Loxfest is over. Locket-gate is upon us. Discuss Mowgli, Rob's new secret and of course the new road here with other Archers fans.

[PseudoBadger]

New thread for hopefully an exciting Sunday episode. Poor Hayley.

I'm fortunate enough not to have experienced an EA relationship either

But that's how the SL has been done well I think. There's enough to be suspicious, but also enough for doubt

Phew! Just caught up with the last few episodes and this thread! Busy week in little 'ol Ambridge.

Poor, poor Hayley I was once with someone who let me down on a regular basis (different situation). You feel such an idiot for believing they will come good this time only to let you down again.

Oh wake up Helen! Am predicting myself yelling at the radio as Rob convinces her that this is all just "unhinged Jess" playing games with them and trying to destroy they happy little family. He threw in the trust card straight away, it's all 'I'll do whatever you want...but don't you trust me?' Urgh!

I don't think Jess necessarily is out to get Rob back but she is angry. Very angry. If Rob won't acknowledge the baby then she is going to make sure she causes as much collateral damage as she can.

Also am so uncomfortable at Rob's recent attitude to Henry, steering him towards hunting, trying to start moulding him into the "little man" he wants he to grow up to be. Completely ignoring Helens opinions. Have no respect for Helen's pathetic attempts to remind Rob she doesn't approve. Where have her principles gone? He is successfully wearing her down to a nice quiet little house wife who just smiles and nods.

Can Jess force a paternity test on him? How does it work? Would she have to take him to court to achieve this?

I've listened again now I have peace and quiet.

I think we have to take Jess at face value and believe what she says -

She's conniving and manipulative because Rob's taught her to be
He's very attractive and persuasive, narrows your world to his little cocoon
She wants to dent his complacency and see what he's done to her
The most sinister bit was when she said he's not a man who takes no for an answer. She was speaking of their last night together.

She has spelled it out to Helen, chapter and verse. Helen's seen him turfing a pregnant woman out into the night, threatening to do it by force.

Am I right in thinking that Helen once justified her affair to Kirsty by saying it's not as if Rob & Jess had a child. Jess stressed over and over that she was his wife, that it was her house.

Wouldn't it be terrific if Helen left him now? Of course she wouldn't go because she's seen him for what he is but because she would see it as the moral thing to do.
Two episodes ending with betrayed women sobbing - one married, one the OW.

It would be terrific but I don't think Helen has a moral bone in her body. She postures the moral line a lot but it's always about her. I only started listening properly around the sperm bank era but I think Helen is the most self centred character in the Archers.

Yes, including Elizabeth! :o

Have you encountered Kate, Panzee? She puts them all in the shade.

There's a possibility that she might leave him now but would be looking for a face-saver. Saying she left because a child is involved would be better than admitting that she's been thoroughly duped.

She is deeply self-centred but she was wavering ever so slightly - didn't allow him to sweep her off to bed.

Yes, difficult for her to admit she was wrong about him. She has vociferously defended him and she is proud

she had been just beginning to sound a teensy bit exasperated at him going on and on about hunting to Henry. & now this...she's got a lot to process. could go either way.

Agree Hell has a lot of thinking to do. Jess is def. weird too (if they had been together for soo long). I thought she was too 'bright' and cheerful when they were in Amb. together in the face of Rob's obvious dislike of her.

But Rob has shown his true colours now; he didn't even care that she 's pregnant with his child ( which she HAD told him ). He was saying he wanted a child and she didn't wasn't he?

Oh yes, Mimsy I forgot about Kate! But I find her funny. :o and she's not in it much so it's easy to forget how irritating she is.

I've listened now. My issue is that Jess does sound a bit "odd" but it's maybe the way the role is being played. Maybe they want her to sound like she's triumphed over adversary.

jess's delivery has always been a bit weird i think

I think the whole Henry hunting thing is intended to sow seeds of doubt for Helen. The fact that she had to go outside and wouldn't be whisked straight up to bed suggested that some of what Jess was saying hit home. It was as if Jess has finally seen the light, but was once where Helen was and is trying to show her how easy it is to be taken in by him. She doesn't want him back but wants to take revenge in some way to try and take back control - she can't get him on the phone so she has no choice but to turn up in person. I'm not sure what age she is but her keeping the baby is really no different to Helen's desperation for a baby before it's too late. I'm continuing to wonder about Ursula - Helen still hasn't met her but Jess is clearly in touch with her (and she will be the baby's grandmother). I think this story still has some way to run before Helen sees the light. She doesn't have any friends to talk this over with - Kirsty has gone and Ian seems to have disappeared too so she'll have to come to the realisation herself which in her isolation seems less and less likely. Great plot, entirely plausible - much more so than the disappearance of Tom which seemed to be solely designed to prepare for the return of Rich - it can't be long now surely?

I agree Jess may well be telling Helen because she wants to get back at Knob.

I'm surprised Knob's reaction was to deny any possibility that the baby's his. Assuming they did actually sleep together - and I'm sure they did - he must be well aware that there's a distinct possibility that the baby is his and that Jess can if necessary force him into a paternity test. So the only way round it is going to be some sort of ridiculous sperm-stealing story. I know Helen's deluded enough to accept it, but surely no-one else will - and she's bound to discuss it with people like Ian.

Is Kirsty not coming back?

I don't thinj so. Not in the near future anyway.

Speaking of whom, I saw the actress on an old episode of Lewis the other day. Was v excited to recognise her voice

I was thinking the same Lillian, Helen must be really wishing she still had Kirsty to confide in. She really is quite alone in her little bubble. I can't see her going to her parents, she fought too hard to try and convince them RobNob was genuine and trustworthy.

Yes, where is Ian?

Rich must be due an appearance

Just caught up with the thread . I'm a long time film listener but in the past fortnight I've converted to a daily dose and the omnibus. The thing that strikes me is how worried people are about Helen's chicken in the oven. I'd just like to reassure everyone, that she was expecting Rob home any minute so I'm sure that she would have already taken the chicken out to rest. She is the perfect wifey OW so would obv do this to improve its flavour.
That is all.

That was a cracker! Was almost shouting -" Helen, stop being so blind!"

Lolling at the chicken
I liked that Jess referred to the wifeliness - the neat house etc
I am not sure what Hellin is going to do but I am enjoying it
And yes, since the doorbell went and Henry was going to bed and Hellin assumed Rob had forgotten his keys - if R is as good with H as we're led to believe, wouldn't H want him to say goodnight?…

Thanks, toldmywrath, that's an extremely considerate post. I for one had hardly slept since Friday for worrying about that chicken.

Hello Olivia, lovely to see you on the thread. I suppose Helen could have said (off air) to Henry that if it was Rob at the door he would be up to see Henry in a minute or two. She's probably trying not to give Henry any excuse for getting out of bed once he's in it. I dimly remember that stage - long gone now that we are usually in bed long before our children, who are students now!

I agree that we must be in for a visit from richjohn soon.

I wonder how poor Hayley will feel if her path crosses with his too?

Yes - an awkward conversation with rich where he mentions his mother and then Hayley bumps into liz

Still don't buy Henry staying in bed unless he is still young enough to be in a cot. My two would have been tearing down the stairs at the first suggestion it could be daddy!

Also, even if they had stayed upstairs ds would have been ear wigging to hear who it was and once the row started he would have been sitting on the top step!!

Maybe in the intervening period between just got home to bed time which mysteriously disappeared rob was dealing with Henry

Same with Roy and Hayley - when Roy came back was it really so late that it was straight to bed?

Maybe country folk just go to bed a lot earlier than I do