At over , episodes and counting, e Archers — the world’s longest-running audio drama — delivers galvanizing, wildly popular scripted ction to millions of listeners on BBC Radio and globally via podcast.
Not only is e Archers beloved in the UK and beyond, achieving more than million listens annually, for decades its storylines have been powerful drivers of cultural change.
e biggest players in the US podcast market recognize the untapped commercial potential in audio ction and are beginning to develop similar competing content. But only Talkbox holds the rights to leverage the BBC brand, tap into their extensive production resources, and launch an Archers spin-o with social justice at its heart.
// Introducing… THE ABELS
An entertaining docuction that explores stories ripped from today’s headlines.
A spin-o of BBC Radio ’s scripted ction serial, e Archers, with bold new storylines centering People of Color and Gen Z and appealing to multigenerational listeners.
e Abels: an unrivaled collaboration between
Talkbox Productions, BBC, And you
e Abels will capture its audience with premium production quality and by connecting with listeners' desire for authenticity.
An exceptional head writer and an expert production team are essential to e Abels' strategy.
With the best writing and producing team in place, the timeline for project greenlight to distribution is nine months.
PRE-PRODUCTION PRODUCTION SERIES LAUNCH 9 months to Series Premiere 3-6 months to Series Premiere
Writing & casting Audio production Initial 30-episode drop with a cli hanger Stang & production workows Audience-building campaigns launch: Continuing audience-building campaigns Marketing & PR planning Digital & traditional media PR strategy launch Partnership development Ad placement Impact campaign Archers integration
// from the creator
roughout its -plus-year run, amidst impossible to ignore similarities in my own By following e Archers’ time-tested storylines intended to delight and relationship. In fact, the story helped me formula and updating it for a modern entertain, e Archers has explored timely, nd the courage to leave a man I loved but audience, a spin-o audio drama, e Abels, complex social issues, including mental was afraid of. can play a vital role in helping citizens in health, substance abuse, sex and our fractured United States listen to each relationship, climate, nancial insecurity, e Rob & Helen storyline made a other and nd common ground. assault and abuse, and more. ese stories measurable impact in Britain. Listeners have moved listeners toward empathy, who had experienced relationship violence is is the kind of scripted ction understanding, and action. at is the expressed gratitude to the show, and at programming that America needs, but unique power of ction. least one listener called to report that he it's not just altruism. Stories that matter was horried to recognize his own abusive will attract larger audiences and keep As soon as I discovered BBC Radio ’s behavior in the main character, and was them interested longer. In other words, e Archers in , I became an avid, daily seeking counseling. it's good business. listener. In , the podcast became personal when it embarked on a slow-burn at is world-changing storytelling, and story arc dramatizing coercive control and I want to bring it to a US audience. domestic violence. As I listened, it became
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“When Tavia Gilbert approached me with the idea of adapting e Archers, an icon of British radio, for an American audience, I wondered why no one had ever thought of it before.
e renaissance of audio ction in the US through podcasting is the perfect moment to realise her vision and to create a brand new classic soap opera with both storytelling and a social conscience at its core.
In the UK the response to the Rob & Helen story of coercive control was overwhelming and told us on the production team that it was clearly a story that demanded telling, and we know there are many other social issues for which continuing drama is an e ective vehicle.
e combination of Tavia’s professional expertise and personal experience and connection to the original story make her the ideal creative mind for this project.”
— ALISON HINDELL, BBC Radio 4’s Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction
Listen to fan reactions to e Archers Listen to fan reactions to the Rob & Helen storyline
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Ratings boosted • Facebook fans nearly doubled • More than million new listening fans added A signicantly younger, new generation of listeners tuned into the slow-burning Rob & Helen storyline
It is good business to have a story that saves lives.
“...this storyline has saved lives.” “ is storyline...has hit an emotional seam BBC NEWS MAGAZINE with women (and men) all over the country.” “ e Archers: What e ect has the Rob and THE TELEGRAPH Helen story had?” “ e Chilling Domestic Abuse on e Archers is More an Just a Aadio Storyline.”
