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Discuss your favourite podcast, radio show or The Archers episode.

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988 replies

PseudoBadger · 10/08/2015 21:48

Chocolate Chip cookie anyone?

OP posts:
NotdeadyetBOING · 18/08/2015 22:48

Knob is so going to go for a workplace bullying claim, isn't he? Can threaten to expose the snog if Charlie doesn't play ball.

And we know Hellin is blind where Knob is concerned, but surely even SHE would have an issue with his homophobic comment about Charlie's 'sordid lifestyle' or however he put it…..

stilllearnin · 18/08/2015 22:50

headinhands you do know a lot- Ruth is a bobbed brunette.she tucks it behind her ears during lambing.

Sorry, need to ask an obvious question. Charlie does not know that Rob knows does he? So seeing as R has said this is the reason for Charlie being horrible to him, then why has H not asked R how Charlie knows he knows? Actually I think I did a little plot summary along those lines a few threads back. Both H and R are coming across as quite stupid.

BertrandRussell · 18/08/2015 23:01

I think Jill will go quietly- and it will be a fucking outrage. However much one may want to decapitate her with a cake slice.

Can I ask- all the people saying that the David/Pip dynamic is creepy- do you have grown up children? Because I can't see it. Pip's an adult and an equal contributor to the farm- so the dynamic isn't going to be child/ adult.....

smink · 18/08/2015 23:05

Surely Bert goes.

And I think Charlie knows Helin knows so it is reasonable to assume that she told Knob.
Is there any truth in the Rob Raeph story?.did he leave Raeph to do everything while he had lunch?

stilllearnin · 18/08/2015 23:30

Hmmm so I suppose if Charlie realised that H saw he and Adam mid clinch, he would assume she might tell Rob? Yes I suppose so...although not that convinced that a curious and intelligent H could sniff out that this is not stacking up that well. What will trigger the big reveal then I wonder?

EBearhug · 18/08/2015 23:32

Jill's already feeling unsettled at Brookfield because of the Fairbrethren.

(For new listeners - Grace Fairbrother was Phil's first wife and was famously burnt to death in the stables the night that ITV went on air for the first time. Robin Fairbrother was her younger (by more than 20 years) half-brother, the one who had an affair with Elizabeth. He's the father of the two brothers who are now active.)

I always thought that TV soaps were really incestuous, but Ambridge is beginning to look like it, too. (Fairly true to life, actually - I know of a couple of villages where you can do a family tree of the village pretty much - so-and-so married his brother whose first wife was the woman who'd had that affair with...)

Gruach · 19/08/2015 06:30

Re David / Pip: because we don't, in RL, have to keep reminding listeners of our familial relationships and grandparents' names, I'm not sure a direct comparison is helpful. (The dynamic that people are objecting to is complicated / compromised by radio production necessities - but I don't think that is the cause.)

But just consider other families with grown up children in the village. (Not sure if examples need to be parent and child of the same sex, but since we're talking about David and daughter ...)

Neil and Emma. Lovely close, affectionate, teasing, humour filled relationship. They never sound as if they're having an affair.

Tony and Helen. Poor man is exhausted with her alarms and excursions. She's rude and patronising. They rub along.

Clarrie and Will. Close, mutual support. Constantly striving to please each other no matter what. Creepy? Never.

Brian and golden stepdaughter Debbie. Close, brisk, been through the mill, equal measures of trust and distrust. But we've never once speculated that he was sneaking off to Hungary because he preferred her to Jenny.

The difference is, in all those instances, you can hear the years and years of worried parenting in the voices of the parent, and years and years of rebellion, dependency and growing gratitude in the voices of the grown up children. Each parent (perhaps I'm extrapolating too far) sounds as if their pride in the "child" is bound up with their love for the other parent, who has helped to build that child.

For some reason this is all lacking in the David / Pip thing. I don't know if it's because, with a new Pip, they just haven't had time for all the parent /child stuff to grow into their voices. David used to sound constantly exasperated with old Pip. Now he always sounds as if he goes to Pip for support and reassurance and that they are the primary "team" facing up to the vicissitudes of life with Ruth. Wringer than a wrong thing.

Icimoi · 19/08/2015 07:06

headinhands, I'm fascinated that you feel Ruth comes over as efficient and sensible. You must have been lucky enough to miss the episodes when she's been shrieking hysterically at David. Though she does have right at least partially on her side re the Heatherpetsaga.

