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Listener Amy Clarke got in touch via and offered the time she has spent listening to The Archers. A listener for the last 10 years, Amy has spent 42,575 minutes (710 hours) in Ambridge.

Inspired by Amy's suggestion, the Archers team, together with Tim Davie, Director-General of the 麻豆社, would like to recognise the amount of time that every Archers listener dedicates to the programme. So, the final item in The Archers in 70 Objects is the staggering total collective time spent listening to The Archers. Tim Davie described it as “little short of a legendary feat of broadcasting”.

Despite the impossibility of accurately calculating this huge (and ever-growing) figure, it is the crowning item of The Archers in 70 Objects: it honours the extraordinary commitment of Archers listeners across decades, across generations and across the world. And if it wasn’t for those who listen, life in Ambridge wouldn’t be nearly so interesting!

How many minutes, hours, days have you spent in Ambridge? Click here for a guide to working out how much time you have spent listening to The Archers. And for more on the rest of the collection, read on.

Some of the 70 objects are vital to the making of The Archers. The authenticity of the world of Ambridge is considered throughout its production. Assistant producer Mel Ward uses maps to check the geography of The Archers' sonic world, while writer Sarah Hehir relies on a bird spotter's book to ensure the birds in her episodes are singing at the right time of year.

When writer Gillian Richmond starting writing for The Archers in 1987, Anthony Parkin was part of the team. He was the programme's first agricultural advisor. "I was slightly in awe of him", says Gillian, "he was so knowledgeable. I bought his book and I have it still".

Spot effects operator Vanessa Nuttall donates the programme's entire prop store to the collection! She describes it as "a treasure trove of random items" which are used to create some of the sounds heard in Ambridge. Vanessa says, "Some of these things might look like rubbish to the untrained eye, but to me they are a farm gate (elderly ironing board), a padlock (scaffolding clamp), a tractor step (upturned galvanised mop bucket stuffed with a towel)."

Both Mali Harries (Natasha Archer) and Sunny Ormonde (Lilian Bellamy) provide the shoes they imagine their characters wear. For Natasha it's leopard-print kitten heels with wellies to match! For Lilian it's stilettos, the sound of which heralds her appearance!

Meanwhile, actor Andy Hockley (Philip Moss) submits his 'Archers essentials kit': his 麻豆社 pass, highlighter pens for his lines, a red pen for cuts and changes, a biro for notes and mini pliers for removing stubborn staples to separate pages of a script.

But what about when all the recording work has been done? How do Archers actors occupy the rest of their time? The object submitted by production co-ordinator Andrew Smith (and the brains behind its creation) gives us an insight!

The creativity of Archers listeners knows no bounds! Helen Burrows' impressive cardigan records key names and locations in Ambridge. Nicola Maxfield's quilt illustrates iconic aspects of The Archers from Sid and Jolene in the shower to Lynda's llamas.

The collective effort of one group of listeners resulted in a knitted map of Ambridge measuring over 1m square. It was started in 2010 but then forgotton about until 10 years later when, while enforced to stay at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the project was resurrected and completed. WATCH: The yarn of the knitted map of Ambridge.

Other Archers creations in the collection include Jenny Simmons' register of Archers characters that she made as a child while listening in the 1950s and Brenda Selwyn's part in a long-running Private Eye joke at the expense of broadcaster Andrew Neil.

Listening to The Archers can be seeded by childhood experience of older relatives avidly tuning in. For Clare Santer it's her dad and for Kevin Reed it's his granddad. Kevin says one of his earliest memories is of his granddad "sitting back in his winged chair, putting his earphone in to listen".

For others life in Ambridge has inspired real life. Listener Deborah Powers owes her name to the infant Debbie Aldridge, while others have named children and animals after Archers characters. Lucy and Chris Walsh not only have a dog called Peggy but they also had an Archers-themed wedding!

A listener called Elizabeth Archer offers her son as an item for The Archers in 70 Objects. She named him Ben and 18 months later a Ben was born to the Archers of Ambridge. The item in the collection from Ambridge's Elizabeth Archer (now Pargetter), the actor Alison Dowling, is a ring given to her "by the most wonderful radio mum anyone could have". Alison adds the gift from Patricia Greene, who plays Jill Archer, was "typical Paddy", not for a special occasion but "just a generous warm gift from a generous warm soul".

Angela Louise Johnson's object for the collection is a get well message from actor Hedli Niklaus (Kathy). In 2020 Angela was intensive care for 10 weeks with Covid-19. As she started to get well she repeatedly played Hedli's message. She wishes to thank Hedli as she's sure it made a significant difference to her recovery.

The final item in this category is Victoria Wood which comes from producer Julie Beckett. In 2005 the comedian joined forces with The Archers to fundraise for Comic Relief. A listener herself, Victoria wrote an affectionate parody of the programme and took part in creating spot effects during its recording. Julie remembers it as "one of the most joyful things I've done in my years in Ambridge".

