Ambridge Extra reported that the show was "highly unlikely" to return. The commissioning editor for Radio 4 Extra stated "Our "Ambridge Extra" decision won't impact on "The Archers" in any way, but across the BBC we are having to make tough financial choices and prioritise and protect the services and content that deliver the most value to audiences." Listener response to the early episodes were largely negative. Vicki Power from "The Daily Telegraph" suggested that the series showed potential, but needed to include storylines that the main show could "not afford to ignore", suggesting that the current format felt like listening to
The Archers in in London on 27 July 2012, where the theme tune was played at the beginning of a segment celebrating British culture: the sound of a radio could be heard being tuned in as "Barwick Green" was played. BBC Radio 4 Extra ran an occasional short supplement, "Ambridge Extra", between 2011 and 2013, featuring characters away from the Ambridge environs. Series 1 and 2 had 26 episodes and series 3, 4 and 5 had 20. The reason offered for non-renewal was limited resources. Two organisations dedicated to the programme were established in the 1990s. Archers Addicts was the official body,