The Cheese Queen needs to tread Caerphilly. Camembert the tension? Join The Archers thread and hope it gets Feta from here on.

[PseudoBadger]

Sorry but I couldn't resist an opportunity for puns galore

Does he have the same tense, scary voice in RL?

The SWs obviously want us to wonder. And yes, the nausea is always linked to Rob, and might just as well be the way she reacts to extreme stress. It's certainly how it affects me.

I must say, if I were one of the SWs, I'd be a bit annoyed at having to write "rushing to the Ladies" as a precursor to a pregnancy story. So I'm hoping they're bluffing us.

(While still fully expecting the EE option.)

Given rob has just been sacked (effectively) I would have thought he wouldn't be thinking he's on the rise just now.

Yes he has shown he is a homophobe already but I think it would have been better for him just to be a nasty piece of work. Not sure we need to pile on prejudices on top of being abusive etc.

Gruach, Tim Watson's voice isn't quite the same as when he is playing Rob, thank goodness, it's very nice and clear - although obviously there are similarities. I wonder if he goes into those tones in RL if he's angry about something? It would be terrifying!

Brilliant thanks Davros and Jessie for the lowdown on the meeting. Does SOC think he's teflon coated?

BYOS It was made obvious tjat knob was homophobic quite a long time ago .

Oh sorry I though everyone knew the SOTMC synonym ItchyArmpit

Yes I know ppeat. I just don't think it's necessary. One new character and we pile on all the bad traits and prejudices.

I want Charlie to come to all our rescue and expose Rob the Gob.
Maybe Charlie has snuck off to Eastern Europe to find the man who saw Rob damming up the culverts or whatever it was he did which nearly killed Charlie.

Maybe someone else filmed rob edging the ball? It's possible.

I hate Rob so much but only slightly more than I hate drippy Helen.

I feel that Dylan Nells has had his day so I'm back to being me!

Oh that cricket match was awful. I felt so sorry for Adam - he's going to be deposed isn't he? Rob is barely even trying to hide who he really is now, his confidence is sky high! The chilling way his voice changed when Helen mentioned the video!! He is such a good radio actor isn't he?

Did anyone else spot Elizabeth as the nasal Brummie railway announcer? I'm sure it was her. I too liked the (hopefully) end of the Carol/John moider SL. Although JD didn't respond to 'anyone would have done the same' or whatever, so she may go running to Plod after all. Stoopid SL! I too am warming to Carol, which is good as I LOVE EB!

EB is a proper actor isn't she? I love her too, she has her own intonation. So many of the other actors, well actually the younger women, Pip and Jolene's daughter all get mono delivery after awhile.
The cricket match was awful. Adam has to talk to someone doesn't he?
It has to Charlie to the rescue or Rob's ex-wife appearing wielding something that she leaves with Helen that proves what a filthy dirty b'stard LIAR Rob is!!

Did anyone else spot Elizabeth as the nasal Brummie railway announcer? I'm sure it was her. I thought it was her too. And then I wasn't sure.

Have to say last night I was tempted to chase after nauticant crying wait for me! It really was very uncomfortable listening.

I find it easy enough to analyse the thing from the outside and observe how they're piling Rob high with undesirable chracteristics (in the same way that poor HWMNBN was shown to be a drunkard, a criminal and an enabler of cruelty to animals; all the better to underline his "undeserving poor" status), but it's not so easy to shake off the vicarious dread and impending doom that I still feel long after Barwick Green has faded.

Yes I noticed the Railway announcer was "one of the cast" as they say but top marks to who worked out in was the Lizzie actress.

I had these thoughts- Alex Fb. is gay and him and Ian get together leaving Adam free to get together with Charlie !! They can all throttle knob together YAAY

The signs of Rob being abusive have been there almost since the start. I remember when Helen started seeing Rob she she stopped wearing makeup because, as she told Kirstu, Rob preferred her without it.

The cooking thing, I think is about control. Helen had/has an eating disorder and uses food to control her life. Rob, NY cooking, is taking away this control. Food has always been a recurring theme in their relationship.

Ohhhhhh that dirty cheating scoundrel!

I'm really hoping that the footage Helen took resurfaces- though I did chuckle at the idea a crappy phone camera would be able to pick up a clip on the bat...but that is the cricket geek in me.

I am so hoping she isn't pregnant, but the idea that it's her ED when it isn't happening immediately after eating and rather when Rob is being discussed makes me think it's just morning sickness. Perhaps we'll find out this week.

