Anyone for a fondant fancy? Let The Archers eat cake...

[PseudoBadger]

TA is in a purple patch at the moment, rewarding listeners for wading through the dross of the previous year few months. Welcome all!

[OddFodd]

I see Will is still being a complete arse [mad]

Listening to last night's episode again today, I wondered if TomKirst choosing to have their reception in Glam Hall rather than a marquee at Bridge Farm might be the snub that tips Tony over the edge?

[ErrolTheDragon]

Will is an arse (the latest re Holly's having to stay with him) but Ed is still a dog-murderer. Though in Ed's favour he took Emma off Will's hands leaving the field open for the rather nicer Nic.

[AllMimsyWereTheBorogroves]

I thought that, OddFodd.

Re emotional abuse: it's not just the Mumsnet jury that's worried about Rob. On The Archers blog on the BBC website a few weeks ago the summary of the social media comment included these bits:

'After Helen dropped a bombshell over at Bridge Farm, listeners were on tenterhooks waiting to hear Pat’s reaction and omnibus listeners tuned in early. Many berated Pat about her “judgmental” comments – but most think she’s right about Rob...The debate about Rob and Helen’s affair rages on: Is Helen walking into a relationship with a controlling “Menace”? Or will it be happy ever after…? Almost everyone raised an eyebrow when Rob told Helen that Jess knew about their relationship...'

These summaries are put together by Taylor Cresswell, who was the Host on the BBC's TA messageboard latterly, but who also monitors the BBC blog, Facebook and Twitter for them. (Nice work if you can get it!) As far as I understand it, she publishes this summary every week on the blog and it also goes to the production team. So even if they didn't start off by intending Rob to come across this way, they should know now that that's the effect he's having on many listeners. In the past knowing how listeners are reacting to a character or storyline has occasionally nudged the production team in a different direction from their original plan. So I think there are some grounds for optimism that Rob will be an out and out monster!

[stilllearnin]

Crumbs I wish I had all of you here now so we could really get down to some proper archers gossip- nobody I know has a clue!

Why is there no proper mention of jess? I was liking new Tom and the wedding will see a story line coming to a head. Maybe rob will convince hell not to be bridesmaid and Kirsty will suss it and rescue her. And poor Tony, he is suffering and those sort of slights (from peggy) really hurt. What a cowPat for not sticking up for him. I need it to go to twice daily- at least!

[ErrolTheDragon]

'Why is there no proper mention of jess?'

Indeed... one dropped salmon and off she goes without a backwards glance.

[HumphreyCobbler]

I am really hoping that Jess will turn up at the cottage and there will be a showdown. That would be a brilliant cliff hanger

[ThatYoghurtWontPotItself]

on the day that helen moves in maybe? when is that, did she say friday?

[HumphreyCobbler]

Yes! Can you imagine. It would be GREAT.

[ZeroSomeGameThingy]

Hah! Peggy's "will" just mentioned on PM. "How wrong she was...."

[Saker]

My cynical head says it's probably just that the actress that played Jess was only contracted for a set number of episodes, so they haven't got her available for any showdowns!

[OddFodd]

For the sake of plot development, I'm willing to try and be a vague facsimile of Jess for the price of a cup of tea. I could definitely get enough outrage into my voice

Is Hellin really so deluded that she'd believe Rob told Jess and that her shock was feigned? Ooh I'm so fantasising about this scene - it would be haw droppingly brilliant.

[ThatYoghurtWontPotItself]

excellent oddfodd - we'll have a whip-round to cover your expenses for getting to birmingham and back

[GypsyFloss]

Sounds good to me Oddfodd . If we don't have a showdown what exactly was the point about Jess coming to Ambridge? We could have heard their marriage end as a one sided affair. Unless of course we needed to see the shitty side of Rob ...in which case they had better make this a good 'un.

And whilst on that subject why is no gossiping properly about it all? They need a school gate episode with Emmur and A. N. Other mum have a good old nosey natter. Or at the very least Emmur and Soosan getting caught by Helen speculating in the village shop.

[TemperamentalAroundCorvids]

It struck me tonight that Pat shares Peggy's opinion of Tony: he is a weak man who needs a strong woman behind him to make his decisions support him.

Actually they may have a bit of a point. But being treated like it, makes one less likely to get stronger, poor old {well-rounded human character} Tony.

Yesterday's SW had a very firm grip on how gossip gets passed round. And loved how Jenny winkled Helen open; even though Pat had quite rightly not expressed an opinion, merely passed on the fact that Helen was moving in with Rob.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

You'd have thought that emmur would have been on the phone to helen to discuss how love triumphs over everything. And starter marriages don't really count anyway

[PrincessFiorimonde]

Thanks for this thread!

Where is Jess? I really think she should be back for a showdown with Rob and/or Helen. Please don't tell me that she's just going to be airbrushed out with not another word said!

Will is an arse (the latest re Holly's having to stay with him) but Ed is still a dog-murderer. Though in Ed's favour he took Emma off Will's hands, leaving the field open for the rather nicer Nic. Oh yes! I don't think I can be either Team Ed or Team Will. Both are such annoying whingers. And oh yes again to whoever on the last thread referred to 'Georgie' Fauntleroy.

I'm really enjoying all the speculation about Susan and her Lottery winnings.

[GypsyFloss]

Exactly. Instead we have everyone going " moving in together, oh that's nice" rather than " bloody hell that's quick , didn't his missus only turn up a couple of weeks ago, where's she gone?"

[PseudoBadger]

I've said it before and I've said it again - HellQueen IS Fremont www.fys.ku.dk/~thoeger/its-a-good-life.pdf - do not anger her!!!

[PseudoBadger]

Bugger Anthony Fremont

[Lomaamina]

Has anyone seen this week's BBC Archers website quiz? Have a go and see if the response stats surprise you:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qpgr

[OddFodd]

We all need to vote multiple times and skew the stats so that people realise!

[ZeroSomeGameThingy]

Horrid story. But thank you - I hadn't read it before.

[PseudoBadger]

People are naive!

[PseudoBadger]

Sorry Zero I should've put a warning on it!