Archers 'doesn't copy EastEnders': Radio soap's editor forced to deny deliberately sensationalising storylines Vanessa Whitburn: She introduced racier plotlines to the long-running BBC Radio 4 show It has provoked the ire of Radio 4 listeners with its sexed-up" plots and "unrealistic" developments. Now the editor of The Archers has been forced to deny she has deliberately sensationalised life in Ambridge to compete with gritty TV soaps such as EastEnders. Vanessa Whitburn - who is set to leave the BBC radio series after 22 years at the helm - was grilled by fans after a string of dramatic storylines including an arson attack dubbed "Farmageddon" and a torrid extra-marital affair. Writing in the Radio Times, one fan asked: "The Archers goes over the top with accidents and violent gangs. Are you trying to compete with soaps like East Enders? Miss Whitburn replied: "Before my time as editor Grace was burnt to death, Tom Forrest was in court for killing a poacher and there was a diamond smuggler in the village, so we're possibly less melodramatic than we were then! I don't think The Archers has to compete with TV soaps. Strong storylines such as Lilian's affair with Paul should be balanced with gentler stories of community life - the fete and the pantomime, or how they're going to raise money to repair the church organ. The Archers attracts a regular audience of 5.07million listeners. The figure is up 450,000 on last year, but still lags some way behind the 6.5million who regularly watch EastEnders on BBC1. The Radio 4 soap is traditionally associated with the gentler aspects of rural life, rather than the sex and violence associated with urban dramas. But in recent years, Miss Whitburn has been criticised for introducing a string of controversial plots, including Nigel Pargetter plummeting to his death from a roof in the 60th anniversary edition and Lilian Bellamy's secret affair with her husband's half-brother Paul Morgan. Classic: The Archers is set in the fictional village of Ambridge, as mapped out in this official BBC map Ratings: Miss Whitburn's overhaul initially led to the popular show achieving record ratings in 2005 due to its 'Who's the daddy?' storyline involving brothers Ed and William Grundy and William's wife Emma When Miss Whitburn took a six-month sabbatical last year, her temporary replacement John Yorke - a former executive producer of EastEnders - promised to make the plotlines "darker and bigger." His brief stewardship saw a vicious arson attack on David and Ruth Archer, while another character was left in a coma after a hit-and-run accident. Miss Whitburn also defended the show against accusations it has become out of touch with the British countryside. Another listener complained: "Why hasn't The Archers reflected what's been happening in agriculture? Lambs dying in the snow, crops decimated? Miss Whitburn replied: "The Archers does strong stories - sometimes connected with farming, like Pat and Tony selling the herd, and the Aldridges" mega dairy - sometimes not. Interview: Vanessa Whitburn, who is due to leave the show, spoke to Radio Times But it's recorded a month to six weeks in advance. We do try to put in a topical insert if the weather is very severe, for instance. But they are expensive and we're on a budget. Last week, actor Arnold Peters, best known for playing Jack Woolley in the long-running radio soap, died aged 87. Even though he hasn't acted on the show for two years, his character, who suffers from dementia, has been kept on as a "silent" part. His wife Peggy is often heard visiting him in The Laurels Nursing Home. Miss Whitburn revealed she plans to keep Jack alive despite Mr Peters" death, saying: "I think that Arnold has painted such a wonderful character that we can keep Jack as a silent character in the Laurels for some time to come." Meanwhile, Radio 4 controller Gwyneth Williams defended complaints from some listeners that the BBC station was no longer suitable for children because its comedy programmes are "full of swearing, silly innuendo, and also to an increasing extent insulting to the elderly." She responded: "Radio 4 has always been listened to by overwhelmingly adult audiences and we make decisions about the content with that in mind. This includes the 6.30pm comedy slot - although children are of course welcome to join us if their parents decide it is suitable.