I thought Tom was Charlie- didn't Rob and Charlie argue badly in the last match? Poor Johnny being influenced by Rob.

Kirsty is returning- Helen and Henry will be saved!

Yes Rob was effectively sacked from Berrow but his smugness stems from having put his own spin on things and getting away with everything. That's his definition of success.
Failure in marriage or work is someone else's fault, never his.

How can Pat just stand there and listen to Rob being so awful to Adam and say nothing - has she had a personality transplant?

I reckon as someone else said this is all building to a Christmas climax

I just can not understand the pat turnaround. She is a character who I would have said would be deeply suspicious of any man regardless how nice. I think it is out of character for her to be this gushing about a man.

I have spent almost my entire Sunday reading 80 pages of postings you all have written about TA. I had some family issues that put me behind all the way back to the start of the year almost. I tried so hard to catch up yet I didn't want to skip hardly anything. I need to know it ALL! :D
But I caught up to May (I think). After finding you via Twitter, I read all your posts from May to current. I am now googling when key episodes were like the R&H "date night".
I have a few questions if that won't be too bothersome.
Hopefully I have found an Archer's home here since I'm in the US and know no one else who listens. Oh and also because I listen and talk out loud to the characters and snort with laughter to myself like a loon.
I'll take any initiation to be able to have my questions answered. ;)

Welcome AzureJules! Ask away

You might find this site useful too - the archives go back to 1996!

Meant to say, there are daily plot summaries you'll be able to read through.

Welcome indeed AzureJules . Medal-worthy effort.

Someone on the rebel thread has posted this wonderful vintage link to an Archers book extract recalling Princess Margaret's visit to the village. Fascinating reading.

Just listened on catch-up, normally I hate the cricket matches, but that was just a perfect episode. An Englishman who cheats at cricket - was there ever a better metaphor for an out and out cad! If there were ever any remaining doubts about his involvement in the culvert blocking, his attack on the hunt sab, his poor workmanship at Berrow Farm, his lie about his parents, his raping Helen etc etc I think we can all be clear now. This is a man who cheats at cricket! lIstening to him brow-beat Tony and everyone else into agreeing with him was so familiar. Where were Shula and Jim - they would have recognised that tactic from their own dealings with him? And Helen quite literally taking her eye off the ball to film Henry and so not see what is happening under her nose - a fantastic metaphor for their entire relationship. Even when she actually has the evidence in her hand she can't see it (could it possibly have been saved on to her cloud?) I no longer think Johnny will be the one to save her - just like in a sci-fi movie Knob has somehow brought him and Pat under his control. Only Adam can see that the emperor is wearing no clothes. He is the only who who dares to stand up to him and I think he and Charlie (who is hopefully doing some digging) will be the ones to show Knob for the Knob he really is. And I hope that when he is finally unmasked and he tries to blow the whistle on their New Year snog and calls on Helen to back him up she'll say "Sorry darling, I really have no idea what you are talking about."

Nice to have you here, Azure! Ginger biscuit?

Hate to say it ppea but your description of the four gay guys merrily "throttling knob together" may have made me snurk unworthily.

I am beyond chilled by Rob's idea of a weekly rape night. I think the fact that he wants to make an occasion of it is even scarier than if he was attacking her randomly. She knows he wants to do it every week, and he is creating the perfect cover for himself if it ever comes out. Who would believe that once a week like clockwork a man organises a babysitter, cooks a delicious dinner then rapes his wife? He'll say she's deluded and mad and taking a normal part of married life and being "confused" about it.

Oh yes Lillian - if anyone was in any doubt about Rob, we now know for sure. He cheats at cricket and, as we know, that's just not...well...cricket!

Wasn't he vile to Adam? Homophobic weasel

Welcome Azure - are you American or British? Do we need to give you a crash course in anything else if the former? If the latter can we send you virtual marmite, branston pickle and salt & vinegar crisps (thinks fondly back to what I used to take back to Germany when I lived there).

The whole wrapping up of John Tregorran's mercy killing smacked of someone in the writing team suddenly looking back at old plot notes and realising they hadn't sorted that one out and couldn't be arsed to develop it any further.

One thing that I think has got more confusing since SOC took over is that sometimes it feels as if we're supposed to be an informed listener and know more than any single character, and other times (typically when he wants to ratchet up the drama) we're supposed to be like the characters and not know what's going on - cf the goring of Tony and the presumed raping of Helen. Switching between the two is confusing and makes for unsatisfying listening I feel.

Thanks for the updates from the RT festival - I kept looking at it being plugged in the RT and wishing I could have gone.