Continuing culvert conspiracies in Ambridge - discuss The Archers here

[PseudoBadger]

Won't someone please give Kenton a kick in the FA Cup Finals, and a link to Money Saving Expert?

Oh I totally think it is something we need to be aware of but the way they are doing it is a turn off (i did almost turn off). It just comes across as adam ranting wheras really good 'education' input makes you think and look into it yourself, or listen to a R4 programme that is handily trailed....

I think it needs saying a lot though, because so many people just bury their heads in the eroded sand!

I do wish we weren't losing Mike. That was the first reference to the fact that he only has one eye for about 25 years. One might have expected some mention of it during his and Vicky's courtship, but no. Almost as if they forgot it till somebody dug around in the archives for this leaving tribute scene!

I enjoyed that scene with the three friends rooting about in the shed. They've none of them had their troubles to seek, have they?

Eddie - endless farming problems, debt problems, losing the farm, sent to Meadow Rise, nearly convicted of selling dodgy meat, two feuding sons, Ed's torrid love life, Ed's drink/drugs period, Will's divorce, the flood

Neil - unrequited love for Shula, shotgun marriage to Susan, Susan's spell in prison, being closely related to the Horrobins, assorted business difficulties, Emma's torrid love life, being closely related to the Aldridges

Mike - losing his farm, losing his eye, losing Betty, depression, Brenda's torrid love life, Roy's ditto (Kate, Hayley, Elizabeth), Vicky, Bethany

Almost like a soap opera!

there's ways and means without making an episode of the archers sound like fourthought (how do they manage to find so many pretentious people for that? or do they give them training beforehand on how to do a presentation about their topic in a way that screams 'it's all about me! i am the hero!')

I wish mike was staying too (vicky not so much)

Nice interview here with Mike

i wish he was going 'happy' - it sounds like a bad move for him

When you see it written out like that, Gasp0de, it does all look a bit soapy.
Love the idea of Adam and Charlie's lunches with a rant. It could be on the specials board at Grey Gables - the rant of the day.

It's just - whenever Charlie rings now, however stellar the restaurant, however seductively he delivers the invitation - I will know what's coming.

I know - for sir, the soup and the beef wellington; and for the other sir, pate with toast points, followed by the monkfish and a giant foam at the mouth about soil/mega-dairies/overuse of antibiotics/etc.

That 'soap' has been spread over decades though.

Thanks for the interview link, very nice. I hope moike does come back to visit his pals (and Roy).

Funny about him being Davros - if you didn't know I don't think you'd guess!

Did Adam go for lunch with Charlie straight from drenching lambs followed by showing Pip his herbal let? Because he would have been stinking of sheep. He told Charlie he would be there in ten minutes. That's not enough time to change and drive there, surely?!

I'm not convinced Moike is going but I can't see how it would play out if he stays. I don't know if I've heard all of last night's, kept dropping off and having to restart.

Dairyfarmers I know what you mean, the music at the end woke me up.

That always used to happen to me watching Masterchef on iPlayer.

I didn't know Mike only has one eye..

I know they're trying to give Mike a good send-off and highlight the troubles of the elderly with Christine AND give an airing to debates on soil, BUT....

• what's happened to Shula's nascent roll in the hay with the Doc?

• why has Charlie given up the fight on the culvert? (and David? Will we never hear from Tall Rachel again??)

• why has Ian never mentioned his suspicions about Adam and Charlie again?

• what's going to be Knob's next step with H?

• when will Chris and Alice get anything approaching a storyline?

DFW - I didn't realise it was a herbal let. I assumed it must be spelled lay. To be honest, I think it's a giant grassy metaphor for Adam and Charlie's relationship the way he goes on about "sowing the seeds" and "giving it time to blossom" to say nothing of how vigorously he was hammering in the fence post the other day

I thought Adams chat with pip was fine but the rant was badly done

Re the culvert - soc ha a habit of forgetting storylines and then revisiting (Roy/lizzie anyone?) in a haphazard way. I guess this will be the same

squeaver actually it seems I had an autocorrect fail... It's ley

That always used to happen to me watching Masterchef on iPlayer.

Me too with Pointless. I really like it, but if I watch it late at night I'm guaranteed to fall asleep. It's better than a sleeping pill. That's one reason why I never subscribe to any nonsense about not having screens in the bedroom if you have trouble sleeping.

Olivia, I seem to recall that there was an accident with hydraulic equipment with a when he was working for the estate in the Pemberton years, and he got blinded in one eye. Employer negligence, and he got some compo.

He had a lot of bad luck - farm went bankrupt and Brian had designs on Betty while she was working as a daily at Home Farm. I think the script-writers have a downer on the "working-class" families such as the Tuckers, Grundys, Carters - keep them in their place and all that.

What happened in Brighton? Oh wait, I don't care

Sounds like Toby's city career was working in bars

So we are losing mike and gaining fairbrthers

Unless they're giving Mike a week to change his mind? (Wonder if he has a toy farm in the attic ...)

Yes, what was Toby doing at that private equity (?) place in the City? Was he driven out in disgrace? Perhaps their country jaunt is just as much about him as Rex's injury.

he wouldn't have lasted 5 mins in private equity - and most PE houses aren't based in the City! I think he had a banking job but wouldn't have lasted long with his attitude. They might have a play hard attitude but that goes with working hard. doesn't sound like he does that. He's also supposed to be quite young from the sounds of it so unlikely he got past the first year in his graduate job.

not sure what they are trying to do with him but he is coming across as deeply unpleasant and i don't think i can bear two nasty little men

Can't believe I'm typing this but I actually felt a bit sorry for Kate there! Someone slap me!