01/04/2026

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You're listening to Wednesday's episode of The Archers from BBC Radio 4.

Thanks for taking the time to do this. It's okay, Azra. I know it's the end of a long day. Oh, a cup of tea and some adult chat is always welcome in my book. Um so as I said, this is part of the surgery's mental health initiative. Okay. So at this point I'm just gathering views, uh opinions. Please don't worry about saying anything you think's irrelevant. It's all valuable. Yeah. I mean people aren't so ready to talk about mental health challenges, are they?

I think round here everyone's got so much to do, we just get on with things. And and I do think it's the men that often find it difficult to open up. I agree, Natasha. In fact wh why aren't the men here? Why's Tony? Oh another biscuit anyone. Oh thank you Um Agram's out in the yard. Finishing up, is he? Mm, he's always finishing up something or other. And I'm sure Tom will be through in a minute. He's just seeing to the girls. Oh, good.

You know, I do think that loneliness is a huge problem when it comes to mental health around here. Just look at Carol Tregoran living on her own. Helen said she's refusing carers now. Oh, is that the woman in Glebe Cottage? I've not met her yet. Well, but thinking about it, she's quite unusual, isn't she? And a lot of older people live with extended family or friends.

Bert with Tracy and Co., Jill at Brookfield, even Oliver living with Clary and Eddie. But Oliver's in great neck, isn't he? Still working and all the horse riding he does. Oh yeah, he's tremendous. I don't know if you know Azra, but my dad lives with Bipolar. Oh no, I didn't.

And when I was a kid I found it really hard, you know, to know where to turn to. That must have been tough for you. Oh you get by. Just knowing where you can get help would have been so useful. Yeah, of course. That's why I think it's important. Knowing where to turn. Without judgment. Yeah. Yeah, that is so helpful. Uh, you know, Tony's having a hard time letting go of his anchors hurt. Oh, really? Yeah.

They're one of the casualties of our audit, I'm afraid. Oh, that's such a shame. No, no, it it it's the right thing to do. It's just you know, it's hard for him. Oh, I can imagine. I think at his time of life it's it's difficult to start letting go of things. Things that have made him happy. Yeah. I'm not saying it's a mental health issue it's It's just the ups and downs of farming life, I guess.

Having to change, be adaptable. Well, sorry, mum, uh girls have made a den in the living room. It's all a bit of a mess now, but I'll tidy it before we go. So what are they doing now? Watching telly. More screen time. What are you gonna do? Hi, Azra. Hi Sam. Uh Biscuit Oh yes please. Now that you're here, Tom, have you got any nuggets of wisdom? Yeah, ideas about how we can help people deal with mental health issues. It's an initiative we're running at the surgery. Um I don't know.

Just tell him to suck it up, I guess. Oh Tom. What? Life is rubbish sometimes and you just have to deal with it. Well that's not very sympathetic. No, no, Natasha. I appreciate Tom's comments. As I said, everything's useful. Everyone's opinions are valid. Right. Oh, good. You're only a little bit.

Can someone please tell me why there's an advert listing to the the dispersal sale of organic angus cattle from mister Tony Archer Bridge Farm. Sorry, Tony, what w we're just talking to Azra. No, Azzra. Hi, Tony. I mean how has this happened when I only spoke to you the other day, Tom, and said I would call the auctioneer when the time was right. Uh yeah, Dad, about that. It says here that it's happening in a few weeks.

I mean what's going on? Is someone playing an April Fool's joke? Tony Tony, would you please sit down? No, I don't want to sit down, thank you. Yes, I I think you should. And maybe a biscuit. Estella? Estella, can you come here please? Oh Steamy in here open a window. You always have the shower on so hot and how you can stand it. Stella, I need you to have a look at something. What what is it? It might be nothing, but

I think I can feel something just here. Right, okay. Um can you can can you see if you can feel what I think I can feel? Uh yeah. Okay. Sorry, my hands are gonna be a little bit cold. It's okay just Er ist hier, so wie ein Lamp. Hier? Ja. What do you think? not quite sure. Um really? So so you can't feel anything? I don't know, I just uh I can't I mean I

I think so. Okay, good. I mean I thought I felt something, I right here. Yeah, yeah, right right here. This is it. Give me your hand. Kid can you feel it? Um Oh right, yeah, yeah, I can. Right. Right, okay. Yeah, I thought so. I mean it's it's quite small, isn't it? It's definitely something. Yeah. And maybe. Okay, so I'll um I'll call the doctors tomorrow. They'll probably be closed now. Okay. Is Rosie still having her tea? Yeah, uh she's just finishing up. Okay, okay, well let's just test

Keep things normal, get Rosie's to bed, yeah, don't want her knowing. Yeah, of course. Don't say anything in front of her. No, no, no, sure. Okay, so I'll just get dressed. Would someone please tell me how this has happened without me even knowing? Well you did know, Tony. Did I? You know, I think I'm gonna get going. I'll just see how Akram's getting on if he's finished.

Oh no no no you you don't need to go, Azra. That's okay, thanks. This has been really useful. Um course. Thanks, Azra. No problem. Please don't get up. I I'll just gonna get See, the thing is, Dad, Helen listed them last week. Last week? Yeah, you did have a conversation with her, didn't you? When you said you were okay with letting them go? Yeah, I I did, but I didn't expect her to get straight onto the auctioneers like this. I need at least a few weeks' grapes.

