The Archers - We Listen So You Don't Have To

[PseudoBadger]

Happy(?!) Sunday everyone

What will this week have in store for us I wonder?

In a way I think that the whole Bridge Farm family (not just Helen) has been groomed and manipulated by Rob. How true. I was hoping that when Tom was recalling Knob's behaviour in the shop re the Scotch eggs he'd also recall Knob's involvement in his jilting Kirtsy. It was Knob who arranged for and encouraged Tom to go to Canada and more significantly didn't tell anyone even when Pat was beside herself worrying where he was. Knob and Tom remained in phone contact - which we heard on air - and Knob said nothing to Pat. I think he was hoping Tom would stay in Canada leaving Bridge Farm to him (with Helen being well and truly sidelined). Another reason why he can't stand Johnny. It was also Knob who was instrumental in ordering non-organic pig food (and who wanted to order the wrong sort of bullocks was Tony was incapacitated) But why didn't Tom mention this last night? The Scotch eggs debacle is a mere drop in the ocean by comparison and much harder to prove.

I thought last night's episode was good - it was about the characters' reactions rather than the Casualty/Bill/crown Court rehashes earlier this week.

Re the Jess/Helen conversation - the prosecution could use this against Helen. "So you claim to have been in an abusive relationship blah blah blah but you only decided to leave after the ex-wfe told you that their sexual relationshiP continued after you moved in with him? You were motivated by anger at that, you were not abused, but you had discovered that your husband, after you started cohabiting, was unfaithful, just as previously he had been unfaithful with his first wife when he embarked on a relationship with you . That was your motivation for stabbing him."

Surely any colostomy Rob gets will be temporary as he hasn't had his rectum removed

It depends on how much of the bowel has been removed and how damaged the remainder is. The damage isn't just from the actual knife wound but also from the infection and from the loss of blood. Most people who have a stoma after an injury, like Rob, can have them reversed, but not everyone.

Pat and Tony should stop paying Hellin, or pay her into her own bank account. SSP would not cover the rent.
Mummytime I hope you are right about Jazzer

None of the BF lot know that Ursula was colluding and even if Rob was abusive (he was but they are not aware of the extent) I doubt they want Rob dead. So they have no real reason to want to force Ursula out of BHC. They know how it feels to lose a son.

I can totally see why Ursula would stay in BHC. I think Rob is despicable and she is an arse but BF are basically normalish compassionate characters.

Good point Anniemouse re. The infidelity. That line of motivation is a plausible reason why she might stab him and not one she can offer a good defence to.

Really it all rests on poor Henry saying daddy attacked him and it not being decided he was coached.

Re. Psychologist and the lying etc. I thought under those circumstances they didn't ask the kids any leading questiins? They just let them talk and see what they say because if you ask a question they will try to give you the answer they think you want

I agree Lillian, Rob has wanted Bridge farm for his own all along. I wonder if there has been other abuse towards Henry, and will the drugged tea be found?

One person I would like to know more about: who is the friendly, silly cashier lady who talks a lot and said something about having been in a minimum security prison? What's HER story?

I'm heartened to hear this strumpet. Many of us are worried about the direction of TA (The Archers): it has always been a long, slow story and we are worried that they will change it to suit the new listeners i.e. those who have been brought in by a sensational storyline. It's good to hear you asking about back-story, I hope that others get similarly hooked.

Cashier lady (Susan) is an interesting case. As said above, she comes from a disreputable family that would shit in its own backyard (armed robbery at Ambridge P.O.). She has managed to drag herself up the social ladder, unlike the rest of her siblings. However her crowning glory is going from rags to riches in three generations - her DS married into one of the richest and most influential families around. She does try too hard sometimes but her patient DH, Neil, brings her back to earth and she usually recognises and accepts when she has gone too far.
Her DD didn't marry so well. It should provide interesting listening in twenty years' time as we compare and contrast the lives of the grandchildren.

I would have thought the idea when interviewing young children is to ask open questions rather than none at all.

Who did Susan's DS marry?
Who is Johnny?

Those things must have happened in the time I wasn't listening.

Overthinking but - if this were Shakespeare rather than Sean Originated Calamity - I might wonder if Tony's " to lose another child " was 100% about Helen. Part of him must be seeing the world through Brute and Ursula's eyes and wondering if another adult child might lose their life because he and Pat failed to pay enough attention to a relationship.

mummytime I agree! Jazzer is possibly the best person as he'll actually listen to Henry's chatter.
P&T were not joining the dots about the ogre and the witch though and seemed less than sympathetic towards Henry's nightmares.

Poor confused little boy. ☹️

Susan's DS, Chris, married Alice, daughter of Brian and JD. We haven't heard from them in a looooong time.
Johnny is complicated. Pat'n'Tone had three children. The eldest, golden boy John was a bit of the one for the ladies. He had a thing with Sharon whilst with someone else. Lots of angst. Ends with John dead in tragic circumstances. Whole of Bridge Farm is traumatised; it's part of the reason why Helen is like she is. The fling with Sharon produces Johnny, although nobody knew because she disappeared. Johhny appeared out of the blue about 18 months ago. Bridge Farm have taken him to their bosom like a replacement John, it is all a bit creepy and weird.

glamorous Christypher Carter married (Brine and Jenny Aldridge's daughter) and Johnny is the sainted John Archer's son.

Thanks for the new thread Pseudo!

CURSES X-post with R4 beating me to the punch on the only time it's been a question I felt confident of the answer to

Ugh and I managed to miss Alice's name out in my excitement at knowing the answer

Awww

I woke up late this morning and caught only the tail end of an article on Today about the circumstances in which the DPP might decide not to proceed with a prosecution, even at a fairly late stage, if it is decided that it is not in the public interest. As I didn't hear the beginning of the piece my first thought was that the BBC must be inserting Archers related possibilities into the news.

Oooh, ooh, miss, isn't Alice some kind of engineer? (Or am I confusing her with someone else).

I know this is unlikely, but would a DV/EA helpline record calls? Could it be used as evidence with H's permission, even though originally anonymous? You often hear recordings of 999 calls and I know those are different, public service for a start, but I'm clutching at straws not to have this stupid long drawn out trial

Tsk, Mr Resident Statistician. A vague "some kind of" does not get you the points.

Alice is the world's most part time aeronautical engineer ...

What time was the item on Today, Gruach? I'd like to LA to it (I must have got up even later than you)

Actually, I did think it was some kind of aviation, but didn't have the courage of my convictions. If I'd been in the Mastermind chair, I'm sure JH would have said "I need more" and I would have gone for aircraft.

I think recording equipment placed in the cottage by Knob - some kind of nanny-cam is more likely. ESpecially now we know he was tracking her phone - how do you track someone's phone?