Archers... every story line sucks at the mo... it's awful

[nigelslaterfan]

Oh spare us!
Pipsqueak's makeover
Jazzer's horrible accent
Annette's putative abortion
The shop
The shop
The shop
Susan moaning about it
Vicky interminably always being unamusingly awful
Kenton and his bar research yawn yawn yawn
All the young people are so false and unnatural
Why can't they have some GOOD story lines they've got an army of writers.. what's wrong with them?

[Openbook]

We have got to say goodbye to Phil soon. Does anyone know how this will happen? I quite like the Jazzer storyline. Vicky is painful. i believe there is to be a storyline where we begin to see a more likeable side as we did with Linda. When Linda got on well with Kate I began to like her and I'm quite fond of her now.

[Lilymaid]

Are there any new agricultural stories - I always fancied the job of "Agricultural Story Editor" of the Archers - not much work requred.

[nigelslaterfan]

I quite like lindy too (barf) I think she's more rounded now. I liked the stepchildren story line.
But I hate the Annette storyline, it's just so depressing.

Actually since yesterday I like the shop story line! Shut UP Susan you wretched woman!

Yes how will the wave good bye to Phil?

[campion]

I like Vicky. Can't wait for her to get stuck in to Kate when she appears in a few weeks. (Kate storylines usually bonkers)

I, too, think Lynda has developed into a much better character - I was quite moved by her handling of Oscargate.

Phil will 'do a Doris' and conk out in the armchair. Just hope that Jill finds him eventually as she's always busybodying somewhere or other. She used to be a brick but is a tad irritating these days.

I will spare her due sympathy for Phil when she finds him, though ( sob).

[ChloeHandbag]

hmm I've been wondering where they're going with Vicky, even Mike is beginning to find her a little 'overwhelming'. I think she's going to get very annoying if they just carry on as they are with her. It crossed my mind that they could do an over controlling thing with her.

Helen is not like any real life person I've ever met.

Linda's great.

Most of the 'young people' aren't very realistic, but I am enjoying the Fallon/Jazzer storyline.

Yep, you're right we need something good it's got a bit dull recently.

[HumphreyCobbler]

Ooh Kate is coming back. I love it when Kate comes back.

Linda is the best character in the Archers now.

Lets face it, the brilliance of the Brian/Siobhan/Jennifer love triangle has yet to be repeated. I still remember where I was when Jennifer finally found out

[Openbook]

I think the whole Emma Ed thing was fantastic. And the Brian thing of course. When Mark Hebden died I really felt as though an acquaintance had gone. I've been really moved by the programme many times over the years. Listening to it with my father before bed is one of my early memories. It's sort of woven in with my life - that's the power of story telling and radio.

I heard the "Jill" actress interviewed when Norman Painting died and tbh she sounded a bit heartless, as though he was a really annoying person - which of course may have been true but she could have kept it out of her voice for the interview - she is an actress after all.

[TurnYourFrownUpsideDown]

yy re mark

and john archer with tony saying oh you silly boy what have you done while crying and crying [sniff]

[Openbook]

God yes - I nearly commented on that. Could cry now actually.

[ChloeHandbag]

I was in the car with my boss at the time John died, we were both archers addicts and admitted the next day that we were both crying and trying hard to cover it up.

[Northernlurker]

'you're so cold' - yep cried like a baby!

What was truly brilliant about that storyline was the way it still comes up occasionally - it's drawn in to the way Tom reacts to things and I remember Pat having a really hard time maybe a year or two afterwards - very like the pattern of grief. It's the key difference between that and the other soaps where people rend their hair and then remarry etc and never mentioned the dead person.

[R4]

Agree about "Jill's" response to Norman Painting's death. When asked about him, her first description was that he was professional. Not kind or funny or strong or anything like that - after fifty years of 'marriage' all she said was 'professional'

[Openbook]

I liked the way Peggy sympathised with Matt not wanting Jennifer to visit because of her experiences with Jack Archer. The writers know we're life-long listeners.

[campion]

The way Peggy reacted when the phone call came to say that there was a place at The Laurels for Jeck really said it all. She conveyed the reality of how their lives together had just ended and the bleakness of the future in a few short words, hesitation and a degree of disbelief. It really gave me a brief insight into the dark hopelessness of the situation as everyone tries to jolly you along.

My nomination for a radio oscar ( whatever they're called), anyway. Maybe shared between June Spencer and the scriptwriters.

[lljkk]

ACtually, the Jack-Peggy story has been very good, I liked it a lot.
But agree the rest is pants! I haven't been a regular listener for ages.....

[partystress]

Still cry when I think about how Peggy said she was proud of Jennifer for taking Ruari in... But if Helen and Annette could just move to New Zealand to start an organic vineyard and Jim and Kenton could both sink into an alcoholic stupor from which they don't come round, I'd be v happy.

[onlyjoinedforoffers]

i wonder how anyone can understand Jazzer who isnt Scottish as he speaks really broad like i do i cant stand most of the cast to be honest but i am still addicted

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Jazzer has a condition known as Regional Accent Syndrome, where he has to go incredibly broad to protect his accent from all the RP accents washing around the village.

[campion]

Roof ain't RP
Brendurrr
Grundys
Moike and Vicky T
Susan
Neil
Roy
Hayley
Fallon
Sid ( where is Sid, by the way?)
Jolene
Fallon's Dad - oh yeah, Wayne
Rory ( ha! he was Irish at any rate when they locked him in the cupboard a year or two back)
Emma
Nic
Bert
Freda ( if she ever spoke!)
Alan ( the annoying vic)
Meg ( Will's dog)

all don't have RP accents. Funnily enough most of their children do when they ( excruciatingly) speak. I think Loxley Barrett Primary does Elocution instead of Literacy.

I rest my case, M'Lud

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

I was thinking mostly of the Archer clan (Roof is an incomer and has Married In...)

[poppy34]

Too right op - the Annette thing would have me punching radio If wasn't putting dd to bed. Agree re johns death - still well up thinking about it now. Also Peggy and jack and lillian and matt redeeming a thin lot of plot now

[campion]

Pipsqueak's got a bit of a brummie twang(g).
Probably that college what's done it

[Northernlurker]

I listened to the omnibus this evening and oh dear that shop storyline is dire when heard in one large dose! Am absolutely ready to deck Susan - I really, really hope she loses her job!

[LillianGish]

I think Phil might have some sort of agricultural accident - I'm dreading it - it will be shocking even though I know it's going to happen. I found Betty's death quite shocking - but then dh always has to remind me "It's not real you know". The trouble is I've been listening for so long now (28 years at least) it sometimes feels as if it is!