Exeunt, pursued by a sow. And so on, for the next 60 years of The Archers.

[PseudoBadger]

It's all about the Sons at the moment. Tom is having an identity crisis, Dan is off to Sandhurst, and poor old Adam is working his socks off.
Follow the undulating Ambridge pastures here!

[LillianGish]

Totally agree with you Gypsy. beginning to think the reason they replaced the old Tony was because he had had a glimpse of the scripts and found them too unbelievable. I can't get used to the new actor at all mainly because he's behaving in such an un-Tonyish way - a personality transplant as you say. I found his looking forward to gloating on John's return particularly unbelievable.

[HumphreyCobbler]

He was pretty mean to Helen when she was pregnant.

[BasketzatDawn]

Well, at least Moany was alarmed to see the police car. Maybe he's just one of these men who cannot talk about feelings ..... or some sort of denial as Kirk1 suggests. I am sure of one thing though, he's the only bod in the universe expecting Tom to be back to business as usual next week. I'm not sure Tom will come to actual harm but I think he'll be AWOL for a while. Yes, interesting new twist in the Pat/Tone marriage, something that didn't happen even when Son1 was deaded.

[unitarian]

I feel Tony has been struggling all along with a very aggressive Tom forcing radical decisions on him about the farm. It has undermined his self-esteem to such an extent that he can't see past the erosion of his status. Add that to the way Peggy has undermined him and I can understand why he's behaving the way he is.
Also, to be told by Tom that he never really wanted to be the pig entrepreneur must really stick in Tony's craw after Tom has changed the business model of the farm so much despite Tony's reservations.

So, yes, I can see why he would crow a bit that the cow didn't have TB but, oh dear, so tactless, self-centred and badly timed!

And neither Tom nor Kirsty are going to be back by the weekend methinks.

[HumphreyCobbler]

I think that is very true unitarian.

[BasketzatDawn]

I keep having to remind myself that Pat hasn't got a new husband and Tom and Helen a new father. I can't even recall what OldTony sounded like now, but I don't like the voice and intonation - even before I listen to the words he speaks.

[unitarian]

New Tony's voice does grate horribly with a whiney pitch that is unlovable. Old Tony had a much more pleasant voice though it's true that he was hard on Helen during her pregnancy. Yet that actor managed to 'do' the reconciliation with Helen beautifully. Somehow I can't see New Tony reconciling with Tom without sounding mingey.

[GypsyFloss]

I remember Old Tony being very hurt by Helen's attitude to him when she announced her DIY baby. He was worried about how she would cope and whether it was a fair thing to do. She went off on one because he refused to accept her decision without reservation . I recall that period as being one of Helen at her more belligerent self and Pat desperately trying not to put a foot wrong.

I can accept that New Tony would blurt out about the cow being TB free without being mindful of the timing of the conversation. But I just don't believe he would be so vindictive about wanting to rub Tom's nose it it. For me he's just not a believable character right now.

[Swannykazoo]

Anybody else disappointed that the Horne section is in the pre-Archers slot? I hate Down the line as well - pre-Archers is important for my cooking mojo

[R4]

I was reading a blog the other day that rang true:
"We don't like personality shifts on TA, because TA lives and dies by being character driven. That means that characters behave consistently; the drama arises from how they respond to situations. Once characters start buggering about with what they're normally like, you're swinging dangerously into plot-driven drama and you might as well watch Eastenders if it's absurd confrontations you're after. Without consistency TA is nothing, and its intrinsic stupidity becomes so apparent it's nigh on impossible to self-delude any longer"

I was wondering, too, if we are about to have the first Archer marriage break-up. Is Sudden Personality Shift valid grounds for divorce?

[ZeroSomeGameThingy]

Wasn't Christine divorced?

And Kenton?

[ZeroSomeGameThingy]

Oh - and Debbie herself of course....

(And Alice is supposed to be on a "starter marriage" isn't she? )

[R4]

Gosh they're piling up. I'd forgotten about all these.

[ZeroSomeGameThingy]

...easily done. I've probably forgotten some.

[GypsyFloss]

Yes Puggle01 I'm with you on that but Down the Line probably takes the biscuit for me with completely unfunny shitness. I'd love to have a crack on choosing comedy for Radio 4 'cos there's some dire stuff on there most of the time.

[LillianGish]

That blog post is spot on R4. And TA has gone very EastEnders.

[WillieWaggledagger]

I don't like down the line either. Just a minute is my most hated one though I'm afraid

[Lilymaid]

Apologies if this has been linked to previously, but I thought that there may be interest in a previously lost Shakespearean (or was it Bacon?) tragedy:
The Tragedie of Tomlet, Prince of Borsetshire
Does someone here write for the Indie?

[WillieWaggledagger]

Lily see the title of this thread! It is a fab article, worth linking to again for a reread

[GypsyFloss]

Oh god yes that one too Willie . I'm sorry I haven't a clue is about the only one I can listen too and occasionally the News Quiz. Apparently legend has it that good old Humph played his trumpet in my nearby village hall many years ago...before he was deaded

[ErrolTheDragon]

ISIHAC is the best radio program ever. Love the news quiz esp nowadays with Sandi and her gang. Old Harry's Game - like that one. The worst by far is Count Arthur Strong. It's the only one I absolutely can't listen to.

[R4]

(or was it Bacon?)

arf

[CuttedUpPear]

Lilymaid that's the article that inspired this thread title!

[AllMimsyWereTheBorogroves]

I like The Unbelievable Truth, Ed Reardon, Clare in the Community, Cabin Pressure, The Now Show, The News Quiz and The Secret World. Down The Line wasn't bad at first but I've gone off it now. Tried the Horne thingy tonight and gave up. George Melly was reminiscing on R4 Extra, which was vg. He'd have been a good addition to village life .

Perhaps Pat will push Tony into those ponds whose name and purpose I've forgotten. No jury would convict her.