BBC Concert Orchestra 2025-2026 Friday Night is Music Night: The Archers at 75

The BBC Concert Orchestra transport us to Ambridge to celebrate 75 years of The Archers in a special edition of BBC Radio 3’s Friday Night is Music Night.

There will be pastoral delights from Elgar, Holst, and the piece that for many evokes the English countryside best of all - Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending. Alongside these are Archers-inspired gems—David Archer’s teenage favourites, Peggy and Jack’s ‘song’, a nod to Jolene, landlady of The Bull, and more.

With a special guest appearance by actor and singer Ryan Kelly (Ambridge’s Jack “Jazzer” McCreary), this slice of nostalgia and great music is a heartfelt tribute to the hugely popular, long-running radio drama.

Programme:
TRAD. Cornish Floral Dance
KATE RUSBY Village Green Preservation Society
CHARLES AZNAVOUR She
WALTON Wise Virgins (Sheep may safely graze)
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Lark Ascending
ERIC COATES From the Countryside
ERIC COATES At the fair (evening)
ELIZABETH MACONCHY Two Dances from Puck Fair
TRAD. Arr. VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Greensleeves
ERNEST TOMLINSON Three Pastoral Dances
ERNEST TOMLINSON Hornpipe
STING Fields of Gold
ELGAR Nimrod
DOLLY PARTON Jolene
ARTHUR WOOD My Native Heath