He predicted a backlash when he wrote the words “I hate The Archers” in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine and while, at this early stage, Richard Bacon’s Twitter feed has not yet been “filled with abuse from across the country”, at least one national newspaper has already reacted against the BBC Radio 5 Live presenter’s demolition of Radio 4’s long-running rural drama.

Bacon told Radio Times The Archers was “boring”, “aimless” and consisted simply of constant small talk about “menial chores and small business decisions”, and he accused listeners of pretending to like it in an attempt to appear superior.

This morning, The Telegraph immediately hit back, suggesting Bacon could easily have been referring to his own 5 Live show, which it labelled “the self-indulgent maunderings of a smug metropolitan elite.”

As the debate gathers force, read Bacon’s full take-down of The Archers in the new issue of Radio Times, vote in our poll, and post a comment below - do you agree with Richard?