The Archers Rich (piano) and Norman Parker (percussion). Robert Robinson once compared the tune to "the genteel abandon of a lifelong teetotaller who has suddenly taken to drink". On April Fool's Day 2004 both "The Independent" and "The Today Programme" claimed that BBC executives had commissioned composer Brian Eno to record an electronic version of "Barwick Green" as a replacement for the current theme, while comedian Billy Connolly included in his act the joke that the theme was so typically British that it should be the national anthem of the United Kingdom. In 2009, comedian Rainer Hersch conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra in
Off the Ball (radio series) programme based on listeners' suggestions on a subject suggested by Cowan, usually related to a news event from that week. In the second show on a Saturday, a team or player of the day is chosen, and a song is also chosen as a tribute to that team or player. A weekly podcast of the show is produced and is available on a Saturday. It does not include any content from the evening programme. The show is also available on the BBC iPlayer for thirty days after the first broadcast. The programme's theme tune is "Let Me Clear My Throat"