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
BBC Home Service under the banner of BBC Network Three until 4 April 1970). The Home Service was renamed BBC Radio 4. Initially, Radio 4 continued to provide for regional programming and scheduling, and the BBC's programme journal "Radio Times" listed the channel's offerings under the heading "BBC Radio Four - Home Service", with particular reference to the seven broadcasting regions: London, Midland, North, Northern Ireland, Scottish, Welsh, and West. With the introduction of BBC Local Radio, starting with BBC Radio Leicester on 8 November 1967, it was felt that the future of non-national broadcasting lay in local rather than regional services. The