With seven decades under its belt, The Archers is woven into the memories of many and this collection includes cast and crew anecdotes and listeners' personal connections.

Liz Rigbey was the first person younger than The Archers to be its Editor. "The cast was a bit shocked by my age", she says. Her item for The Archers in 70 Objects is parsnips. "I have always loved The Archers' use of colloquialisms, especially the really outdated ones", says Liz, "My favourite was uttered by Mrs Perkins (Peggy's mother) - fine words butter no parsnips."

The fine words of The Archers have always been under close scrutiny. Former Archers writer Joanna Toye started her career with the programme as a secretary in 1980, re-typing scripts that had been amended by the then Editor William Smethurst. Her object for this collection is William Smethurst's fountain pen. Joanna says, "It was seeing which lines he'd crossed out, and his substitutions - funnier, sharper, more poignant or sometimes simply more sayable - that taught me pretty much all I know as a writer."

Another writer who honed her craft during William Smethurst's editorship is Mary Cutler. Her first Archers script is one of our 70 Objects. Mary retired from the programme 40 years later, making her The Archers longest-serving writer. Listen to Mary recount her first "terrifying" Archers commission.

Actors June Spencer (Peggy Woolley) and Trevor Harrison (Eddie Grundy) both donate items from their characters' pasts. When Peggy married Jack Woolley in 1991 there was a press call with a wedding cake and June still has the sugar roses that decorated it! Meanwhile in Trevor's wardrobe Eddie's iconic hat with horns is waiting for its next outing...

Reminiscences of a special one-off recording, a school play and Barwick Green played on a church organ are all donations from Archers listeners. In the 1970s Martin Maynard hosted Archers cast members at his studio to record off-air scenes as a gift for actor Jack Holloway (Ralph Bellamy).

Nicola Scott remembers improvising The Archers for a school play. She says, "We had Walter Gabriel cheating at the Flower and Produce Show by touching up his petunias with paint. Never imagined how close plots might get in reality!" And Chris Grove recalls hearing an organist play Barwick Green while visiting Shakespeare's tomb in Stratford-upon-Avon. "I don't know if the American or Japanese visitors recognised it, but I certainly did!" says Chris.

Real life and Archers life intertwine with Tim Bentinck’s item for the collection. Tim has restored a much-loved toy farm from his childhood as well as that of his sons. Meanwhile there’s a toy farm that is very significant to his character, David Archer. David’s toy went to a jumble sale at a time when the Brookfield Archers were contemplating selling up and leaving Ambridge. After hearing the voice of his father, Phil, as he looked over the farm he was due to leave, David raced to track down the treasured toy and bring it back to Brookfield.

The Archers in 70 Objects includes some unique items from previous significant anniversaries of the programme. The oldest of these is a silver cigarette box which commemorates the 1,000th episode of The Archers which aired on 22 November 1954. It belongs to actor Lesley Saweard (Christine Barford) and is engraved with her initials.

To mark the 2,000th episode in 1958, a souvenir copy of The Borchester Echo was produced and listener Jane Jones gives her copy to this collection. Fast-forward to the programme's 10,000th episode and listener Kay Roberts' village, Lanlivery in Cornwall, transformed itself into Ambridge, with road signs, pub and farms all re-named to mark the milestone.

For The Archers' 40th anniversary silver engraved cards were given to the cast. Actor Susie Riddell (Tracy Horrobin) was among them but not as her current character. "It's very strange to me now that I played Kate (then Aldridge) all those years ago. Another lifetime really", she says.

The weird and wonderful Archers memorabilia people hold onto...from spoons and tea-towels to mousemats and car stickers. The author Sebastian Faulks can thank Archers memorabilia for his marriage! He says, "The invitation I had to Shula and Mark’s wedding that I had displayed on the mantelpiece persuaded my girlfriend to marry me."

Writers Tim Stimpson and Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, actor Louiza Patikas and listener Myra James have all contributed items which relate to the Helen and Rob storyline. Myra's "Free The Ambridge One" tea-towel actually dates back to Susan Carter's incarceration but was dusted off for when Helen was tried for attempted murder. Gurpreet's object is a dressed salmon. She explains, "In one of my favourite episodes, Jennifer went to great pains to instruct Jess how to prepare one. Jess and Rob hosted the housewarming from hell. There was lots of awkwardness between Helen, Jess and Rob. And the salmon fell to the floor..." (see also Timothy Watson's Archers highlight)

A number of big moments in The Archers are captured in the object from former Editor Vanessa Whitburn. She says, "When I retired in 2013 there was a cartoon in the Sunday Telegraph, celebrating my time as Editor. Outrageous it was! I loved it and bought the original from the cartoonist, Howard McWilliam, and have it proudly displayed in my study."

