The Duchess of Cornwall popped in to Grey Gables for a cup of tea ? but her performance could never match the build-up
Camilla on The Archers: full transcript
The controversial shortbread was all laid out, Susan's flags distributed, and Lynda Snell worked up into such a state of overexcitement that I rather feared that the Duchess of Cornwall would exit Grey Gables having signed up for next year's panto.
Instead poor Lynda found herself banished to the loo as the crowds broke into somewhat feeble cheers. "A bitter blow," Lynda breathed in melancholy tones. "A lucky escape," Camilla sadly didn't reply.
Instead the duchess was busy smoothing over biscuit-gate. "So you're the genius with the shortbread," she told Ian, who had spent last week fretting over whether he could possibly improve on Prince Charles's Duchy shortbread. Much to listeners' irritation. And Waitrose's pleasure.
The duchess's response of "delicious" presumably trumped Ian's "really very good". If only the BBC had thought to capitalise on the bake-off, Ambridge's finest shortbread fingers could be flying off shelves as we speak.
Or perhaps not. The duchess, despite playing herself, didn't seem entirely comfortable in her Archers role. Lines were rather muttered. "I know the feeling!" she didn't quite trill. It was difficult to work out who sounded more awkward: her or a reluctant Ian.
"Obviously Ambridge got its hooks into you," she said, throatily.
"One way or another, yes."
"I can imagine that happens to a lot of people."
No word on whether Lynda was loitering in the background with a sign-up sheet for next Christmas's production.
After the breathless lead-up ? even the post office had been closed! ? I was half hoping for David and Ruth to barge in with General and let him loose among the meticulously grouped chairs and tables and fancy tea plates.
Instead we got some rather forced lines about osteoporosis and Camilla got some good PR: "She's lovely. It's just like talking to anyone else," gushed Caroline. Ian's self-confidence was transformed.
And, thanks to a misbehaving bicycle chain, Lynda did at least get "the most charming wave and smile" from the duchess as she whizzed on to her next engagement ? perhaps the best solution all round.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/feb/16/the-archers-radio
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