But why didn't you tell me when we talked about it? I don't know. I just I just couldn't I th I thought you'd be upset and then I spoke to mum and I thought she would tell you. Tony, it's not Tom's fault. It's not anyone's fault. You agreed for the sale to go ahead. We all knew that and Helen's

Just being efficient. You you can't blame her for that. Maybe it's better this way, eh, Tony? Like ripping off a plaster. Well, it would have been nice to have been warm. But you knew it was gonna happen, Lar. Yes, but not so soon. Oh, Tony, please don't be like that.

Everything all right, Rosie asleep. She's still reading, but yeah. Yeah, we were just doing our phonics homework. A little tricky this week. Yeah. Then it'll be ready in ten. It's just in the oven. Lovely. I think you need a glass of wine. Already poured you one. Oh thanks. Pit, you okay? Yeah, fine. I can take Rosie to school tomorrow if you want. No, it's okay, I can take her. No, it's fine, I don't mind. You don't have to, I can do it. But uh you might have an appointment. Yeah.

You know, it's most likely nothing. I've been looking on my phone, there's lots of other things it could be. I know, but you know about my mum. Yeah, of course. She was a similar age. Do you want me to call Razara? I mean I'm sure she wouldn't mind. What now? Yeah. No, why? I don't know, she might be able to reassure you. She won't be able to say anything until she's actually examined me. Yeah.

Sure. Sure, ignore me. Plus she d won't want the whole village calling her about every lump and bumble. No, no, no, being silly. I'll call the doctors first thing. They'll give me an appointment. Yeah, they will. Mm-hmm. Make sure you say it's urgent though. Yeah. You'll be okay. Yeah, I'll be okay. I don't know why you didn't just tell me. I honestly forgot, Tony. Did you? Really? Of course. Think I wanted a scene like that in front of Azra. Was I awful?

You were a bit. Poor Azura. And I'd better apologize. I would at some point. Oh dear, what must she think of me? Ah, she's seen it all before. It was kind of ironic that we were talking about men not being able to talk about their feelings. You're just coming to terms with letting go. Oh, you m you make it sound so dramatic. Oh, you were the one who made it dramatic. Well, I didn't mean to.

It it it's a big deal for you. It is. And I imagine you're feeling a bit out of control. You're right I am. Look it's not like you've never been through this before. I seem to remember you were exactly the same when we wound up our first dairy, huh? Yes, but then I got the Anguses, didn't I? And they've been your pride and joy. And you've got a lot out of them over the years. Yeah, I have. But you will find something else. Will I?

And it it's in good hands, the farm, if that's what you're worried about. I know that, and I'm not worried. Helen's got loads of ideas. Things are looking bright. I know, I know. Change is inevitable. Radical vision. It's it's what we're known for. Yes. And I'm up for it. Of course you are. Now listen, I I know I forgot to tell you that tiny detail about the auctioneers, but look uh it doesn't mean I wasn't thinking about you.

Here. What's this? A little memento of your favourite animals, so you never have to really let them go. That anger's herd for my model railway. Oh thank you, Pat. No. Do you forgive me? Oh all right. Mm, there's more if you want it. Thanks, no, I'm okay. Oh sorry. It was lovely. You don't have to say that. It was underwood's finest. Uh so do you want to watch something? Yeah, okay. Something funny. And I'll try not to fall asleep. Yeah, all right.

Okay, I'll just clear this all up then. Mum was only thirty two when she got it. Breast cancer. Yeah. I mean I I don't really remember, I was like You were very young. It's the same age as Rosie. Yeah. And and and does she talk about it much now?

I I guess you wouldn't, but I I I d wonder how it affected her, you know, like going through something like that. Yeah. I mean it must have been awful for her and dad. They w had had two children to care for and to keep the farm going and So she had been after Yeah. But she's well now though, fit as a fiddle, your mum. Oh yes, she's great. Do you do you know if it's um hereditary? Uh n but n I don't. Um we haven't spoken about that.

Well it's not the kind of thing you want to bring up, is it? Oh yeah. But I do check every month. I've got a little reminder in my phone. Really? I didn't know. Yeah. You know, it doesn't automatically mean that's what it is. I hope not. Try not to jump to any conclusions. It could be any number of things. Yeah. What if it is? Then you'll get through it. We'll get through it. Just worry about Rosie seeing me like that and seeing me ill and seeing my When it was your mum, you got through it.

Kids are resilient. A a and medicine's far more advanced now. Yeah, I know. I know it's hard not to worry. But you can't not until you know what it is. Yeah. You just need to see Azra. Yeah, yeah, I know. And you know, if it is something then we'll just get through it. Yeah. There's nothing else we can do. On Big Lives, we take a single cultural icon. People like Jane Fonda, George Michael, Little Richard, and we pull apart the story behind the image.

Vast archives. Discovering forgotten interviews that change exactly how we see these We're here for the human version of our heroes. Kyright This is a big lie. Samla igen för upp till 40 långivare så du kan få. När livet växer finns vi If you need it.