It’s the age-old debate from a galaxy far, far away: which has the most hardcore fans – Star Wars or The Archers? Felicity Jones acted in both, as Rogue One’s Jyn Erso and Ambridge’s Emma Grundy. She says there’s no contest. “Nothing beats an Archers fan for their level of devotion,” she told the BBC. Is she right?
Where they watch/listen
Archers
Roberts radio, kitchen.
Star Wars
Imax, 12.01am on day of release.
Spending power
Archers
Rex and Toby Fairbrother’s purchase of 250 Christmas dinner geese in 2015 led to an “Archers effect”, boosting UK goose sales by 3%.
Star Wars
Since 1977, the franchise has generated an estimated $32bn (£25bn) in global merchandise sales.
Famous fictional fans
Archers
Adrian Mole’s grandma Edna, who used to write letters to John Tydeman to complain about the amount of sex in the programme.
Star Wars
Homer Simpson. As overheard by fans waiting to watch The Empire Strikes Back for the first time: “Who would have known that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father?”
Famous non-fictional fans
Archers
Princess Margaret once made a cameo in Ambridge. “What a lahvley place this is, have you lived here long?” she asked Jack Woolley.
Star Wars
Barack and Michelle Obama danced with stormtroopers and R2-D2 at the White House to Uptown Funk. Barack was also criticised in a TV ad by one Donald J Trump for leaving a press briefing to watch The Force Awakens.
Conventions
Archers
The cast filled an arena in Birmingham for a one-off convention in September 2001.
Star Wars
Among dozens of conventions around the world, Lucasfilm has been running an official event called Celebration since 1999. Tickets for the four-day 2017 event in Orlando cost $150.
Political impact
Archers
David Cameron addressed the Rob and Helen domestic abuse plotline in a briefing with reporters: “The prime minister is very clear that the government should be doing all it can to help support victims of domestic abuse.” (Although he said he preferred EastEnders.)
Star Wars
The Reagan administration launched the Strategic Defence Initiative – AKA Star Wars – the year after Return of the Jedi was released.
Sex symbol
Archers
PC Harrison Burns. Attendance has been known to swell at the Ambridge WI when he gives talks.
Star Wars
Princess Leia in a bikini. Carrie Fisher describes meeting a fan in 2008: “He said: ‘I thought about you every day from when I was 12 to when I was 22.’ And I said: ‘Every day?’ And he said: ‘Well, four times a day.’”
Character they loathe
Archers
Rob Titchener. Perpetrator of a three-year-long campaign of physical and mental abuse of his wife, Helen. She eventually dispatched him in an act of self-preservation.
Star Wars
Jar Jar Binks. Perpetrator of a three-film-long campaign of CGI buffoonery. George Lucas eventually dispatched him in an act of self-preservation.
Expertise attained via fandom
Archers
Functional working knowledge of dairy farming.
Star Wars
Functional working knowledge of Trade Federation negotiations viz geographical blockades around the planet Naboo.
What they don’t call themselves
Archers
Archholes.
Star Wars
Kenobiheads.
T-shirt slogan
Archers
“May the farm be with you.”
Star Wars
“An everyday tale of galactic folk.”
