The Archers - It's not about the money, money, money, think about Jill's honey, honey, honey, Justin wants to farm by satnav, forget about the prize tag.

[PseudoBadger]

Will The Dopeys have buggered off by the end of this thread?
Will Tom finally reach home, after weeks of trekking through the tundra?

Ref. Turkey Pardon; what had the turkey done wrong ? I thought it was interesting, in a weird,only done on TA type of way! Georgie is going to go veggie mark my words .

Ref. NewTom he sounds young but HOT!!!! Maybe when he gets over his nerves he'll sound more like his Dad. Oooh wonderful if he and Johnny remove Knob from his arrogant position of power.

I don't think newtom sounds sexy at all! He sounds like a boy bit a big strapping man

So was Tom coincidentally in the cabin finding himself at the time of the accident or did he go there at the time of the accident.

The whole finding himself in a cabin thing makes him out to be a bit of a tit really. I mean who actually has the finances and time to do that.

Yes it's a bit rubbish isn't it. Tom conveniently disappears after wedding debacle so no real fall out from that, then comes back from Canada where apparently he has already jacked in his job, gone to a cabin so as to be conveniently out of touch, comes back a new man (literally) - makes that speech about having put it all behind him and being determined to be the new Tony and that's that. Have they changed the actor in the hope we won't notice he's had a complete personality transplant? It just seems really lazy - big drama jilting Kirsty, but no real follow through (she leaves and he leaves). Big drama with Roy and Elizabeth no real follow through - his family leaves so matter is never even discussed, wife shunted off, Phoebe goes silent (prior to moving to South Africa no doubt). If we are going to have big dramas can we at least have some repercussions not just move on to the next one otherwise - "It's not real you know" it's just another soap

Unfortunately this is what happens when the new ed has cut his teeth on soap style drama. Not really sure what other outcome there could be.

De-lurking. The docs wouldn't have given the impression Tony's tracheostomy was a complication-rather just needed to help wean from the ventilator

Agreed gasbird - (like your name BTW). I was trying to explain thus to be totally uninfested husband last night

Well Lilian Did i imagine Jenny and Lil discussing
Feebs more than once and Roy too? Admittedly we haven't heard from Feebs for a while who is no great loss IMO.

They'll probably replace her with another 'sameas' voice.

Yes. Apparently Feebs doesn't want to go back to Roy, keeps going to see Hayley and Abi, Jennifer thinks it might take her years to get over it and she has been talking to Kate - all signposting a trip to South Africa imo.

I agree entirely Lilian, these slow burn stories have just been left hanging:
Roy and Hayley's discussions with Usha re unfair dismissal, what happened to that?
There is no way Hayley could legally just take Abbie and school her elsewhere without some kind of mutual parental agreement, what about finances, a legal settlement etc?
Mike and family- where are we at re house sale and business sale. Are they supporting Roy?

I don't watch TV soaps anymore, but never remember feeling the same emotional and deep seated interest in any of the characters and story lines which became increasingly protracted and unrealistic over the years..with TA it is different, gentler but involved. I don't see the point in disengaging your regular 'fan base' and losing listeners to gain, what? Will TA be going in another 50 years? At this rate they will all be cloned!!

Peggy was highly irritating, grumbling about Tony going into beef at his age in a 'I told you so' manner. If your stupid grandson hadn't manipulated him into evicting his much-loved dairy herd so unnecessarily, he wouldn't have felt the need you silly woman!

And why say that about Tony? Nobody ever says that to or about Brian and he must be much older than Tony.

Tbh they are doing more harm than good wrt feebs and her relationship with her dad. I speak from personal experience as my dh was completely messed up by his parents separation in similar circumstances. He says now that he wishes his mum had just said 'this is between me and your dad, he shouldn't have done it but she has and he may not be my husband anymore but he is still your dad an he still loves you'. Punishing a cheating partner through the kids hurts the kids as well.

She may be an intelligent girl according to Jenny but she isn't reacting with reason but emotion.

