Big Farma in Little Ambridge - come and talk The Archers talk

[PseudoBadger]

New thread for the beginning of the pheasant season.

*too young

" it was a constant for me throughout some really crazy times."

"In some ways I love it more now as I've been through so much and so many changes through the years and it's always been there."

These are exactly the reasons why I'm still listening celestial. (So not mawkish at all....) I remember Dan and Doris in charge of Brookfield and Phil agitating for new-fangled ways.

I think "my eye" was Walter. But not certain.

Agree with everyone that Jess is disappointing. Far too young; drama school delivery; absolutely nothing to suggest a grown up professional who has seen the gritty side of life. And I was so hoping she would have some non-RP accent. Between them she and Rob make the most boring couple on the planet.

And Kirsty will probably have installed a puppy by the end of the week.

Was it Jethro who used to say "my eye"?

I remember Peggy as landlady of the Bull, and her husband the first Jack having problems with drink.

I have googled for peacock lifespans, and can report that they live about 20 years in the wild, and up to 40 as a pub-peacock 'domesticated' bird. There's one that lives not far from here, I see him occasionally.

Ooh I like this discussion about the ole days As a child I remember hating Walter and wishing he'd clear his throat (I liked his saying though "me ole pal me ole booty") then he grew on me when I grew up I spose. What about Uncle Tom? he was nice I think? Doris's brother?

wrf to Jess IMO half the problem with S.Wers are caused by them being too young and not experienced in 'gritty life' so she's right for the part !

Sorry for the series crossover- but there's only one dog in Downton Abbey too. Very odd- maybe the Dog Actor's Union is being a bit militant at the moment?

There's a dog at Brookfield, though, and Linda'a always walking Scruff. And Will got a new dog recently that George wanted to call Boaz, because of his religious phase. Caroline's horse is called Masie and Alice's is Spearmint. And Freddie has a pony- can't remember what it's called. Shula has Nigel's horse- Topper?- in retirement.

I'm afraid that although The Archers has always been in my life as my parents listened, I scorned it and dismissed it until I was about 23. Therefore my first proper listening that I remember was Siobhan crashing a car in 2003?

Well I can see why that story would have hooked you for life Pseudo. If only we could have another Christmas to match the one where both Jenny and Debbie were in shock, contemplating the wreckage of their marriages. It was magnificent listening.

And hadn't Betty just died? It was very poignant because the Tuckers all rallied round and clung together while the Aldridges were falling apart

Just googled that, Betty died in 2005 and I know I'd been listening properly for a while then.
Funnily enough I'm a much more avid listener than my parents now!

Debbie had a horse called Tolly.

Caroline & Guy used to ride together - what was his horse called?

I can't remember exactly how long I've been listening properly, but DS1 is almost exactly the same age as Chris Carter & I was listening before he was born

Yes! Jess and Helen meet at last . Oh how I'd love to have been lurking at the bar for that lunch.

Kirsty is playing a blinder

that was surprisingly well done (makes a refreshing change)

Where has Ian been during all Helen's travails? He's supposed to be her best friend!

My, that was excruciating.

Jess is going to think there was someting going on between Rob and Kirsty, isn't she?

Oh I hope not Silvery - it would be so over complicated.

Was great to hear Kirsty sounding so alive again; I will assume the SWs noted my disappointment at her lack of development from an interesting start.

But that Kathy / Caroline dance is clunky! Why won't they just do it?

Ah, I did enjoy that - Adam rescuing Helen from the frying pan and dumping her in the fire .

I'd somehow not twigged the implication of the panto casting - that's going to take all Lynda's directing skills to manage, isn't it?

So does Rob know that Kirsty knows ...? Will he think that Kirsty has told Tom?

So does Rob know that Kirsty knows

I would think that would be obvious to him! Would it matter to him who'd told Tom? (who between kirsty and Helen he can hardly expect not to know)

Brilliant episode. Apart from Cathy's pathetic "I've accepted now, can't undo that". She hasn't signed anything- Phone them back you silly cow.

Though of course the bigger question is whether Caroline would actually give her the job- I actually think that lynda is a better candidate and would be rightly pissed off if cathy swanned in and took it from under her nose.

But all subsidiary to Helen/Rob/Jess/Kirsty- and great that Adam is now in on it too!

How long before Rob legs it out of Ambridge?

I can't understand how Cathy is supposed to be such a talented manager when she's so wishy washy.

I know. I still don't understand why she put up with all that crap from Martyn. Why didn't she just go over his head?

I agree about Kathy being a pathetic wet blanket. I could sort of understand her putting up with Martyn when he was her boss (was he ever, really?) but, once she had put her notice in, she should have gone for the jugular for constructive dismissal. Can't really imagine her doing battle with suppliers over prices or with the Grundy's solicitor.

I'm not sure about Lynda. She's more supervisory then managerial. She (too) loyally supported the locum-appointed-by-Caroline when Ray was in charge, but wasn't at all pro-active in standing up to his madder moments. Also if she was in control she would probably have her own version of mad ideas, even if they were more refined than Ray's.

I don't think Lynda would necessarily want the manager's job - she needs time for organising the village panto and for her llama etc.

Maybe some of Kathy's attitude is shaped by her past - going through a tribunal might trigger memories of the trial perhaps?