“Our audience team’s latest data shows “ e program...is cited as the reason for a “[Audio] is a wonderful the programme has achieved its highest annual increase in calls to Britain’s medium for sensitive, ever level of listener appreciation.” national domestic violence helpline.” nuanced storytelling like this.” TONY HALL, TIME MAGAZINE THE GUARDIAN en-BBC Director General “How a Radio Soap Got a Whole Country “Domestic Abuse in e Archers – How the Talking About Domestic Abuse.” Radio Show is Helping Women Spot the Signs.”
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FOR MORE THAN 70 YEARS, THE ARCHERS HAS APPEALED TO AUDIENCES WITH:
• Stories that do not demand an audience suspend disbelief, but reect listeners’ lived experiences • Storylines centered in real-world social issues that appeal to a multicultural audience • A diverse, non-celebrity, multigenerational cast of longtime characters • Cinematic, real-world sound design with a real-time/real-life pace of daily episodes • A carefully-cultivated relationship with its listening fans
BUILDING ON THAT SUCCESS, THE ABELS WILL:
• Appeal particularly to listeners ages 18-34 • Emphasize storylines of historically marginalized people, e.g., women, BIPOC, etc. • Create a powerful feedback loop between today's headlines and cross-promoted ction • Exploring dicult but timely themes such as domestic violence, race relations, and police brutality in collaboration with subject matter experts • Presenting, without preaching, moral and ethical complexity in narratives that allow an audience to reect • Prioritize plot and character development with a supporting, gentle real-world sound design • Highlight multi-generational, professional voice actors • Connect storylines back to a central cast grounded in a familiar place that brings the listener home
// of e Abels
e Abels’ premier episode and its rst central story arc will appeal to American listeners’ passion for true crime podcasts.
In current day and in ashback, the audience will follow the romantic relationship of a couple that listeners initially love to love, until their once-happy union is destroyed by coercive control. Our way into their story is through the perspective of a defense attorney.
// of e Abels (continued)
Case notes. Tuesday the 4th. Before the detective — the guy I’ll send you a link to the full 10:30 am. Just met my new client. always has a toothpick sticking recording of our interview, but out of his mouth and swaggers, don’t hold your breath. While she Late 30’s, early 40’s. Mother of like he’s got everything already says next to nothing, she did a teenage son. Educated. White. figured out — took me into the admit she’s guilty — she did it. Middle-class. interrogation room, he warned me that I’d find my client covered So, should be end of story, right? According to the lead detective, in blood. the woman in custody is also a Could save me a lot of time and “MILF,” or so I overheard him Makes sense, since she was taken trouble to take her at face value. say. I’m certain that comment into custody after shooting her wasn’t meant for my ears, but husband just a few hours ago in But for some reason... I’m not so it’s high praise for a woman their kitchen. Husband’s sure. Something tells me there’s... who’s 38 weeks pregnant. apparently in emergency surgery a lot more going on. now, so this isn’t a murder Her father reached me early this case. morning, begged for my help, said he’d find a way to pay — Not yet, anyway. whatever the cost.
// , ’ us we begin the e Abels soap opera podcast, which rst e strength and appeal of the podcast will be balancing dives into the timely subject of guilt and innocence. And of stories of everyday joys against the backdrop of serious course, the answer to the central question — Is this woman issues, o ering space for storylines that feature American guilty? — will be far more complicated than anyone could experiences as light-hearted, playful, and joyful as those that ever imagine. inspire serious conversation.
Beginning a series adaptation with an evocative story that taps into the mind-bending of gaslighting and coercive control represents only the jumping o point for the narratives e Abels will courageously explore.
With stories ripped from the headlines, e Abels will highlight contemporary pressure points such as domestic terrorism, racism, class warfare, and the very nature of truth and lies. Plots based on true stories will appeal to listeners who value not only entertainment, but truth and authenticity.
