The Archers Verdict: How Five Million Fans Were Gripped By Helen Titchener Trial

It was the fictional trial that gripped a nation.

An estimated 5 million listeners tuned in yesterday to hear the verdict in the gripping trial in BBC Radio 4 show The Archers.

The show’s character Helen Titchener was dramatically found not guilty of the attempted murder of her abusive husband Rob, after she stabbed him to defend herself, her five-year-old son and her unborn child.

Social media lit up with joy when the verdict was delivered in the special hour-long episode, the culmination of a five-month long storyline in the fictional village of Ambridge.

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Helen had been subjected to a long period of domestic abusive by Rob, who hit her, told her what to wear and stopped her from seeing her family.

Fans of the show were delighted at the not guilty verdict.

Louiza Patikas and Timothy Watson as Helen and Rob. (Picture: PA)

Actor Tony Robinson tweeted: “Oh thank God”.

Actor Louiza Patikas, who has played Helen for 16 years, tweeted: “Strength and courage to victims of domestic abuse past and present.”

Charities such as Women’s Aid and Refuge also tweeted their support for the verdict and the storyline.

The show also delivered the verdict on its Twitter feed. (Picture: @BBCTheArchers/Twitter)

Ms Patikas met survivors of domestic violence through both charities in her preparation for the show.

After the verdict was delivered, the actress said: “I feel relieved - the secret’s out.

“Finally I can talk to friends and family about it and I’m really intrigued to see what the public makes of the verdict.”

Actress Louiza Patikas, who plays Helen, said she was “relieved”. (Picture: @BBCTheArchers/Twitter)

The hour-long special was the first of its kind in the show’s 65-year history. It featured actor Timothy Watson as Rob Titchener, as well as Nigel Havers and Catherine Tate, who played members of the jury.

Havers’ character, Carl, the jury’s foreman, made a number of controversial comments during the episode.

At one point, the character said: “Even if you don’t think she meant to kill him she’s still guilty of wounding with intent.

“Come on they can’t have it both ways. They can’t demand to be treated equally and then still play the victim. Helen Titchener brought this on herself.”

Actor Tony Robinson tweeted his delight at the verdict. (Picture: @Tony_Robinson/Twitter)

The special episode was the swansong of the show’s current editor, Sean O’Connor, who left earlier this year to work on EastEnders, although he oversaw the Helen and Rob storyline until the end of the trial.

He said: “It has been humbling and very moving to be able to shine a light onto an urgent social issue that affects millions of women and to see the audience embrace Helen’s story in such an extraordinary way.”

Charities Women’s Aid and Refuge supported the storyline. (Pictures: @womensaid/@RefugeCharity/Twitter)

Explaining the verdict, he said: “I was very keen that having accompanied Helen on every step of her painful story, there would be hope for her and her future.

“We know that life isn’t always like that, but sometimes drama can and needs to offer us a sense of redemption. That’s why we decided to conclude the trial with the verdict that we did.”

However, the storyline isn’t quite finished - a family court hearing has been set for September 14, where the custody of the couple’s children - Henry and Jack - will be decided.

A fundraising page set up by Paul Trueman to aid victims of domestic violence, called The Helen Titchener (née Archer) Rescue Fund, achieved its £150,000 target after the episode.

(Main picture: Julia Quenzler/PA Wire)