I feel the same about TV soaps. Pace of change is so fast it is totally unbelievable (dramatic maybe, but too far fetched). With TA it's not so much the plots I object to (I though Roy and Elizabeth was entirely feasible for example) but the way they are no longer followed through as if the SW get sick of them or don't know where to go with them and just drop them. Rob and Helen is being done well, but wondering if Tom's return will bring all that to a head and then Rob will never be heard from again. It all feels very messy - I much prefer some comforting, rural, everyday life (my 15 minutes of vicarious country living) with a couple of dramas bubbling under the surface - lots of little strings gradually coming together for the occasional flashpoint - not melodrama after melodrama to the extent that I can't remember what's happening or even who is who.

Totally agree, Lillian.

Where is Alan? Unthinkable that he wouldn't have been round consoling Peggy with her son at death's door. Where is Usha? Ruth's best friend for goodness sake - how can she and Ruth not have had a conversation. Last heard of when they needed a convenient solicitor - even though in real life she is the last person Roy would have gone to? Where is Ian? Best friend to Helen - surely even if we are supposed to think there has been a falling out (never mentioned or detailed) he would have been round when he heard what had happened to Tony. What about Alistair? He must have some thoughts on the Brookfield sell-off or some views on the raging bull. It feels as though the SW can't be arsed to write these longstanding characters in they'd rather pepper Ambridge with loads of but parts to drive through their plots regardless - as if the plot is of any interest if it doesn't realistically take into consideration Ambridge as we know it.

Ah yes Usha being Ruth's 'bff'. Pah. The SWs have always managed to forget that one and then shove it in at random moments.
If I had a best friend like that I'd think she didn't like me!

And totally agree about Alan. Ridiculous.

I don't like you So'C.

Yes, there are certain characters in long established friendships who you would expect to be giving a kind of back stage commentary...where are they all?

Christine? ( probably her air time has been replaced by Carol)
Alan and Usha ( who would surely be having commentaries on latest events)
Alaistair - disappeared for good?
Kathy and Jamie??
(Wasn't Jamie doing a woodland apprenticeship with Mike?)
Er, Mike, Vicky and Co... Silent farewell
Kenton and Jolene not so much
Chris, gone, Alice not so much
Does anyone remember Alan's Daughter, Amy and her lovely Mum?
Remember Ushas lovely Auntie Satia?
Too much culling...

Er sorry
not Amy's Mum, Alan's Mum

And
HWMNBN and family*

• Rosa working for Mike and she and Jamie BFFs... Young blood!!

Recent convert here, but I need to ask:

Where are Helen and Rob? What became of the controlling behaviour?

Does Ruth's sighing annoy anyone else...?

Place marking

Was Alan's DMIL!

Might as well reiterate: my plan was for Rosa to marry Dan and become the matriarch of the new Archer generation. It's still going to happen - the SWs just don't know it yet ...

Luis Recent convert?

You poor, poor thing ...

Guineapiglet, we know the unfair dismissal thing was resolved because Roy said he'd had a cheque from Lizzie. So far as Abbie is concerned, I would say it's probably too early for Roy and Hayley to have drawn up any sort of formal agreement, but I guess the reality is that Roy doesn't feel he's in a position to object to Abbie being with her mother, so there's some sort of tacit consent at least. So far as Mike is concerned, the business sale stalled as the only buyer around wasn't prepared to keep Ed on - though I agree we really ought to have had Vickoi's reaction to that as she's the one who was dead keen to move to Brum.

Didn't Phoebe return early from her last visit to South Africa after some trauma? If so it doesn't seem too likely that she'll go back there.

Phoebe returned after the trauma of Kate having an affair with her lecturer, all played out on Radio 4 extra... And is in the midst of AS levels so, if she sticks to the 2 year programme, is pretty much stuck for two years until A Levels...

I had forgotten about the cheque but was thinking there would be some grand drawn out legal battle involving Elizabeth. What a cop out.

I get the fact that Roy feels he has no 'right' to object to Hayley taking Abbie due to his behaviour but in reality he legally could throw a spanner in the works.. It is all another plot contrivance ,because if all goes to plan, M,V,B, H, Aand even P may all conveniently disappear to Brum and never be seen again.... Massive cull.