Rob - dead? No, no, he's, er, resting. He's just pining for the Canadian plains. As Helen is taken into custardy, discuss the Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

24 hours for 1 thread!!

I must say, if I were purely a Sunday listener there is no way I could have summoned the control to wait till Sunday for this SL.

Thank you lorek Wifi restored in the nick of time.

Actually, the thread title is in fact cleverly misleading and therefore not a spoiler. In the Monty Python sketch it references, the parrot is actually truly dead. So you could have inferred from it that Rob WAS dead, but we know he's not.

I'm looking forward, I hope, to lots of Ian. He's one of the few who's understood exactly who and what Rob is from the very start. I'd say he's also got a memory like an elephant.

If the stabbing goes to a jury trial, hopefully all of Rob's priors will come forward and it will be enough to make it impossible for the jury to be beyond reasonable doubt and Helen will be acquitted on that basis.

Then they will find Stefan etc and basically tell Rob to get out of Ambridge lest he wants to stay permanently - hanging from a tree. And Helen gets a divorce and full custody of the kids and it's bye bye Rob.

Sadly he also seems to have mostly lost the power of speech.

Re: Ian - that's one thing I'm really angry with Helen about. Rob exhibited some vile homophobic behaviour that she never called him up on, even way before she was under his thumb.

Off topic, but can anyone tell me who's living in these converted flats? Are they bothered by a caravan full of chickens outside their bedroom windows?

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00w47v9/p00vyppz

Lillian re. Rob's Dad. Back in 2014, when Ian punched Rob (yet again putting Helen in a situation where she felt she had to 'choose'), Rob told Ian, before the wallop

"Helen and I are one and the same. Besides, I've always felt that a man is the real head of the household."

What do we think that tells us about the Ursula/Bruce relationship? And, more importantly, will the scriptwriters remember??

It has been a very long time since I studied criminal law, but I don't think that Rob's behaviour actually counts as a defence for stabbing him, unless he dies and she can claim manslaughter rather than murder.

I'm not sure whether I was more annoyed with SOC for the badly done storyline or for the inclusion of the 'Lyin' Eyes' soundtrack. Which I was singing ALL BLOODY DAY.

There are lots of places to discuss TA. I like this one. Including the stats!

Peggy is a PITA but I feel she is often unfairly written - last night it was totally reasonable that she wanted to find out what had happened. Why would she not?

glowfrog she did, and she was vile to everyone, because she had the perfect relationship and they in her eyes didn't

Happy Birthday Pseudo

DDD, please keep up the stats, very interesting!

I am very angry at the stabbing, but pleased that Rob's not dead, even though I can't believe I'm saying that.

I'm wondering whether people do change their behaviour in different circumstances. Even panto villain Rob seemed to have really ramped up the control with Helen from Jess, even though that was bad. Does anyone have any experience of someone who has come out of an EA relationship and gone on to be with someone who just won't put up with it? Has it worked out so that the abuser forms a more normal relationship or do they just move on to the next potential victim?

redshoes LOLZ!

Not.

while a victim's feelings are considered we can and very often do proceed regardless of victim feelings. lots of dv victims are summoned to appear in court rather than just attending of their own free will.

I did not give a statement in the emotional aftermath but would have complied with this. wish they had done in a way. finding the outcome with Helen stabbing him difficult. wish she had escaped or he had hurt her. much more likely.

I have gone off listening. stupid bloody storyline.

Thread disappearing from threads I'm on. Mark place.

Haven't been on the threads or listening much to the last 6 weeks or so, though my DM told me something major had happened so I caught up on Sunday and last night. Just checking in to say 1) hate what they've done and 2) love your stats DDD. Over and out.

Thanks Lillian

glow- she threatened Tony with not being allowed to see Henry - ever.
When Rob called her friends, silly girls she never disagreed. That's why it is so tragically sad, he wanted to give up all her friends and family, and she sadly mistook that for love, and as you said - homophobic comments were made, and she ignored them, regularly. All the crap about real men and she never once said a thing.

KingscoteStaff that picture needs to be updated with the inclusion of the Chookavan, doesn't it? I have to say though, the pictures do not look like my imaginings of the Ambridge locations at all!

Although I would love for them to include floor plans

I didn't listen last night, as I needed to get some sleep. Catching up this morning has been harrowing enough, so I think I'll give it a miss.

I'm still shocked slightly surprised by how rationally the CJ system responds. I hope it's not going to be soap police, and there is an understanding of EA and CC.

51 I feel for your aunt. I hope you can get some publicity for her case and maybe an appeal from this.

I think Shula will be important in Helen's defence. There is the SAB incident and she seemed awkward in the shop when she asked Helen about the pageant and Rob responded for her. OTOH SW are not going to make it easy - they added that apparently gratuitous scene of knob booking riding lessons for Henry as a counterbalance.

Lizzie too should be understanding given her own experience with Cameron Frazer. Let's hope the SWs she remembers.

Back to the soundtracks - after Lying Eyes came Amy Winehouse - what was the last track - the one in which he 'gave her Henry' (ugh) - anyone know?

There's no counterbalance in favour of Rob from booking riding lessons he cannot legitimately pay for.

Loooieloo - Shula also had Rob to thank, and did so effusively, for saving her when the bridle snapped. Ridiculous scene.

Words - gave her 'our son', i.e. the unborn child who will turn out to be a girl.