UK: Archers comes in for criticism over legal details

The famous radio show has received unprecedented attention as listeners have become gripped by a storyline centring around Helen Titchener, who was found not guilty of wounding with intent her abusive husband, Rob.

But Rodney Warren, former chairman of the Law Society’s criminal law committee (pictured) was disappointed in the depiction of the legal profession.

He told the Solicitors Journal: “It’s been very unfortunate that the storyline has been developed in such a bar-centric way, which has given the public the wrong view of the criminal justice process.

“If any listeners find themselves in custody, they will expect a barrister to turn up to visit them twice a week. This will not happen, especially not on legal aid”.

Mr Warren, who was an erstwhile legal advisor on the show, said he was “concerned that the working of the criminal justice system, in terms of solicitors and barristers working together in the best interest of clients, has not been demonstrated.”

He added: “The barrister character is a good one, but it’s a shame she has been portrayed as a one-man band. It is a missed opportunity to demonstrate properly how the profession works.”

Counsel for Ms Tichener, the occasionally inebriated Anna Tregorran, has already incurred the ire of practitioners for her sloppy handling of the case.

For example, she was “inexplicably” unsuccessful in attempting to get her client released on bail while her cross-examination left a lot to be desired.

Mr Warren was baffled by the fact Ms Tichener’s mother and friendKirsty were not questioned: “In this country there is no property in a witness. If a solicitor had been involved, I’d have thought that talking to Helen’s mother, Pat, and her friend Kirsty would have been crucial.”

A BBC spokesman said: “We have gone to great lengths to research and develop this storyline with legal guidance and help from charities, but as our listeners know, The Archers is a fictional 15-minute programme so on occasion there’s some element of dramatic licence involved”.