The Archers is not billed as "an everyday story of country folk " any more, that went a while back, it's a " contemporary drama in a rural setting ". That's it, a drama, which means it's not a real life story, it's meant to get everyone biting their nails and talking about it. Which they are. (In real life it would be much more likely that an abusive man would use violence against the abused partner.) I thought the writing and acting was terrific, I will be tuning in tonight and not waiting for the repeat!