They don't let any old Tom, Dick or Henry live in Ambridge - The Archers chat continues

[PseudoBadger]

Hello you two :o

I learnt passive aggressive from the Sweet Valley High books. Jessica always did it to Elizabeth. But they didn't call it PA, they said that Elizabeth would always somehow "wind up on the defensive". I love that phrase. :)

that makes sense zero - inlaws are assets to the family (in the case of rob - steady income, father figure for henry etc) or not (pat)

Yes everyone ses rather forgiving of everyone else's sexual misdemeanours. Mind you given the entire village seems to wander around with a mattress strapped to their back, it is probably wise.

Is it just me or is Tom becoming more and more ludicrously camp, esp when discussing the wedding?

OMG - I saw Babs W the other day! I think I must have done a gaping fish at her because she gave me a 1000 watt smile as she walked past me. She looked bloody marvellous.

I can't see how anyone can think Rob is wonderful! He's been having a sordid affair while his wife is looking after her dying father

And Will was vile to Ed long before EdnEmmur although I don't blame him at all for not wanting to be Ed's best mate since all that happened.

Does Jenny definitely know about Brine and Caroline?

I agree that fondant fancies are not what Peggy would serve but it made for such a great line I will forgive the SWs.

Love the observation that Peggy only abhors infidelity when it is to the detriment of her family, and that Rob's outward solvency and respectability are enough for her to turn a blind eye.

gold I think it is the fact Tom(somehow) has a Lancashire accent, an accent that he sounds a bit camp.

Why he has a Lancashire accent is anyone's guess, given that he's lived in the Midlands all his life and his parents hail from Ambridge and Wales.

Lancashire via the East Midlands would that be?

Rob has definitely got more lovey dovey with Helen since he heard of her 'expectations'. Helen is not a good picker of men.

A Lancashire accent is not something I recognise in Tom!

Lancashire no no no! Far too fast and he says his H's

And not everyone in Lancashire drops their H's! You must be thinking about Yorkshire!

My bit of Lancashire the H is a rarely spotted letter Years of my parents battling my accent to make sure I said it!

I do seem to recall the regular threat of elocution lessons when I was younger! I am more irritated by the "th" sound being replaced by "f".

I apologies to any Lancastrians, especially if I've got it mixed up with the accent of your grumpier, blunter and more tight fisted neighbours!)

It may not be Lancaster but it certainly isn't the accent of where he grew up or where his parents are from.

Lancaster - Lancashire.

Tom increasingly sounds like the impression john finnemore does of an archers character in his sketch show

Have to admit if they could find replacement actors for Tom; Pip and George I absolutely wouldn't complain. They sound so artificial. Tom and Pip have been in TA for years - and yet every time they speak I can "see" them holding the script at arm's length and simply blurting out the words - apparently with neither punctuation nor understanding.

The actor who plays Tom is from Nottinghamshire, I believe. Given that it can't be difficult to find young actors, it beats me why they went for one who can't do a suitable accent. Something more like Helen or David was all that was needed, ie standard English with no or very little West Midlands component.

I like Tom's delivery of lines unlike Pipsqeak whose voice sounds like nails on a blackboard to my poor ears. As for her mother...

Yes. Puzzling indeed. Archers casting director please note: iam the same age as Tom, have a quite mild, but unmistakable West Midlands accent and can blurt out meaningless management guffspeak if required.
GET RID OF THE EAST MIDLANDS INTERLOPER & HIRE ME.*

• I can't actually act.

Kirsty always sounds a little bit embarrassed when Tom is getting affectionate. He's all like 'give us a hug' and she says 'oh go on then' - he sounds a bit emotionally stifling tbh. (REBOUND - just like I said).
What if glamorous London-ified Brenda comes back to Ambridge in a year or two and turns his head?

Oh and the actor who plays adanoidal Pip played the lead in that Caitlin Moran pilot that was on over Christmas 'Raised by Wolves.'

It liked that. When the kids were in the car with their granddad singing the DeVinyls' 'When I think about you I touch myself' I was nearly helpless with laughter. Unluckily I was up a ladder at the time and had to cling to the door frame for dear life.

I really found Pip's voice excruciating and they chopped and changed with her character so much it drove me nuts. Anything that requires Deeavid and Ruth to emote is always going to be very bad news.

It's a shame they replaced Tony - I suppose they wanted to have the big inheritance storyline but I think it would have been more respectful to the old Tony to let him become a silent character.