FOR 50 years now, radio listeners have been tuning in avidly every day to get their regular fix of the world's longest-running soap opera.

The Archers is probably one of Radio 4's greatest triumphs and has become a firm feature of British life since it was first aired in 1951.

For many of its vast army of fans, this year's golden jubilee has been a real cause for celebration.

Stars and fans had a chance to mingle when the show's fan club - the Archers Addicts - held a special event at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena as part of the celebrations.

Almost 3,500 people attended the event and among those stars invited was one Vale resident, who may only be remembered by Archers' fans of a certain vintage.

It is 27 years since Michael Shaw left the show after five years as landowner Charles Grenville.

He is now living in Badsey with his wife, Veronica, so giving the region yet another link to the show - Hanbury Hall provided the inspiration for the show's Lower Loxley Hall and the Bull at Inkberow is well-known as the basis for fictional Ambridge's own pub, also called the Bull.

Mr Shaw is well aware of the devotion of some fans to the show.

"These addicts, they know everything," says. "You have to keep everybody's birth date and birthday and their anniversaries.

"God help you if you forget somebody's birthday who is a listener's favourite character because they will come and tell you."

Archers writers have to ensure that nothing a character says contradicts a statement made months or even years ago.

"They are living in a completely false, real world," says Mr Shaw.

He thoroughly enjoyed the Addicts' event, saying: "It all worked very well and was very successful.

"The audience was terribly enthusiastic and I came on as a 'you may remember' act."

The evening was his first Archers experience since his stint as Charles Grenville came to an end.

Introduced in 1959 as a dastardly former Colonel who bought an estate in the village.

Mr Shaw explains: "I was really brought in to bring in modern business methods to the whole programme."

Despite everything, Charles Grenville turned out to be a "frightfully good egg".

Acting was not always his chosen career.

He started out as a quantity surveyor with a keen interest in amateur dramatics and he fell into his career when a speaker booked to appear at a club in Cheltenham failed to appear because of foggy conditions.

Mr Shaw knew a radio presenter lived nearby and roped him in as a replacement.

The new speaker took a shine to his voice and suggested he contact the BBC.

He went for an audition and, three weeks later, a BBC contract for a radio play came through the post.

"I was 26 or 27 and I was terrified," he recalls.

Then came The Archers. "When I landed that part I was 28, playing a man of 43 or 45."

After leaving The Archers he was able to indulge his fascination with film, working on a series of information films, mainly for heavy engineering firms.

He later set up his own company in the same field, but the arrival of recession and video put paid to that.

His rich voice has also found him work in almost every sector of broadcasting, particularly doing news film voice overs for television, working alongside characters, such as Alistair Burnett and Reginald Bosanquet.

For the last few years he has been semi-retired and is now planning a move to Spain with his wife, but he admires those who have made The Archers the success it undoubtedly is.

"The golden jubilee is very special," he says.