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

[PseudoBadger]

Hello you two :o

John's death damaged them all so much. Helen was never meant to be the oldest sibling, she was the difficult middle child and Tom has spent all his teenage and adult years trying to emulate his brother and fill the gap left.

In all the other Ambridge families I feel the writers conveniently forgot the bad things that have happened , Ruth and the Cowman, Brian and Siobhan. But with Tony, Pat, Helen and Tom the death of John is always there in the background, never really spoken about .

Oh, yes Errol - naturally.

(I think she may have said so when Helen was in hospital with anorexia.)

Bridge Farm has been one of the better stories over the years. (And just emphasizes the crassness of SATTC.)

Very true Errol Gypsy and Zero. I didn't take the long view either. Having a child die in such a dreadful way doesn't really bear thinking about and it would affect a family in grim ways.

V interesting points re: John, thanks all!

Listening to the omnibus has made me much more sympathetic to Hellin snapping at Pat. The dynamic in their relationship is horrible and yes, I agree, it all dates back to John's death.

What was Jennifer like when she was younger? She seems to have gone from being quite racy through to being a rather stuffy upstanding pillar of the community - I'd be interested to know how she evolved from one to the other ...

Jennifer used to be a bit Aga and earth motherish. She used to keep sheep and weave their wool didn't she? I sometimes wonder what happened to her Jacob sheep.

This might help.

"Evolved" is the right word Somewhere.

Jenny had two reasons to want to establish a life of respectability. Firstly growing up at The Bull with an alcoholic father (Peggy's first Dh). And then after all the scandal of her youth - see link - she was very, very relieved and grateful to settle down with Brian. (You know what they say about converts making the strongest believers; or more pertinently - poachers turned gamekeepers.)

So, I'd say Jennifer is all the more obsessed with outward shows of stability because the reality was so hard-won.

I do like Jenny Darling.

Pat reminded me of my mum this week

Was it her birthday?

Or have you done something she really does not like?.....

Passive aggressive and martyr like tendencies :o

Formerly-Welsh Pat did suffer from very severe depression in the wake of John's death, iirc, and has always been dogged by it.

And of course Hellin's anorexia made for a very touchy relationship between them - I can understand that Pat finds it hard to butt out of Hellin's life; after all, she and Tony have had to step in and rescue her repeatedly (as did Tom, when he nobly took the blame for knocking Moike over when it was pissed Hellin actually driving the car).

I'm with the doom-mongers who predict disaster for the HellRob relationship. I do hope so, as I sincerely loathe Hellin, probably more than everyone else in Ambridge put together. She's one of the most stupendously self-absorbed and bonkers people ever.

Oh god yes, I can't wait for Rob to do the dirty on Hellin, or for Jess to come back and find out that her marriage is over but Rob hadn't bothered to tell her. I hope he doesn't become abusive, as that would make me want to sympathise with Hellin and I really don't want to have to. I quite enjoy loathing her.

Has anybody noticed Kirstie (or at least the actress who plays Kirstie) is doing the voice over for one of those serialised magazines? It's to make sweets. Just reinforcing the idea that Kirstie likes sweets/cakes/second helpings!

Argh! Pictures!! (But thanks Zero ). I see what you mean about her hard-won stability - nothing will be allowed to disrupt it, even your husband's lovechild ...

I reckon Helen and Rob will be smugging it up in the Bull and Jess will waltz in, catch sight of them and an almighty row will kick off, in which Helen will doubtless make a tit of herself in front of the assembled Ambridge multitude.

Hazel! You horrible old fake! I can't wait to hear everyone scrapping over the Woolley fortune.

Good episode tonight! Hazel was true to form - I thought Peggy dealt with her admirably! I particularly enjoyed 'Don't let us keep you'...

NecklaceGate - it was only a matter of time ' til Pat cottoned on. But it's not fair to interrogate Kirsty and Tom - she really does need to speak to Helen!

I agree, JaneEyresHeir! I can't remember when we last heard Hazel, so have no idea whether this is the same actor. Doesn't matter. Hazel's function is to be dropped into the mix every decade or so and cause havoc.

Could Pat be any more PA? For god's sake, woman, have it out with Helen herself!

Will Helen take Rob to Jack's funeral as her partner?

I just looked it up and Hazel still seems to be played by Annette Badland - it was her last time she swooped in, I'm pretty sure.

Isn't she horrible?!

Peggy was splendid. She's a wise old bird and had doubtless anticipated something like this.

The Necklace of Damocles is descending...

Annette Badland plays Hazel, LondonMother. I remember her as Gladys the maid (whose nose was 'pecked off') in the BBC's 'A Pocketful of Rye' with Joan Hickson as Miss Marple!

I thought Hazel sounded really odd. Does she not live in LA or somewhere similar? If so wouldn't she have a hint of an American accent? She sounded all strangulated tonight, as thought Caroline was pretending to be her.

Jenny Darling, straight in there, all faux concern.

OMG haven't listened yet but have I understood correctly in that Helen took Rob to the party? I bet that is brilliant!

And Tony still sounds like Rob to me.

Thanks, all, that rings a distant bell now. Annette Badland was a regular in Shoestring a million years ago - anybody else remember that? Police drama set on Jersey with the chap who moved to Midsomer later in his career - John Nettleton.

Just caught up and of course the thread has moved on loads.
I kept thinking the New Tony reminded me of someone and finally realised it was Ray who covered for Caroline at Grey Gables. Funny how we all hear the same voice slightly differently.
I was also wondering why we now have two characters called Robert? Okay one is Rob but still isn't there an unwritten rule in soap land that names don't get duplicated?