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e Abels’ editorial values and Evocative music that underscores Gripping subject matter inspired by point of view will highlight: honest family pathos and vulnerability high-stakes, true events THIS IS US SERIAL
Slow-burn, docudrama narratives Cohesive throughlines while playing that feature diverse, authentic across a variety of tones — from characters and communities comic to tragic THE WIRE ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
Exceptional voice acting in a Lightheartedness, tenderness, and the natural, conversational style, thoughtful cultivation of a passionate with real-world, cinematic fanbase with listeners who hear their sound design own truths reected HOMECOMING SCHITT’ S CREEK
Moving story arcs that bring together diverse characters of every age and class, with no throughline or loyalty lost even if beloved characters transition o the program CALL THE MIDWIFE
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TAVIA GILBERT ALISON HINDELL MIRANDA FLEMING Creator Executive Producer Digital Strategist
Spoken word Grammy nominee, Audiobook Narrator of the Alison Hindell is Radio ’s commissioning editor Miranda Fleming produced award-winning shorts Year, and winner of the Best Female Narrator Audie Award for Drama and Fiction. Hindell joined the BBC in and features before moving into the digital space Tavia Gilbert has narrated over audiobooks and is the from the Royal Shakespeare Company and and is now a leading expert in fan and audience award-winning writer and producer of multiple non-ction was subsequently appointed Head of Audio Drama digital engagement. She was Head of UK Film podcasts for an international audience. She studied Radio in , directing more than radio dramas and for Indiegogo - before founding her Documentary at the Salt Institute, Acting at Cornish overseeing the creation of over hours of drama company Fanslike Agency. Clients include College of the Arts (BFA), and Creative Nonction from per year across BBC Radio Networks. Universal Pictures and BFI. Vermont College of Fine Arts (MFA).
BRYAN BARNEY JEREMY HOWE ANDY PARTINGTON Sound Supervisor e Archers’ Editor Sound Advisor
Bryan Barney is the Executive Producer of Audiobooks for Jeremy Howe is the Editor of e Archers on BBC Andy Partington is a freelance Sound Designer and Blackstone Publishing. He received a BA in Audio Radio . Prior to that he was the Commissioning Mixer. During a -year career in the BBC, he worked Post-Production and Sound Design from Emerson College Editor for Drama and Fiction at Radio . He came across a variety of programme genres including Radio and has over a decade of experience in the audio industry, to Radio from television, where he executive Drama and e Archers, where for the last ve years, he with a diverse background that includes live sound, music, produced docs, single dramas and New has been the most regular mixer. He was asked to head audio for television and lm, and special expertise in audio Directors strand for BBC . the technical e ort to keep e Archers on air during dramatizations. COVID- lockdown conditions, adding extensive knowledge of remote recording to his previous expertise in studio and location sound.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
: Deravedisian, Christina. Unsplash. : Spratt, Annie. Unsplash.
: “Plantenschat .” : S., Evie. Unsplash. Uildriks, Frederike J. Wikimedia Commons. : Chung, Zen. Pexels. Holzinger, Christian. Unsplash. : McQueen, Jordan. Unsplash. Rodnae Productions. Pexels. Du Preez, Priscilla. Unsplash. : Chung, Zen. Pexels. Shvets, Anna. Pexels. Holzinger, Christian. Unsplash. LinkedIn. Unsplash. Rodnae Productions. Pexels. Cottonbro. Pexels. Du Preez, Priscilla. Unsplash. Miyaoka, Patrick. Unsplash. Shvets, Anna. Pexels. Shvets, Anna. Pexels. LinkedIn. Unsplash. Shakharova, Ekaterina. Unsplash. Cottonbro. Pexels. Miyaoka, Patrick. Unsplash. : Spratt, Annie. Unsplash. Shvets, Anna. Pexels. Shakharova, Ekaterina. Unsplash.
// Pitch deck designed by Abby Towne A TALKBOX PRODUCTIONS PROJECT | IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BBC