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Dame Judi Dench joins Archers Birmingham campaign

The cast of the long-running BBC radio drama say moving out of Birmingham would be as drastic as Coronation Street leaving the north-west; the campaign now has a Dame.

On air: Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield on Late Night BBN
Published 12:07 AM ET, Saturday, October 17, 2026

Photo: Raph_PH · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · Pop Culture

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from Late Night BBN at 12:07 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are BBC's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Raph_PH · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

Photo: Judi Dench — Photo: Raph_PH · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by BBC: “Dame Judi Dench joins Archers Birmingham campaign”.
Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 12:07 AM ET on Late Night BBN, by Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

BBCDame Judi Dench joins Archers Birmingham campaign

What BBN said about it

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorDame Judi Dench has joined the campaign to keep The Archers in Birmingham, and the cast say leaving would be like Corrie leaving the north-west.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe Archers is a radio show about farmers. Where is it supposed to move, a field?
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAmbridge is a real place to me, and I'd like to know what happens to the pub.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAmbridge isn't real, Chip.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThen why would a Dame fight for it? Nobody gets Judi Dench involved over a made-up pub.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentFair. One look from her and a council gives you a whole new building and an apology.

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