Aldridges Assemble! Await the return of the prodigal daughter to Ambridge with the rest of The Archers audience

[PseudoBadger]

I can't resist alliteration

Kirsty really ripped shreds out of Tom without either shouting or having a scowl in her voice. She seemed to enjoy doing it too. My first thought was "ooooooh, apply cold water to burnt area" :o

Do you reckon Charlie could be written out move to Hungary to get a job near Debbie?

Babybarrister Maurice is the butcher who works on the sausage skin stuffing in a unit in an industrial estate for Tom. Is Tom still producing ready meals?

I think the last few weeks have been much more enjoyable - relationship issues between Kate & everyone apart from Lynda & Lilian, familial conflict. Excellent.

Mo-reeeece ?

In my imagination a soulful Chicago hipster accompanied by an entourage of improbably glamorous women - like Robert Downey Jnr in Ally McBeal. Doleful on the subject of lurve. Regular light opera nights. Fancied Anthea. (Should have been the story of the decade.) The epicentre of Ambridge coolth.

So was phil hard on Kenton? Did they always side with David?

I'm too young to remember...

Tamsin Grieg comes and they all raise their game.

Except for Brian who doesn't have to, and Adam too, I like Adam.

But Gill's hysterical titter MAKE IT STOP.

By the time I started listening (mid 80s) I don't think Kenton was around for me to tell if David was being favoured over him.

Certainly he was bailed out financially a time or two. He was never interested in the farm, always a bit of a loose cannon/black sheep, with family saying "oh Kenton" when he turned up

Yet still no one will say Kenton you spent money you did not yet have

:o

Charlie dropped a hint to Debbie about meeting up at a trade show sometime when they exchanged cards. She didn't seem averse to the idea.

Got the bit of Debbie/ Charlie and drones. Could he not send one to look for Stefan.

Did stefan buy the hammer? Maybe it's a future murder weapon? Bye bye rob

Nice to hear the coconuts out in force

Nice to hear Kate opening up to Debbie. Less of a caricature. Although not sure about the old maiden aunt guff.

So Debbie is single. Although seems to be twigging about Adam and Charlie.

How old is Charlie aupposed to be though. If he is old enough to be potential mat h for Debbie, Adam OR Kate? Maybe he's juat after land too

I was under the impression he is early thirties

For the first time ever I warmed to Kate. Her opening herself up to Debbie was non whiny and out of character and put her in a sympathetic light. Debbie is a lovely character, I would love her to stay a bit longer.

It was quite whiny, actually

& it's the first time we've heard about the alleged sadness in Nolly & Sipho's eyes

& the first time we've heard about Lucas's alleged affairs

It's not like Kate to hold back!

Wow.

Think I've waited all my life for that episode. Wonderful to hear Debbie, Kate and Alice! all together. And then the Debbie / Kate chat. Superb.

Usually my only emotion while listening is exasperation. This is a whole other level of ... something.

More BOOPS than I knew existed in the universe.

Nice to hear bloody Kate remembering she has children.

Fab episode.

Village shop saga is warming up!

The 2 shops may put Susan in a difficult position given she works for Pat but is very personally invested in the village shop. Which bodes well from our PoV . Of course hazel may throw a spanner in the works too.

The Debbie/Kate chat was good, but I couldn't help feeling that Kate had had a personality transplant - either they've suddenly decided to make her a more sympathetic character or got a new SW. I found it quite annoying that they suddenly produced an affair for Lucas when she's never once mentioned it before: there is just no logical reason why she would have kept quiet and then suddenly come out with it all with Debbie.

And I also got quite annoyed that, yet again, a member of her family is looking at bailing her out. Can't she just be sent off to apply for a bank loan like anyone else?

Kate is not necessarily a reliable narrator.

And the way she behaves does vary according to who she's with (eg Lynda) and how much she's had to drink. Probably at her best with sympathetic big sis after a morning's horse riding.

I agree. Absolute bollocks that Lucas' affair was embedded in the plot months back.
Shoddy, shoddy scriptwriting.

Anyone returning from a long absence needs some sort of justification, it's poor work to be shoehorning this in at this late stage.

I agree that Lucas' affairs have been shoehorned in after the fact. Along with glossing over Kate's affair (and indeed Roy's - they both seem to be referred to as 'nasty business' now), it just really irked me as did the thought of Noli and Sipo with tears in their eyes because when last we heard of them, they'd been 'entirely turned against her'.

So no BOOPs from me I'm afraid (although I thought the scene-setting was lovely), more of a