It's not just you. I've been in love with Ruth for ages (except when she thought about running off with the farmboy - Oh No!)

I probably don't qualify because I haven't listened for years, but Shula's voice has always been my favourite.

Ruth Archer sounds APPALLING! And so think a lot of my friends and family. Now I know there are men out there who like her I understand why they didn't kill her off with breast cancer- something I was hoping for. I so hate her voice (and I usually love geordie voices) that when she took over from Jill as the Archer matriarch I went off listening for a while.

well I love the dishy vicar - I suppose it goes with writing novels about bishops and ex-cardinals. Sadly, the reverend in my village has a paunch and an untidy red beard and an ordained wife. Thank God for the refuge of the imagination.

Sue, Ruth sounds kind and cheerful and sure of herself without being strident. How do people manage to get angry at that? I can see not everyone might share my (and John's) more-than-friendly interest, but where does the hostility come from?

I think it may be because she isn't convincing as a character, or at least she wasn't, when she first took over as Archer matriarch. She was never domesticated and her chief interest was the cows - which was *absolutely* fine. Then all of a sudden she turned into earth mother. On the other hand, it could be pure chemistry - i.e. her voice just gets on my nerves.