Our modest little The Archers thread has its very own radio celebrity! Join us for the hottest chilli in town, and await the impending doom as all plans go into reverse in Ambridge.

[PseudoBadger]

It's all getting rather delicious. I feel sorry for Kenton the fool

It would be a bit odd to introduce a sinkhole plus the problems Ed was having with water drainage plus all this rain all for nothing. I think it really has to have something to do with the road.

Re Lillian: what's annoying about all of this is that there was just nothing foreshadowing it. Normally you would expect to have seen a massive lead-up, with Matt going all furtive and distant from Lill, maybe suddenly becoming careful with money, and maybe with mystery calls from debt collectors or something. But there has been absolutely nothing, and last time we heard any interaction between them it was quite normal and loving. For all this to have come totally out of the blue without even Lill having an inkling is just absurd. If they were getting rid of the actor it must make much more sense to have Matt SOTMC.

There were a few golf/long lunch remarks way back I think.

Maybe we will get some cephalopods in the sink hole.

More spending unearnt money!

Looks like a depression SL - or will the health fairy cure him as soon as phoebe agrees to move back?

love Mike's singing

I never expected Lizzie and Shula to take it well. I'm STMC.

The reception of the news by Lizzie and Shula is frankly ridiculous.

Who expected lizzie to respond like that! What the hell is going on! Not saying she would be angry but didn't expect gushiness. Seems out of character... Glad David isn't getting some sisterly support!

But isn't mike lovely (although not his remark about promising to babysit his own child!!)

Poor Roy - that's a tough conversation to have with your child. At least we have a full complement of loving family around phoebe! I hate the shitty affair SL but they are handling the fallout well.

They're Starkarchers.
It pulls even more rug from under Ruth and isolates her. She's for the chop.

Is not isn't!!

I wonder whether Phoebe could move in with Mike & Vicki? That might be better for her than staying near Kate & she'd see more of Roy.

I don't think I've ever heard Lizzie be so unselfish. Quite odd (but good).

A definite case of marching men to the top of the hill and marching down again.

Mike wasn't really going to "babysit". He just made that up to leave Phoebe and Roy together. He would have stayed at Roy's as long as possible.

That wasn't my objection to the word babysit in this context!!

It's nice phoebe has mike. I'm sure Jenny would be equally comforting but there is always the risk of Kate being there!

Yes Eastpoint, I was thinking that Feebs might be the reason for Mike to stay after all.

Still think Roy and Hayley will eventually get back together.

Still think Matt is not gorn forever

[optimist]

Just remembered something I noticed when listening to the film. When Mike was having that conversation with Roy about how he couldn't change his mind about going to Birmingham, the music playing in the background was "Hit the Road, Jack".

I had the feeling Elizabeth was genuinely pleased but Shula was faking. (Though my listening was interrupted so I may have missed something.)

I felt Shula would have copied Lizzie's reaction whatever it was. Lizzie's was generous so Shula could do no less.
She did sound genuinely pleased when speaking to David later. Maybe she feels she dodged a bullet regarding having Jill move in!

I was surprised at Lizzie, too. I think Shula is quite annoyed though.

Didn't Charlie have to rebuild a track that had partly washed away up by the mega dairy? In any case, we don't usually get to hear so much weather actually happening, so it must be significant.

Poor Feebs though. At least Mike had tidied up. I wish he had said "look after" rather than "babysit", even if it was all an excuse to leave them alone together, rather than what he was actually planning to do.

Oh no. I fear that Roy has been possessed. By that man

A new crush for you Pseudo?

There's clearly only one way to react when you let your wife down and she kicks your sorry ass to the kerb.

Big Boop for Lizzie's reaction - in character I think following her huge falling out with David over the death of Nigel and their subsequent reconciliation. Now she's on her own (and in disgrace over her part in breaking up Roy and Hayley) she needs her family. St Smugula sounded less sure (but still feeling uncomfortable about lying to the the police no doubt and nearly eating a biscuit during Lent so trying to say the right thing and following Lizzie's lead). Kenton is unlikely to be so reasonable since he has already spent the money. Just can't help thinking there has to be some massive fall out otherwise what was the point in the first place?

Ah, but have we all been wrong-footed? Maybe it has all been an elaborate bit of plotting to bring about a divorce between David and Ruth.

I'd feel very bad for Ruth if she felt the need to flounce. She's put in so much work. Nothing could compensate her for not seeing the continued fruits of her farm labours. So I hope that's not what the writers are planning.

Although ... they might think it clever to contrast a sadly resigned and quiet divorce with an extremely loud, public and bitter one.