Nada consegue descrever melhor o carácter conservador britânico do que a longevidade das soap operas. The Archers, uma radionovela passada na vila rural imaginária de Ambridge, está no ar desde 1950. Já tem mais de 16 mil episódios e alguns clubes de fãs espalhados pelo país. Parece que existem mesmo referências a episódios da série na correspondência pessoal de Philip Larkin, recentemente publicada em livro. Na televisão, Coronation Street está a fazer cinquenta anos e Eastenders vinte e cinco. É como se a Vila Faia nunca tivesse terminado e o João Godunha continuasse a chorar eternamente a morte da Mariette. Caso queiram saber o que andam a perder, transcrevo a sinopse do episódio de hoje de The Archers:

Kenton is trying to catch up with his last minute Christmas cards when Pat turns up at Lower Loxley to deliver some yoghurts. Elizabeth is in a flap as she hasn’t yet received Lily’s main present: a mobile phone with internet, ordered through the web.

Elizabeth has set up a shot of Kenton as the highwayman surprising some children. It’s a great success and will be featured in the Echo. Next year she hopes to use it in their own publicity.

Tony brings over a replacement present for Helen, a beautiful mobile for the baby. Ian really likes it and encourages Tony to waits and give it her himself. Although Tony would love to, he just leaves it with Ian.

When Helen opens the gift, she thinks it’s pretty, but still feeling very hurt by Tony. She tells Ian that Pat must have put her dad up to it. Helen doesn’t ring Tony, and when Pat suggests Tony might phone his daughter he sadly suggests that he’d better leave her to ring him when she’s ready. But as time goes on, Tony realises that Helen isn’t going to phone him at all.