is comforting, especially in difficult days. The Sunday omnibus is also an excellent way to deal with the ironing”, says Pat Gallimore (Pat Archer).

Daisy Badger (Pip Archer) also points to the relationship between the listeners and characters: “It’s people being people, through the good times and the downright awful. Be it in the car, in the kitchen, or up a mountain you hear the Grundys gadding about, catch Lilian’s cackle, or listen in on a game-changing 15 minutes. There is something so personal about tuning in. An Archers’ listener takes sides, wills characters into and out of situations, shouts at the radio, or has to sit down and take a moment at the end of an episode. It's almost not a show at all, it’s your pals.”

Relative newcomer Mali Harries (Natasha Archer) offers: “I think that there is a character for everyone in The Archers. You might not like everyone, but you will love a few at least. The storylines reflect real life as they grow and change alongside the listeners’ lives at home.

"Everyone can remember parts of their lives that sat with certain storylines. It’s great company, and feels like another family alongside your own.”

Andrew Wincott (Adam Macy) makes a similar point on the often divisive nature of the residents of the village: “For what’s still a farming nation 70 years on, I think it’s no accident that Ambridge is located in the heart of rural England. Shakespeare’s country. In our mind’s eye we all have a picture of Ambridge and its multitude of characters, whom we love, loathe - maybe both - and we laugh and cry with them. But everyone’s Ambridge will be unique to them.”

Whilst his character Freddie Pargetter may have had something of a ‘bad boy’ reputation, actor Toby Laurence shows his sentimental side when reflecting on what the programme means to the team and listeners alike: “So much of The Archers is about family and community and a world where everyone knows your name; something becoming less and less prevalent in many people’s everyday lives, for whatever reason, despite remaining firmly at the heart of our basic human instinct to stick together and support each other.

"The Archers just musters such a warm, fuzzy feeling that’s hard to give up once you’ve got a taste for it, like a hug from your mum, which is why I think so many people have, and continue to become life-long listeners, and in turn, warmly-welcomed members of our little Ambridge family.”

With the anniversary landing on New Year’s Day what do the cast think their characters New Year’s resolutions should be for the year ahead? For Simon Williams it seems the party season is not over just yet: “Justin Elliot’s resolution for 2021 should be to spend less time at his computer and more time in The Bull.” Arthur thinks his character who turned 18 this year, will have similar plans: “I think Ruairi’s New Year’s resolution would be to (now legally) visit as many of the pubs in Borsetshire as possible with Ben!”

In Susie Riddell’s mind her character Tracy Horrobin has something to prove in 2021: “Sadly, after taking the crown with aplomb, Tracy’s first season as Captain of the Ambridge Cricket Team passed without any matches. So I think her resolution will be to lead the team to glory when they can get playing again. Watch out Darrington!” Of her ever-ambitious character Natasha, Mali says: “Her main points are: budget - spend less money on shoes. Give more to others. Take time to ‘cwtch’ [Welsh for ‘hug’] with Tom. Exercise more. Do facial workouts to work on chin. Expand business. Get electric car. Take time to make friends. Her list would probably be ten times the size!”

Things are more reflective for Louiza: “Helen's resolution would be to simply appreciate what she has, and to keep putting one foot in front of the other.” Toby also reckons that Freddie would, or should, be looking within: “If I could speak to Freddie, I think I’d urge him to be less hard on himself in 2021. He has such a deep-rooted fear, and sadly an expectation, of failure, that he’s often blind to the many things he has actually achieved. I’d also love him to be more mindful of the many things his father would be really proud of him for, despite his past. In reality however, I don’t think Freddie quite has that level of perspective yet, so, left to his own devices, he would probably resolve to play a little less FIFA, whilst maintaining very little intention of sticking to it!”

Returning to Sunny, she is crystal clear about how Lilian will be approaching the new year: “I think it’s to live life to the full, particularly in the light of Covid-19. She’d always do it anyway, but it’s just living and loving and laughing - anything! Carpe diem! Seize the day, for as long as you possibly can. That’s her and that’s how she lives her life.”