Tim Bentinck (David) answers your questions.

Hello, I hope you are well. My question is, don't you at times think that David and Ruth, and for that matter Phil and Jill, are all just a bit too... nice? I love listening to you all though, don't get me wrong!
From a very flawed Jenny Mitchell

Hello Jenny, I hope you are well too. Yes, nice is what we do. We are nice. David has passion and anger, but also compassion and love. Ruth can be a right pain sometimes, but always ends up doing the right thing. Someone’s got to be nice, and that’s what we do. Be nice.
Mmmmm. Nice.

Which character would you least like to live next door to, and why?
Helen Brace

Eddie. Because he'd lead me astray.

Why do you repeatedly continue to claim that you are the actor that plays David Archer when we all know that The Archer's is a real documentary about real people?
Sheila Lockwood

For all I know "The Archer's" is a real documentary about what belongs to a bowman. "The Archers" on the other hand is a real radio drama about fictitious people, in which I play the character of David. We record it at the BBC radio studios in Birmingham.
However I would agree with you that the Americans never landed on the moon, and that the leaders of the world's countries are all lizards in disguise.

Do you think David will follow in the footsteps of Brian and have a torrid affair sometime in the future? He's getting rather sanctimonious of late, don't you think?
Lainey Alexander

Is it me or has there always seemed to be spark between David and Debbie that shouldn't be there? I noticed this a few years ago, way before womanizer Scott pointed it out, and am interested to know if this will become the next Ambridge affair [after the current one runs its course].
Mattcraw Thud

I know he loves Ruth and all that, but do you think David ever regrets letting Sophie Barlow go? And do you think his relationship with Debbie is, in his mind at least, just about business?
Brian Whitby

Blimey, didn’t know it showed. Well it depends whether you're talking to me or to David. From David's point of view it is of course unthinkable. He and Ruth are the good guys, following a long family tradition of moral rectitude and unshakeable values. From my point of view, bring 'em on. Bl**dy Collingwood shmoozing round the studio looking like the cat that got the cream and there's me, milking the cow again. Steamy scenes with Tamsin Greig and some serious horizontal acting would go down a treat.

what would u change about david?
Cal Saxton

His fidelity.

Do you think you will be playing David for as long as Norman has played
Phil?
Bookworm

My bank manager hopes so.

Could David ever be unfaithful to Ruth? If David had married Sophie, how would it have turned out? Is it confusing having your ex fiancée as your vicar now?
Kate Lloyd Jones

1. See above. 2. In divorce. 3. Not confusing, but Moir sometimes does the accent and we reminisce...

David and Ruth are now comfortably ensconced in the position, previously occupied by Phil and Jill, and before that Dan and Doris, as head of the Archer clan in Castle Brookfield. Do you envisage that in another thirty years your place will be in turn usurped by whichever young actor is lucky enough to land the role of Josh? Or do you think the programme is not likely to continue beyond the current generation of Archers?
Paul Woods

I can’t see it being pulled just yet. Wendy Richard said there’d be a revolution if it happened. Who knows what Josh’ll be like, he may be like Kenton and Ben will take over – or Pip!

We've been Archers Addicts for many years, and I've just seen that you are celebrating your twentieth anniversary in the part. Congratulations. But also commiserations. I can't help wondering how you cope with Ruth's accent - or have you just had to get used to it over the years. In particular the way she calls you Deeeavid drives me mad - could the children not give her some elocution lessons for next Mother's Day!! Keep up the good work.
Colin Ferguson

Na way man. Wah hoopin fer Josh an’ Ben tae be like Ant ’n Dec, ye nah?

Hi Tim. I have been an Archers fan since well, since I can remember really. I used to love Uncle Tom's opening talks that always used to start the programme back in the 60's. What I would like to know is if you weren't David Archer what would be your dream role. As an amdram actress mine is Miss Marple.
Wendy Atherton.

Well if you buy the computer game of "The World Is Not Enough" you’ll hear me in my dream role. When Timothy Dalton got the role of Bond I knew it could never happen, because the name’s too similar. Timothy Dalton, Timothy Bentinck - I knew that was it. Being a computer Bond is a fairly cool second.
On stage, Hamlet.

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