Robbieeeee! It's meee, it's Jessieeee! I've come home. I'm so cold! Let me in-a-your window. The Archers pay homage to Wuthering Heights?

[PseudoBadger]

A new thread in time for the film this morning.

Tom archer story onthe r4 news!

Sean o'connor will be rubbing his hands together in glee no doubt - no publicity is bad publicity and all that

I've always been a big supporter of the bbc but the nepotistic structure and other things I've recently learnt about their finances (and not even mentioning the most recent issue) makes me question whether or not I would continue to support the licence few etc. messing with the archers could be the final straw!!!

Forgetting the elephant in the room as I am in denial as, much as dislike them, surely we cannot have the Archers without the Brookfield Archers.

I was really annoyed with yesterday's episode as I wanted to hear the conversation between Jill, David, Ruth and the children re Brookfield.

And I find it really implausible that they could all be quite happily moving away from a house that has been in their family for generations.

I could even forgive the storyline of them moving out of Brookfield... if it kept to character and a decent timeframe. SO'C just wants to bundle everyone out so he can start from a different place, with the characters he wants. I'm so annoyed, it's even got me posting here.

Didn't someone say upthread that VW had been prevented from getting Will/Ed sent to prison by someone higher up the pecking order? Surely someone can stop SO'C, and get back to character-driven plots...

Also, I feel Woman's Hour should cover the (lack of) feminist aspects of the new plots. I mean, a grown woman behaving like a teenager over PC Plod, and upcycling furniture without the backing of a rich husband, purlease...

I read an interview with Sean o'connor and he said he took the job after the powers that be agreed they wouldn't interfere a they did with vw and he would have free reign. So we are screwed basically

If Justin Elliott can afford Brookfield he would likely buy something else. Brookfield isn't that big a house so would require significant rebuilding which would push the price he pays up. He could get something much better for the money (and I'm assuming here he would be able to knock route b on the head with a bribe if he bought Brookfield - no way someone with that budget would want to be that close to a road).

So Justin putting an offer in for Brookfield is extremely implausible. So on that basis I expect it to happen.

So what do you all reckon?
Will you join me with petitioning Olivia for a web chat with SO'C?

Purlease?

i'd be up for that - i feel like it's been asked for before (though perhaps now is more imperative). what do you want us to do, report your post to MNHQ so they are aware?

I was really annoyed with yesterday's episode as I wanted to hear the conversation between Jill, David, Ruth and the children re Brookfield.

YY, but count your blessings. Have you noticed how Peep is now yet another character who communicates through the medium of mime.

I don't think we are his target audience so he may not care

I've forgotten- why did Phil get the farm over Jack? Was it because Jack was an alcoholic? Or was it because he wasn't interested in farming?

Why didn't he (and Christine) get shares in the farm?

Oh dear, are we all old fogies with teenagers?

Who is the target audience?

yy to a webchat.
Can't believe Tom's actor has been sacked - I thought he was really good.

Sure CUP - and Olivia can argue that we've been asking for ages, through a million threads. Though this is probably a better than usual moment - with half the thread threatening to throw their radios away....

What do we do - report or just shout very loudly???

I am a little scared of what a webchat might uncover...

"Who is the target audience?" That would be a good first question...

He wants a younger audience and isn't bothered about alienating the little old ladies listening in their nursing homes. He will be stamping on childrens puppies next...

Not sure what he thinks is young though!!

i've reported CUP's post and said it would be really welcome if they are able to arrange it

Really cross to hear about Tom Archer's actor leaving. I thought he did a great job of making Tom believably self-obsessed. How awful to be given the push after 17 years to be replaced by someone "more experienced".

Would love to see SOC on here for a webchat, but would be amazed if he agreed!

"Who is the target audience?"

That is an awful first question. TA used to be an everyday tale of countryfolk. It was about all the generations and how they interacted; it was about characters and the storylines that grew from those characters.
'Target audience' is the sort of twelve-year-old ManagementSpeak that would have Ed Rearden in full rant mode. The Beeb should be operating on the principle of 'build it (with quality and integrity) and they will come'.

But it's us oldsters who get the youngsters interested... although I've been trying unsuccessfully for years. At least they recognise the theme music, though, so they can rush across the kitchen to turn it off!

I guess he's aiming for 20s to 30s then.

My 7 year old likes listening, does that count? (although it could have something to do with him not wanting to go to bed..?)

R4 - totally agree. The programme has a history. Why didn't SO'C start his own new soap if he wanted one based on different characters.

I'm in my 30s! I count too :)

Here's my suggestion for the new title:
Don't blame it on TB, don't blame it on Route B, don't blame it on the BBC - blame it on the badgers!

But why wouldn't that make MN part of the target audience? Must admit to being not in the 30s myself, but surely a sizeable proportion of MN posters are in their 20s and 30s?