Godfrey Baseley; Founder of Longest-Running Radio Serial

Godfrey Baseley, 92, founder of the world’s longest-running radio serial, “The Archers.” In 1948, Baseley suggested that the BBC broadcast a daily radio program based on characters living in a small farming community. The intention was to help modernize agricultural production after World War II. The first program was broadcast Jan. 1, 1951, and the series is still running today. The program originally contained some farm information, but the story of the family quickly took over. Within two years, the family of Dan and Doris Archer at Brookfield Farm in the fictional village of Ambridge had an audience of 9.5 million. Baseley edited the program for 22 years, shocking listeners in 1955 when he killed off one of the leading characters in a stable fire. Reported on Sunday in London.