Don't blame it on a Grundy, don't blame it on Route B, don't blame it on Sean O'C, blame it on the badgers. Discuss The Archers of Prudhoe here.

[PseudoBadger]

A colleague of mine did that too mummytime. He tells a hilarious story about expecting to be given a flock and a crook and instead being handed a single sheep "on a string", which the sheep then proceeded to tangle up with the strings of all the other sheep.

Zero - I was only asking about type of location, not asking for full address. Once I've gained your trust, then of course I'll be asking you for your bank details and mother's maiden name.

That'll teach me not to leave out the s...

Regarding Tom - he's only been gone 6 months so it would suggest failure if he were to come back now.

Either that or he can't deal with extreme cold for the next however many months

I've been expecting him to be away a full year or two an then return with a wife with an annoyingly ott Canadian accent (or more likely American so the sw can really piss off our North American cousins). But sure they will be brave enough to go for a French Canadian accent!

So they come back and she is super jolly and enthusiastic but gets gradually worn down

I don't think Dad3 wants postcodes Zero !
I live in a small city with lots of surrounding countryside and small villages similar to Ambridge.

Ah but do any of the mn residents of Ambridge like places have a Lindy?

And if not, does that mean you are the Lindy and just haven't realised (llamas in the paddock would be a clue though)

they will all have a lyndy. she may not manifest herself in quite the same way, but she will be there

Would a family really get on the way Jill et al are? All this I love you all equally blah blah blah - can they not all see they are all adults capable of taking their own decisions.

And I can't believe how they've all forgotten Lizzy is a marriage wrecker! Just brushed it under the carpet!

I think that's a really interesting question Dad. I've always lived in cities (usually capitals) since leaving home. I grew up in a large village (though not nearly agricultural enough to be anything like Ambridge), but I definitely love the Archers because of the complete contrast to my real life. I think the reason I'm so over infested is because I like to think I'm actually there for 15 minutes a day (it's not real you know!) - total escapism. I know I'd hate to live in the country in real life, but for 15 minutes a day I love it.

i live in a rural-ish village, in that we are in the countryside but within 15 minutes of a small city. plus about 30 mins away from london by train. that's my favourite way to live as i like to be able to go for country walks straight out of the front door but not be too far away from stuff going on in town. of course, this also makes it one of the most expensive ways to live because lots of other people want that too

i have farming family and city family and i seem to be in between. i don't think i want to live in a city again tbh

my grannie lives alone in a very remote village, probably similar to ambridge, and is very involved with country pursuits like beating on shoots. i worry about her tbh, she is in v good health but is at a stage where if she had a fall she could go downhill very rapidly like heather

I'm also anticipating the imminent return of Tom - otherwise why announce that the actor has been replaced? Peggy's party does seem an obvious possibility. Or will they wait until R- Johnny has fully taken over the pig enterprise for extra drama?

I live in Hollerton, I only moved here recently (25 years ago). I am one of those dreadful people who commute to Birmingham to earn a crust and therefore don't deserve a speaking part. I don't really have much contact with the agricultural community but our local farmer is a nice chap. He breeds prizewinning cattle, does Open Farm Sunday, occasionally hosts the YF, does a cute animals at the manger at Xmas. He is well past nearing retirement age but neither of his DC are taking on the farm after him. He gets on well with his landlord - the National Trust.
I drive past Grey Gables on a regular basis, on the way to Aldi. The walk from the beech woods to Lower Loxley, perhaps back past St Stephens, is one of our favourite. The Bull is, unfortunately, too far away to be our local. We were threatened for many years with a New Road and I'm still not totally convinced that the idea has gone away. It wouldn't have affected us too much but it would have ruined some beautiful countryside. Talking of which, there is a lot of building of new estates round here, forced on us by Government housing policy.

Is it significant that Johnnie is 'shadowing' Maurice in the sausage-making dept?
That's why they're all heavily engaged getting Peggy's hair done! Tom's going to walk in and find there's a new Chipolata Kid on the block and no one to keep them from fisticuffs.

Almost forgot my usual pointless service:

This thread will end on 13th November

On the last thread I floated the possibility of the Prodigal Chipolata returning at Christmas, only to find that he has been well and truly usurped by RichJohn.

But yes, it is now looking much more likely that it will be sooner now.

Can't wait to see his reaction when Pat'n'Tone fail to rush out to kill the fatted pig calf on his return as they are ^too busy^ edumacating RichJohn in farming and Country Ways in clear preparation for him to take over

Prodigal Chipolata might notice that Helen is turning into a Surrendered Wife though.

otherwise why announce that the actor has been replaced?

I dont think that the BBC did announce it, it was the old actor who tweeted about being fired and the papers picked it up. I'm not sure that the BBC have actually commented on the story.

I live in Hong Kong. There is probably not one single combine harvester in this country. Only the very very rich have a garden. For 15 minutes every morning I am navigating packed pavements and on a bus which is winding its way through massive skyscrapers, but in my head I am in Ambridge and I can actually smell the manure.

Snap Petula well not quite. We lived in North London suburbs for most of my youth and middle age. Then we moved to Fr. rural life a lot like Ambridge we overlook a proper village in a hamlet next to the remains of a castle that was enlarged by Richard Lionheart (the old houses are built with the remains of the towers that fell down ).

I know that we are gossiped about (being the only English to live here since Richard !!!!). But recently a big posh Fr. family has moved next door so we're not quite as popular in the gossip stakes!!

That depends, Bore, on whether or not he's still the same old self-centred Tom and whether he's still grateful for the advice Rob gave him.

If he's coming back this soon then he can't have enjoyed it very much so my have seen the light about organic/big business

And as far as I'm aware tony pat and Helen can email/use a phone so why should Tom not be aware of richjohn? Would be totally inplausible that he's been out of contact this whole tine

Hmmm... good point unitarian

Jessie many decades ago, when I was a small child we lived in Hong Kong - in the New Territories on an army base surrounded by paddy fields. Plenty of manure smells there!

I now live in a hamlet close to a largish village about 5 miles from the outskirts of a large city. Lots of Ambridgy-stuff and I look out on to a field of cows but also lots and lots of commuters.

The village was carved up several years ago (before my time) when they put a huge motorway conurbation close by. Locals say it used to be very, very different, although it was never chocolate-boxy.

I'm struggling to think of a (suitable) girl in Ambridge that Johnny isn't related to.

Can't they be related?

My great grandparents were first cousins. Explains a lot actually.

I'm 51 by the way and have probably been listening to The Archers all my life, but not always actively. My parents had radio 4 on constantly and I've carried on the family tradition.

I may not be a listener for much longer though. The plot lines are just ridiculous and it's positively painful listening to David and Ruth at the moment. It's not good when you want to give 50% of the characters a good shake.

I might as well live in Anbridge. Our village is less well served though, no pub or shop anymore

We do have a Lynda, but she doesn't own the alpacas. I'm the WI president though

Will Helen be allowed to take Peggy to have her hair done?

And it makes me feel very old to hear about Molly Button being chatted up.........