SOC has soaked Ambridge to the core across a never ending weekend. Discuss The Archers post-watershed here.

[PseudoBadger]

Deluged damp squid or not? And has Peggy been assisted off the mortal coil by Rob yet?
And when will JD and Brian remember Debbie?

Hmmm - you're right enoch. I'm not certain of the tenures of TA editors but until now I had never actually questioned the casting. Inability to read the script without sounding as if you're reading the script perhaps, (OldTom and several of the yoof) but who could ever have mistaken Marjorie Antrobus or Nigel or James Bellamy or almost anyone for someone else? I still recall the frisson of horrified excitement I felt when Lynda arrived in the village.

Surely the actor playing Johnny has some acting siblings, or parents or even a dear friend who gets radio as well as he does?

what mailbox event?

OldPip's voice annoyed me intensely. It annoyed DD as well who is the same age. I didn't have a problem with her acting though and there was no mistaking her for anyone else!
NewPip's voice is so different in pitch that I keep thinking it's Helen speaking. It's only her wandering accent that gives me a clue, other than context.

OldPip's whine used to get on my nerves but by God she was good in comparison to the current incarnation. The move debacle needed her incredulous self obsessed ranting.

This Mailbox event Olivia.

CUP alerted us to it above. So far no one seems ready to volunteer ..

Daisy Badger may not sound it but she is in fact almost exactly the same age as Pip. She graduated from drama school last year. She grew up in Worcestershire of farming stock so on paper must have seemed a perfect choice. Unfortunately paper qualifications are not everything.

There have been complaints before about voices being too similar - Alistair/Adam/Kenton, I think, mostly. That is (I assume) why the Adam actor has that very distinctive mannered delivery, which he didn't use at first.

OK. It's time to fess up.
I have to be in town that evening to meet DS off the coach so I've signed up for the Mailbox event.
Anybody else going?

Gutted am miles away from Brum or I would go.
R4 you MUST report back.

Even if Jess is nuts Rob is still a twunt of the highest order.
All that "shagging anything with a pulse"
And he did not deny sleeping with her. --proof in my book that he did-'

I was willing to give newtom the benefit of the doubt but he still sounds like he's reading from a script

Was johnny recruited under the new 'professional' approach or the old approach?

I'm not sure, build but I love Johnny a lot. Really well acted and very sympathetic. Easily one of my favourite characters.

Agree. The scene a while back with Neil johnny and Tom really showed new Tom up!!

R4
When Olivia tells you that you must do something....
Well I wouldn't like to think of the consequences of not obeying....

Gulp.
I'm scared now.

Ref. the casting and voices; dd1 acted a bit and was auditioned by the beeb (for a radio play) She can act, it's not just a fond mummy talking!! she usually got every part she went for, the producer wanted her
for the play but said her voice was too similar to one of the other actors' so she didn't get the part.

It's probably difficult and expensive to find both good actors and people with distinctive voices for radio.

Just catching up. Kate is JUST ...

and BOOP for return of Kirstie - she'll rescue Hellin from her delusions, shurely?

"shagging anything with a pulse"

What?! Don't they know it's Sunday morning?

Helen and Rob were shagging before we learnt about Jess, I think, but to be honest, I can't remember.

I think the whole CM thing is going to send him off on one, and he will end up taking it out on Helen, probably when she sensibly says something like, "Well, just take the DNA test to put an end to all this," now it's the authorities involved, not just Jess, and he'll punish her for not being supportive. I suspect he has convinced himself that the baby isn't his, and that she really has been shagging around, because otherwise he has to admit he's screwed up and the world doesn't actually fit the model in his head.

Or possibly Kirsty will witness something between him and Helen, and will pull him up on it, and he'll threaten her. Either way, I suspect his behaviour will be more threatening as he loses control and things don't go his way.

It wasn't clear to me if Rob was there when Peggy was telling Tony she's changed her will, or if it was just a mother-son chat between the two of them alone (although during the party). So while Rob knows she's talked about changing it, he may not yet be aware that she's actually done it.

BTW, I came across this -
www.networks.nhs.uk/editors-blog/ambridge-to-get-its-own-health-budget

I too do really like Jonny but it is funny the way they have to remind us of his Northern-ness at every opportunity "Eeh, I was right made up Grandad..."

I do think that NewKate is acted superbly, to the extent that I forget there was an OldKate.

And Olivia, if R4 is to attend the Mailbox thingy and report back to us, surely you could reciprocate by getting Brine in for a webchat? It seems only fair, especially as Gransnet is getting Deeeavid.

While listening to the omnibus in the bath this morning, I composed the following:

Lines On David's Decision Not To 'Spoil' Kenton's Holiday

Elizabeth and Shula
Knew there was no moolah
While Kenton
Spent on.

I just thought that maybe if we started producing our own terrible poetry it might take a bit of the pressure off Bert at this difficult time.

That's brilliant watermelon

Thanks BOOP The muse seldom visits me but she did this morning. Can I have a boop point?

@ Watermelon's musings. Here you are then

I like Pat just now - her acting and lines have stepped up again, I think. NewKate is excellent too.

I fear Knob will now escalate. TG Kirsty is back in the area and can rescue Hellen. Knob is under pressure not just with Jess but at work - it will be found that he was neglectful regarding culvert clearance etc. And Charlie's not one to not pass the buck. Interesting times.