The Archers - It's so much more than just a soap. It's a bloody drama!

[PseudoBadger]

Will it still be Sunday tonight?

Now we know where Rob gets it from.

Like the idea of him having a stoma bag. He won't be happy about that.

I knew that Helen shouting about killing him was a plot device ...

And I'm not buying susan either - at the end of the day she works with/for Pat and Helen - not sure she'd just throw her under the bus like that.

I think it's entirely in character. Not for nothing is she known as Radio Susan.

But surely the police will phone the school and find out that Rob had indeed enrolled 5 year old henry to board.

Why would they? It's totally irrelevant to the case they have to prove, and isn't justification for stabbing.

But if you were Rob's parents, how would you behave? Just like that, I bet.

I thought I heard Bruce tell Ursula "get your clothes on", when he was berating her for becoming hysterical in the hospital.

I think it was "coat", not clothes.

I also don't believe that Susan - who knows what it is to be besieged by justice - could be so spiteful

YY. I hate Susan. She'd be the 1st character I'd push off Lower Loxley roof. But even Susan is redeemed by the occasional moment of humanity and she has been in Helen's shoes. Even if she mentioned the MH issues to PC Bod, I can't believe she would do it so blithely, with no hint that she understands what Helen and family are going through.

The school thing might come up if Henwee tells the police that Daddy was going to send him away. But I agree that it's not that relevant to the case.

With InHell in such a fragile state might she try to kill herself? I bet SOC has thought of that SL to ramp the listening figures even higher.

It's interesting that the picture of Bruce and Ursula that we're getting now fits pretty precisely with what Knob said about them at the time of the dinner that wasn't, in that bit of dialogue that Vango helpfully quoted. He was mostly vitriolic about his father and said something about going to Canada to escape, but he also blamed Ursula because she went along with Bruce. Which is more or less what we've seen this evening.

And it now doesn't matter what Rob did or didn't do- she stabbed him 3 times. When he was unarmed. And has no history of violence.

But it shows that Rob lies and points towards the fact that Rob was abusing Helen and gaslighting her.

Also I really don't think Susan would have done that - she ended up in prison and I think she would have protected Helen as would have felt she was one of her own.

Grumpy non listening DH just piped up- wouldn't it be retribution if they got back together for Helen to then abuse him for being the weak one with a stoma and needing Kirsty to rescue him. This could go round in everlasting circles

Who will punch who first - Bruce or Tony?

I'm sure a good defence lawyer will come up with numerous examples of when "I'll kill you", "want to kill x" have been used metaphorically rather than literally.

Perhaps Ursula will turn and realise she too has been abused for years. Tony needs to say "what a shame you couldn't come to dinner; Rob said because of ...........".

Ooooh it gets worse and worse for Helen? Was putting kids to bed so I was 15 mins behind you lot.

1. Is it relevant that Bruce pointed out the doctor was a women? Old misogynist.... apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it?

1. Susan is brain dead. Just a total idiot.

1. Ditto Pat.

1. Didn't take long for the "Helen is mental" thing to start - villagers have long memories!

Agree with a pp, for it to go Helen's way in court, I think Rob might have to get caught threatening someone or doing something so that the trial swings dramatically in Helen's favour (which would be totally shit and unbelievable)

Dear oh dear.

Stubble, are you married to SOC?

We don't know that Rob has no history of violence - who knows what he got up to in the past.

The police and Helen's defence will look at putting together a picture of what Rob was like.

And it isn't clear that Helen even stabbed him three times - he could have fallen on the knife I guess. He was the one who got the knife out the draw.

Is it likely that Henry would be released to Pat and Tony's custody? He will be a witness - in fact the only witness other than HellRob - so would the Police leave him with the suspect's parents, where he could be coached and gaslighted.

I think the school thing is totally relevant if the defence says that Rob was using coercive control - surely that is a prime example.

I noticed the 'woman' doctor, too!

Susan needs sacking.

I wondered if Bruce was drunk - he was definitely slurring his words!

The school thing will come up at the trial from a defence team, it holds no interest to the police.

We don't know that Rob has no history of violence - who knows what he got up to in the past.

We've never had that scar on his arm explained.

God, what a mess.

Hell's said something to the effect that "If Knob tries to send Henwee away she'll kill him" so school plan is v v relevant, I think.