John Yorke, BBC Vision’s Controller of Drama Production and New Talent, will be acting editor of The Archers while current editor Vanessa Whitburn takes long service leave until July.

John will head the Radio 4 drama for four months and will be based at The Mailbox in Birmingham. He currently oversees EastEnders, Holby City, Casualty and Doctors, so he knows all about soaps! It could be an interesting four months as he introduced the Slater family to EastEnders and was responsible for the 'Who Shot Phil?' storyline which gripped the nation, and Kat Slater's revelation to her daughter Zoe that she was her mother.Will we get our first murder? 

John says: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to see a different way of making long running shows and learn from the longest running drama in the world. I’m really looking forward to the experience. I began my career in radio many years ago and learnt almost everything I know about drama there. It's a real thrill - and a great honour - to return to a medium I love, particularly on a show as cherished as The Archers."

We love the fact that he started in radio but doesn't think he knows everything about it!