I wonder if any of my fellow atheist readers (and I know there's a fair few of you) are as annoyed as I am by the introduction of an atheist character into The Archers?

Adam Rutherford in the Guardian sees it as being indicative of the debate "finally reaching middle England", and as such I suppose I should celebrate.

Except, of course, the character (Jim, Alistair's father) is a miserable curmudeonly old git, and the latest figure for listeners to hate in the programme, since the recent and welcome niceification of Kenton Archer. His atheism is not seen as being the result of some well thought out personal philosophy, but rather as another example of his bullying, unpleasant and exasperating character - his atheism is another stick with which to beat the long suffering Shula, and his argument with the vicar/superman was so weak it seemed to have been scripted by Ann Atkins for a pantomime villain.

I live in hope of the atheist plotline actually being a device to "out" one of the nicer characters as being a non-believer too. There must be plenty of contenders- the two gay characters for a start, or maybe even Alan, the vicar/superman himself as he struggles to defend the unending misfortunes which strike Ambridge every week as the work of a caring God.