I can understand why the BBC is reluctant to build a new drama studio for The Archers when it moves to Digbeth, seeing that there is no other radio drama being made in Birmingham that would plump out its use (BBC to stop recording The Archers in Birmingham for first time in its 75-year history, 12 October).
Is this to be the final nail in the coffin of programme-making for the national networks in the Midlands? At its peak in the 90s the Birmingham Network Radio department was the major provider of programmes to Radio 2 and 5 outside London, and for Radio 4 and 3 it had award-winning specialisms in features, environment, farming, drama and music programming plus, of course, The Archers.
