BBC cuts the number of Archers' episodes featuring top stars as fans fear for future of long-running rural drama series

It's the genteel rural drama that brings smiles to the faces of its millions of listeners each week.

But it appears that all may not be well in The Archers' fictional village of Ambridge after bosses cut the number of episodes featuring its top stars, in what they see as a drive to reduce costs.

Sources have told the Mail on Sunday that the move, which has prompted unrest among the cast, means the most popular characters, who are paid more, are being used less.

Fans of the show have noticed that characters often disappear for long periods, and vented their frustrations on The Archers Facebook group. 

One said: 'The actors were always guaranteed a minimum number of episodes, but that's all changed and the cast are furious. Characters disappear for weeks at a time as some actors aren't being used as much, especially if they are paid more.

'It is becoming de rigueur to use cheaper actors on soaps and this is what is happening here.

'You are also hearing more characters being talked about but not actually appearing.

'There's a lot of anger behind the scenes, but everything has been cut to the bone and there's a real fear about its [the drama's] future.'

The BBC has denied cutting the budget. But when asked about the cast's episodes being reduced, a spokesman said: 'Actors are used according to the requirements of each individual storyline.'

Last year the BBC launched an official podcast for the show in what could be seen as a desperate attempt to lure younger audiences to the drama that has an average listener age of 56. 

The soap features well-known characters such as Jill Archer, played by Patricia Greene, David Archer, portrayed by Timothy Bentinck, and Felicity Finch's Ruth Archer.

Last week the BBC was forced to come out and say the drama would be featuring the Government's inheritance tax raid on farms, after being accused of underplaying it last November.