I'm wondering whether Knob's blackmail plans will backfire. After all, it really won't harm Charlie to be outed as gay - people will just shrug their shoulders and say "So what"? The only people who will be harmed are Adam and Ian, and with any luck Helen isn't such a surrendered wife that she won't create a fuss around that.

BertrandRussell · 19/08/2015 08:08

If I was going to pick a "creepy" father/daughter relationship in Ambridge, it would be Brian and Debbie!

NotMyName123 · 19/08/2015 08:11

I don't understand why they're suddenly talking about Jill moving out? Surely she could to into Pip's room, even if it is a box room?

BertrandRussell · 19/08/2015 08:18

"I don't understand why they're suddenly talking about Jill moving out? Surely she could to into Pip's room, even if it is a box room?"

Well, I sure as hell hope she does move out and let them run their own household if they do that to her!

enochroot · 19/08/2015 08:31

Brian and Debbie are a bit too close but don't make me feel uncomfortable the way Pip and David do.

Now we know why Rob was so keen to marry Helen all of a sudden and wants to get her up-duffed. He knew he would get found out eventually doing something nefarious at Berrow so now that he's safely married to half of Bridge Farm he was good and ready to resign in high dudgeon. And once again Peggy has facilitated this by wielding her cheque book.

I'm disappointed that Charlie seems to be weakening. There is no evidence against him other than Helen's and surely 'the board' would assume she was lying on Rob's behalf if Rob did make an accusation.
But Rob isn't going to do that. He's concocting a story for Helen.

Come back Stefan!

Icimoi · 19/08/2015 09:38

I still don't see why it would matter if Rob did make an accusation. I would strongly hope that the board wouldn't give a fig for Charlie being gay, and even if they objected they can't do anything about it. Whilst wasn't great that he was snogging a man in a civil partnership, it really has nothing to do with his employment.

All that stuff about Rob enduring "seven shades of hell" to keep a roof over Helen's and Henry's heads was truly vomitworthy. It would be nice to think that she would clock that he hasn't actually substantiated that in any way, but she's sure to believe him implicitly and feel even more beholden. Bleeeurrrgghhh.

EBearhug · 19/08/2015 14:15

I don't think Charlie's weakening. I think he's making sure BL will be covered if Rob claims to be do stressed, anyone would have known he didn't mean it, all this bullying, they didn't give me a chance, etc.

stilllearnin · 19/08/2015 14:40

I may be a bit behind- but why does HP coming to live at Brookfield mean Ruth or any family member has to do the personal care. They can buy it in surely. Though from experience do not underestimate how much you will need to do between the three visits a day. I think david might be a bit thick (I really hate saying stuff like that but honestly my dim wits of ambridge list is growing - how can people not know some of this stuff).

stilllearnin · 19/08/2015 14:42

Also I will be cross if knob gets one over on Charlie (so to speak).

ppeatfruit · 19/08/2015 14:46

I loved the 2 lovebirds agreeing on 'the vision' that knob has FGS Grin

Hah, his vision is of being the cuckoo in the nest at Bridge Farm!! Lets hope they don't all capitulate " For Hell's sake" .

stilllearnin · 19/08/2015 15:07

However it would be interesting to have knob at bridge farm. It would be a lot harder for him to get out of stuff there or to try to take over - tho he would be horrible to jonny which could of course backfire epically!

BertrandRussell · 19/08/2015 15:15

Rob's going to want Helen to stay at home all the time to keep him company, isn't he?

Helenluvsrob · 19/08/2015 17:51

So glad my best username wasn't taken after all the hacking stuff today. Thought I'd join this to tell you how wonderful being Mrs rob titchener is. Just a bit worried about rob and ?ork though... I thought he loved Bertie farm amost as much as he loved me and Henry. Not sure what were going to when grannies money runs out though....

Helenluvsrob · 19/08/2015 17:54

Bertrandrussell why shouldn't I stay home? I want him to feel cherished and happy and if he needs a little looking after what of it.

What is this " knob" to whom you refer?

Icimoi · 19/08/2015 19:25

Well, Charlie was playing that one close to his chest, wasn't he? I do hope he's going to put two fingers up to Knob's blatant blackmail attempts.

redshoeblueshoe · 19/08/2015 19:29

Helenluvsrob- congratulations Flowers how your wedding made me smirk smile.

Ignore everyone else - I think you and nob Rob are made for each other

Stickerrocks · 19/08/2015 19:42

Hopefully Charlie will tell the Board exactly what knob said, as promised.

Helenluvsrob · 19/08/2015 19:47

Thank you redshoe we are so lucky. I have heard whisper in th shop that we deserve each other - we certainly do I'm sure ;)