Annabelle Dowler

I'd rather be in Ambridge

The Archers radio soap is a story of farming life in rural Ambridge. It's on Radio 4 six days a week with an omnibus catch-up on Sundays.

Every Archers addict has their favourite star. We caught up with Annabelle Dowler aka Kirsty Miller (Tom Archer's on-off green girlfriend).

Are Kirsty's campaigning days over?

There is more to Kirsty than working at the Ambridge Organics farm shop and at The Bull. She went to agricultural college so she knows about farming. And she feels strongly about environmental issues.

I don't think she'd have been happy being Tom's assistant sausage promoter for long. Now that it's over with him, she could get involved in some other great cause. I'm looking forward to it.

Are you staying on in the soap?

I was worried I'd be out after Tom dumped me - but I'm not leaving Ambridge which is great as I love working on The Archers.

How much of you is in the character of Kirsty?

I'm not at all like Kirsty - though I do admire her strong principles. I support the organic movement and try to eat organic food - but it worries me that so much organic food is imported.

For me it is more important to buy local than organic - being in The Archers has made me more aware of this.

Did your upbringing prepare you for the role of Kirsty?

I remember being sent with my sister to stay on a pig farm near Darlington. We were totally out of our depth. The other girls were so outdoorsy and knew just what to do.

We weren't used to the smells and sounds and were terrified by the huge pigs. We couldn't get back home fast enough.

Do you live a green life?

Five years ago I had a landlady. She recycled everything. It was the first time I'd seen that - but now it's become automatic. Recycling is the norm and I hate to see a can or newspaper go into the bin. It just seems wrong.

For up to the minute information on The Archers, visit the BBC Radio 4 website.

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