Another unique Archers item is the front cover of the programme's first episode which aired on 1 January 1951, a copy of which is on display in The Archers production office. It's from the Editor Jeremy Howe who says, "When I see it, it triggers three thoughts: – just how extraordinary it is that June Spencer played Peggy in Episode 1 and is playing her today, and what an enduring performance of brilliance; secondly that front page puts me in touch with the team who set the whole of Ambridge in train, and it is humbling that I am part of this truly amazing unfolding saga the like of which is utterly unique; and thirdly – what has changed? The front page of our most recent scripts look remarkably like the front page of the first ever script; and yet, at the same time everything has changed. That is the trick of The Archers – we remain the same and yet we move with the times."

1. The Ambridge Rose - June Spencer (actor, Peggy)
2. The first episode - Jeremy Howe (Editor)
3. Lilian's stilettos - Sunny Ormonde (actor, Lilian)
4. A knitted map of Ambridge - "Auntie Social" (listener)
5. When Victoria Wood wrote The Archers - Julie Beckett (producer)
6. Welly-wanging prize - Sebastian Faulks (listener, author)
7. Eddie's horned hat - Trevor Harrison (actor, Eddie)
8. Cartoon - Vanessa Whitburn (former editor)
9. Engraved cigarette case - Lesley Saweard (actor, Christine)
10. Bird Spotter book - Sarah Hehir (writer)
11. Archers-themed cardigan - Helen Burrows (listener)
12. 40th anniversary silver card - Susie Riddell (actor, Tracy)
13. Shires badge - Keri Davies (writer)
14. Archers-themed wedding -Lucy Walsh (listener)
15. Tea-towel - Felicity Finch (actor, Ruth)
16. Her son named Ben - Elizabeth Archer (listener)
17. Her first Archers script - Mary Cutler (former writer)
18. Quilt - Nicola Maxfield (listener)
19. William Smethurst's pen - Joanna Toye (former writer)
20. Memory of his granddad - Kevin Reed (listener)
21. Toy farm - Tim Bentinck (actor, David)
22. When her village became Ambridge - Kay Roberts (listener)
23. Essentials for recording - Andy Hockley (actor, Philip)
24. Rob Titchener mug - Tim Stimpson (writer)
25. Free the Blossom Hill One tea towel - Louiza Patikas (actor, Helen)
26. A Nokia phone case - Angela Pitfield (listener)
27. Harry Oakes autograph - Jane Abrahams (listener)
28. A dressed salmon - Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti (writer)
29. Parsnips - Liz Rigbey (former editor)
30. Pebble Mill - Andy Partington (studio manager)
31. A gift from Patricia Greene - Alison Dowling (actor, Elizabeth)
32. Her own name - Deborah Powers (listener)
33. The props store - Vanessa Nuttall (studio manager)
34. The Archers does The Canterbury Tales - Nick Warburton (writer)
35. Her dog called Nolly - Lucy Westcott (listener)
36. A Bridge Farm trug - Patricia Gallimore (actor, Pat)
37. Private Eye spoof - Brenda Selwyn (listener)
38. Recording at Glastonbury - Sarah Morrison (production co-ordinator)
39. Maps - Mel Ward (assistant producer)
40. Grandmother's salt and pepper pots - Liz John (writer)
41. Barwick Green on church organ - Chris Grove (listener)
42. "You can't beat The Archers" spoon - Charlotte Morgan (listener)
43. Archers studio mascot - Liza Wallis (studio manager)
44. Archers Addicts mouse-mat - Wallace Mason (listener)
45. A special one-off Archers episode - Martin Maynard (listener)
46. Chickens and ducks named after Archers characters - Colleen Black (listener)
47. The Archers cast sing Barwick Green - Andrew Smith (production co-ordinator)
48. Natasha's leopard print shoes - Mali Harries (actor, Natasha)
49. Anthony Parkin's Archers book - Gillian Richmond (writer)
50. The Archers: The First 30 Years book - Maggie Mumford (listener)
51. Embroidered gift - Sally Wood (listener)
52. Get well soon message - Angela Louise Johnson (listener)
53. Archers plate - Graham Blockey (actor, Robert)
54. Eddie's singles - Mark Billington (listener)
55. 1958 Borchester Echo - Jane Jones (listener)
56. 1960s Borchester Echo - Alison Fordham (listener)
57. 1980s Borchester Echo - Philip Barnes (listener)
58. Her dad - Clare Santer (listener)
59. Her daughter called Sophie - Al Williams (listener)
60. School play - Nicola Scott (listener)
61. Ringtone - Francesca Soar (listener)
62. 1950s Archers register - Jenny Simmons (listener)
63. Shopping bag - Judy Stewart (listener)
64. Grandmother's tea towel - Pippa Holland (listener)
65. Aldridge Millennium Wood jug - Marion Higgs (listener)
66. Poems - Margaret Thornley (listener)
67. "The Bull, Ambridge" jumper - Sharon Davis (listener)
68. The Old Bull, Inkberrow - Sandra Reed-Jennings (listener)
69. "Free the Ambridge One" badge - Myra James (listener)
70. The total collective time spent listening to The Archers