fictional character british soap opera played english actress debut july episode character created introduced love interest established character girlfriend deemed unsuitable role mother generation archer family editor cast successful audition portrayed strong determined loyal farmer traits stand female characters time introduction later years open negotiation storylines revolved marriage david work early 2000s david community foot mouth outbreak diagnosed breast cancer storyline undertook extensive research later named highlights episode focused contemplating affair believing david having affair girlfriend ultimately chose return home family storyline begun heavily criticised listeners inundated bbc complaints low listener figures attributed storyline editor said backlash helped faithful david critical opinion character differs described loved character farmer called irritating resident disliked listeners listeners hoped killed 60th anniversary celebrations away character appeared radio soap bbc frequently parodied comedy programme dead creation casting appointed editor began implementing changes bid tired brought new writers retired characters introduced new ones book true story predecessor explained decided fashion designer girlfriend suitable role generation archer family script meeting david new love interest writers played idea making character scottish calling anne heather nature wanted sure liked character eventually nineteen year old agricultural student created actress later presenter cast listened prior audition tried learn history came studio thought decision cast odd wrote days cast lots scottish irish actors irritating audience scenes broadcast july development characterisation fictional backstory born june heather raised northumberland worked israeli year prior acceptance agricultural course applied year work experience hired wrote stood female characters time introduction feminist farmer favourite style pair jeans shirt arrival felt like outsider helped david attitude woman dedication willingness eventually won david round came appreciate speaking bbc said strong determined pretty direct approach life people general explained having breast cancer instead fighting corner likely negotiate instead added character life day day writing independent described waiting said family loyal wife loving mother shed called authors opined stereotypical farmer wife said likely hand rubber glove oven glove thrust end emerging supper marriage david archer marriage david central character explained took good qualities david initial behaviour unpleasant called david pig said resented presence immediately noticed attracted way helped animals david noticed brother flirting realised loved told feelings despite getting bad start david began dating married end thought david believable partnership suited saying capable highly emotional tend react different things able calm support crises provide kind balance problem actress added david best friends continued studies david eventually established good working relationship given responsibility looking dairy herd partner farm david child helen monks born february authors said took let stop playing active couple second child born david later purchased cattle began establish suppliers traditional beef observed david marriage strong archer siblings began arguing inherit told david time precious spend argument suggested moved away david father decided farm couple couple faced campaign intimidation david witnessed assault silent phone calls began sent children stay mother intimidation ended barn set caught following anonymous tip david celebrated 25th wedding anniversary hoped couple continue thriving business semi retirement commented couple years love going meals having occasional break away kids odd roll pretty following year discovered expecting fourth child pregnancy ended breast cancer character diagnosed breast cancer discovering breast checked general following month told breast cancer multi focal need followed course thirty time diagnosis unusually young contract cancer breast cancer nurse acted consultant storyline invited listeners ring advice received diagnosis contacted breast cancer charity breakthrough learnt character new story spoke extensively research effect diagnosis character talked relative friend thing problem differently textbook way playing present situation fact way playing surprise people past strong character collapsed thinking worst occasionally suggest script editor don think character react certain way absolute trust characterisation storyline continued play following months operation began slow process recovery came terms new appearance treatment began autumn months david heather close friend constant source support comfort following course returned work farm later given clear pregnant gave birth child ben representative explained medically precautions years body contain toxic drugs consultant said cases women breast cancer going babies added evidence increased risk cancer recurring women goes child remaining cancer free years speaking observer believed great service women health subject breast cancer later revealed received letters listeners storyline woman wrote thank found breast listening named storyline highlights chief executive breakthrough said treated subject breast cancer reasonably expect morgan continues saying breakthrough liked highlighted effect cancer diagnosis partner contrast radio series feedback reported storyline initially attracted negative response listeners felt subject handled optimism foot mouth outbreak shortly david faced foot mouth outbreak decided community bid stop disease spreading land animals came live family help animals david frustrated situation trouble sleeping couple later sent live relatives author wrote drastic measure believed storyline continued commitment responding events editor said storylines hold order cast crew foot mouth outbreak told decided david taken control farm lose foot mouth hit later said particularly proud storyline work went commented dealing constant writes hard enjoyable work storyline praised farmers realistic portrayal near affair expanding dairy herd david hired specialist frequently came contact sam farm relationship found jealous sam went holiday book commented mix sexual chemistry sam reached boiling point david girlfriend returned asked david help organise charity fashion stressed insecure david spending time girlfriend turned sam main reason image recently undergone felt emotionally confused sam informed broken caught david lying meeting believed having affair unbeknownst tried david affair resisted advances guardian observed david marriage said speed happened genuinely shocking listening said toxic lines shook characters middle road golden couple status seeking sam comfort kissed sam declared love agreed spend night hotel oxford told david meeting friend night times commented moment stuck traffic contrasted scary new land travelling decision spend night sam focus episode broadcast november episode written told traffic jam increase tension editor told independent climax storyline planned months prior anniversary listened daughter reminded home called sam turned support returning home david observed emotional state sam quit job eventually told david truth happened explained finished recording scene crying david initially unable forgive actions speaking gaining perspective time things easier reception despite popular character gained criticism years called loved character called common sense forward planning independent noted character instantly fact poor disliked hardcore fans publication disliked branding highly irritating later thought created david couple delighted parents coming christmas david described times critic series golden couple future herald said couple standing stones rooted solid storms unbeaten constant national life breast cancer named shocking storylines daily_telegraph daily_mail wrote likely candidate village join ranks inhabitants years bit colleague fan adultery storyline wanted old saying replaced helpless teenager reduced lust sam new statesman fan character writing didn character noted gone farmer facing total loss reaction near affair storyline listeners generally negative daily_telegraph reported bbc inundated complaints saying storyline utterly ridiculous questioned listeners started online protest storyline following appearance feedback presenter commented backlash saying fans thought plot unbelievable sensational listeners thought david undergone personality accused bbc trying turn radio version official website responses poll asking listeners sam compared usual cent listeners thought sam website received million page impressions storyline february writer reported listeners deserted controversial storylines sam affair writer said figures months sam storyline peaked revealed million listeners tuned previous quarter told backlash listeners helped faithful david agreed type affair spectator delighted spend night sam believed kept true blunt honest character biblical felt outsider treated slight suspicion runs branded opined irritating residents reporter commented unpopular figure listeners wanted die 60th anniversary episode actor character killed anniversary shared view saying asked replied goes bit doesn david old bloody popular culture media flew help launch new radio soap called programme aimed predominantly women focuses health issues child care genocide country decade later makers invited record guest appearance scenes saw married named reluctant let train community health worker storyline said little bizarre strong independent cast mind wasn million miles away david husband years reaction having female student arrive work alongside november stars appeared respective characters bbc children need broadcast alongside presenter joined husband david friend scenes written especially renowned way saying frequently parodied comedy programme dead
Ruth Archer