Cold Comfort at Bridge Farm: Lonely Cow, Dead Cow, Greedy Cows, and Poor Blind Besotted Cows... Follow the growing herd and discuss Ambridge here!

[PseudoBadger]

Will this thread make it to the wedding? Will it outlive Tony?

But she doesn't sound remotely like the original Heather - I found it quite off-putting.

Oh come on - work with her! Stress changes people's voices you know! Look at Tony and Clarrie. They go through hell and it's like they're different people

I welled up then Northern

Rob is a total twunt! He really is!

And Fallon is absolutely rubbish at spotting when people fancy her isn't she...Jazzer....Rhys...now PC Plotline

I don't think Tony is a bad match and Clarrie I can put up with, but there is something about the new Heather that really grates! I want the old one back.

DH is mumbling something about it not being real...

Kill him dead BB

If he wasn't so useful I would consider it!

Loved tonight's episode - felt like it really added to the two characters and we learned more about them.

Should clarify I meant Ruth and her mum. Although it would equally apply to rob...

I so wanted PC Gorgeous to point out to Knob that what he did to Kenton constituted assault and abduction, and probably several other offences as well. Seems like a real waste that he didn't.

Oh Rob, don't dish it out if you can't take it. But of course his (unprovoked) pranks on a stag night are entirely different from (provoked) April Fools japes.

(I thought Kenton had really landed himself in it when he said something like 'I didn't think the pigs would be so interested' till I realised he was talking porkers not police.)

Anyway...PC Plot should have a measure of Rob from that, hopefully won't become relevant.

Does Rob not realise that calling the police on Kenton will alienate him from a lot of the village.

K is seen as a bit of a pillock, but is liked by almost everyone. And is an Archer for God's sake!

He hasn't forgiven it, has he? Will he just pretend to everyone that it was a joke?

I expect I will be proved wrong, but I think that was the original Heather. She had exactly the same annoying voice I remember so vividly. I liked the bits between her and Ruth, though.

Idiotic of Rob to make an enemy of Kenton. Many possibilities there!

I have a feeling it is a different actor playing Heather, her accent was totally different to the gentle lilt of the original...she was in it for a sustained period some years ago, and was quite a regular, trying to remember why? Was it when Ruth's DAd died and she came to stay, or when Ruth was involved with Sam...or when Ben was born. I do remember her being pally with Jill and friendly with one of the male characters - might be Jim, but I think it was way before him , I've been listening for 25 years so events a bit, er, hazy... help!?!

Its a new Actress, the original was Joyce Gibbs, it is now Margaret Jackman. I don't think Geordie is her original accent, I think they should have cast a Geordie for the role, after all on radio the voice is the key thing.

thanks for finding that out, I thought she sounded different. the original was much more Northumbrian, which is a much gentler, softer sound and I loved her voice....but then Felicity Finch who plays Rooooth has to put on a false accent too. Shame.

Bloody hell, it's Granny Dryden! eeeeh, Pat, will you have a cup of tea before you deliver those parcels?

It absolutely is a different actress playing Heather - I am fine tuned to the accent as I'm married to a Geordie!

New Heather is more Viz than Radio 4 Northumbrian.

guineapiglet is of course completely right about Northumbria.

I do remember her being pally with Jill and friendly with one of the male characters - might be Jim, but I think it was way before him...

As I (probably mis-) remember it Heather was a bit too friendly with Phil and thus not at all a pal of Jill's. Although it was all played out with the utmost politeness.

Last night was rather too full of comedy accents, homespun wisdom and CBeebies Plod. I hope the new Ed isn't becoming complacent.

Margaret Jackman went to high school in Newcastle so presumably her original accent was at least somewhat Geordie. (I did prefer the previous Heather's voice & accent though)

& FF is from Teesside & her non-Ruth accent is also north-eastern, though not as strong as Ruth's

something about marmalade? i think i read that on the bbc archers blog

There was a bit of business with Phil making the mistake of praising Heather's marmalade once - Jill was Not Amused

here we go

for you guineapiglet

...Which reminds me - where is the lovely Ed (Grundy)? It's been too long without my almost favourite character.