Culvert operations in Ambridge - discuss The Archers here. It's not his baby by the way.

[PseudoBadger]

Is Ed's wedding very soon?

Eddie and Joe met Rex.

David met Rex.

Eddie introduced Rex to Ed.

Rex and Toby went to Brookfield. Toby fell in love with Pip. Told her he would be at sheep shearing. (I have no idea why - it's hardly relevant goose breeding experience.)

Pip manoeuvred herself a sheep catching slot. Gruesome flirtation with Toby.

It would be a bit of a laff if Toby told Pip to get lost because he can't stand her voice.

Robs other line tonight was the thing about women getting emotionally attached to work(forgot how he put it). So, homophobic and sexist comments in short order.

You've got to love TA - where else could you get public service broadcasting on how to vote and the correct way to roll a fleece within 13 minutes.

Yes, Brian and Betty. He didn't get anywhere, though. I think he chased her round the pool - or was it a suggestion they could go skinny dipping together?

Zero I bow to your ability to tell Rex and Toby apart.

Why did they mention the "check up" of Rex or was it Toby ? Is he carrying some deadly disease, will fall in love with Pipsqueak Pipster or whatever annoying thing is called and then be doomed ? Or is he going to be Ian's love interest when Adam declares love for Charlie.

Ps I know times are tight etc but surely Caroline can give Ed and Emma a free night for a. Honeymoon as well as Clarries new outfit ?

Why would Ed'n'Emma want a free night at GG, when all Ed's family are currently living there, and would insist on being shown all the poshness of the honeymoon suite and so on, while working through the minibar?

Errol to add to Rob's homophobia and sexism you also had his downright sneery comment about how tedious it was sitting next to Nic at the Landowners' dinner - so also a snob, intellectual and otherwise. I hated how Helen pretty much agreed with him on that, though it was actually a good subtle flag for how he is changing her.

His condescending reference to "the Mums" and their frivolous topics of conversation was also odious.

I am utterly bemused as to why the BBC thought it worthwhile putting in material supposedly designed to encourage young people to vote into THE ARCHERS.....Radio 1, maybe, buut I'm pretty sure that any Young Person who actually listens to Radio 4 is already likely to be politically aware.

Absolutely agree with whoever said it was very disappointing to hear Toby mock Pip for wanting to vote. They did not at all come across like that until that point. That said, all the "Bro" and "Buddy" and "David's a nice bloke" stuff made me want to hurl. Who writes this shit?

AAAnd finally - enough with the cod-scot nonsense from Jazzer - "dinnae take ma Irn Bru", "ye'll just hae enough time tae eat yer piece" OK, we get it. Their only saving grace is that they didn't actually have him bemoan the lack of an SNP candidate in Borsetshire.

I think that the mention of Rex's medical appointment was simply to explain why he had an immoveable (sp?) commitment that prevented him from being the fleece-roller, thus setting the stage for Toby's introduction. It does fit with his injury back story.

Did anyone ever see the Fabulous Baker Brothers, the Channel 4 food thing with the two brothers from the West Country, one a butcher and the other a baker (no doubt with a secret candlestick-maker sister)? They are how I picture Rex and Toby.

To be fair(?!) to Rob, it probably was tedious sitting next to Nic.

I lost you all! (Petula here)

Am quite behind. Thanks for the new thread

Just popping in to lay claim to the first prediction of a Fairbrother/Pip liaison, way back in the previous thread.

How, exactly, did Pip vote?

Need someone to blame.

Pip voted Tory. Although the Dopeys don't really talk about politics, she's absorbed Deeeevid's dyed-in-the-wool Toryism. Roooth grew up in an old-fashioned Labour household but is now a floating voter. She knows Solly would turn in his grave if she voted Tory but she doesn't feel like a Labour voter any more. She used to vote LD but voted Green this time.

I'd have thought Solly (manager of a big loo roo factory?) would have been an old-fashioned conservative who'd had run-ins with the unions in the 70s (or possibly an even more old-fashioned Liberal). Just because someone is northern doesn't automatically make them Labour you know!

I'd have liked to hear Pat and Rob getting into a political discussion. Though he didn't seem to have bothered to go to the polling station with Helen. Actually, I'd have liked to hear her trying to have a political discussion with her, that could have been interesting but I guess the BBC has to be careful of bias before an election.

I see Pip was crutching not catching.

Good. Serves her right for what she's done to the country.

Waves to petula . Is your name changing in homage to the difficulties caused by the scriptwriters when they bring in new actors for old characters? It's bad enough not knowing who's who on TA without having the same problem on the thread

Please can we have an election free thread. I need a haven!!!!

The way they have Toby talking (he was in the city before?) shows the sw are in a luvvie bubble. I find this with a lot of drama - they are so caught up in their own professional circle they can't really write for characters out of it. The archers had generally escaped it but with the increasing number of stereotypes (kate, je) or badly written characters (most of the bew characters) are changing that

Do you think we could get a petition together to recast pip? I'm sure daisy badger is a great actress but not on radio (same goes for Jess, tom and possibly the fairbrethren, although benefit of the doubt as they've not done much so far). Whoever found johnny should be promoted to head talent scout.

I hear what you say BYOS but - although the brethren say they're "not over-capitalised" - d'you think anyone who doesn't have some City money behind them would be thinking of investing in farming right now?

Also, if their dad is/was a successful (wealthy, well connected) wine importer, based in the south of England, the sons' previous careers in private equity and professional sport seem fairly typical. One would assume (were it not for the voting gaffe last night) that they were splendidly well educated and left university with the world at their feet and plenty of open doors.

If they are under 30 they will not have made that much money in their city careers of a max of 9 years - and rugby doesn't pay well does it? So they either don't have much behind them or daddy has helped them out.

Thy have given us no proof they are well educated from how they have been presented - bad writing I should imagine.

No, you're right, not much time to make enough to last a lifetime - though they may have done very well indeed by "normal" standards, Toby in particular. (Only he worked in the City.) Even so they'll have more confidence in the future than most people.

Thinking about who their backers might be (former colleagues plus family?) reminds me of the mysterious man who approached Fallon, offering funding for the bunting business. Stupidly remiss of the SWs not to underpin that with some detail.

If it was EE then Toby would have some dirt on JE.

Yup!

He will have made enough to keep them going for a couple of years but only if he lived prudently when he was earning and lives prudently going forward

former colleagues are highly unlikely to put money in unless there is a good business plan and return. From what we have heard from the fairbrethren it seems a bit 'wing and a prayer'. No pun intended!

Soaps tend to have characters that seem to have money for things most normal people wouldn't though so I'm sure they will be driving around on top of the range cars before you know it

rugby doesn't pay well does it?

Sam Burgess is on half a million a year, though Rex isn't quite his standard. (not many are!)

I thoroughly disliked the way that Toby was leching at Pip the other day. The SW don't like rugby types, do they - first Knob, now Toby.
I have long thought that TA should have more rugby - half our team were farmers' sons.