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50. Ambridge Goes to Bradford

Recorded at the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Contains Strong Language festival, with Emma Freud. Susan (Charlotte Martin), Ben (Ben Norris), poet Rachel Bower and scriptwriter Sarah McDonald Hughes.

Emma Freud is on stage at St George's Hall, Bradford, as part of this year's ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Contains Strong Language festival of poetry and performance, to record a special edition of the podcast in front of an audience.

She's joined by Susan Carter - played by Charlotte Martin - and Ben Archer - played by Ben Norris, along with Bradford poet Rachel Bower and Archers scriptwriter Sarah McDonald Hughes, to discuss the rich and varied history of poetry, fiction and storytelling in Ambridge. As the archive reveals, this history includes Julia Pargetter's steamy prose, Joe Grundy's chilling ghost stories, Dan Archer's diaries and the village book group, in which Susan argued that Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford shows no understanding of how retail works.

We also hear performances of two poems written by Bert Fry, Ambridge's own bard, who often failed to find an appreciative audience for his rural rhymes. Now they take centre stage at a poetry festival, read by Charlotte Martin and Ben Norris.

Presented by Emma Freud
Produced by Jessica Bunch

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Email us thearcherspodcast@bbc.co.uk

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35 minutes

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