Come in to The Archers thread - we've redecorated! Take a seat in that distinctive yellow chair and discuss events in Ambridge.

[PseudoBadger]

New thread for tonight's episode.

Do you like the decor then? My 'personal' assistant did it.

It's the way they keep questioning Helen that has driven me up the wall. They don't leave long enough pauses! People need a few seconds to think over the question, then a few seconds to think over their answer, and if it's a tricky subject a few more seconds to screw up the courage to say it aloud. I know they only have 12 minutes and that on the radio a silence of 30seconds to a minute will have people checking their radio is on, but it's really peeing me off. No one who has questioned Hell has given her the chance to talk properly. They just fire questions at her one after the other and don't give her the chance to answer fully, let alone get her to expand on what she's said.

AT : What happened, Helen?
H: oh, I'm not sure, I-
AT : why did you stab Rob?
H: I don't know, I was so scared, I-
AT: Helen, you must try to answer questions so we can help Henry.
H: Henry! He isn't safe! He's in dan-
AT:Why is he in danger Helen?
H: I need to see him! Oh, I'm such a terrible -
AT: You must answer these questions soon Helen. Time's up for today. Laters.

H can barely get a word in edgeways

Iona welcome. If you want to catch up with TA I suggest you make President Olivia a or pop round with

Great title Psuedo.

Hmm not reviewing Henwee till June. I know at our local women's prison they have a very good mother and baby unit, but I assume SOC will send Damien to live with Knob, although Helen has actually shown zero interest in SOK.

Now I'm worried SOC/SOK

Right, de-lurking!!! Pretty new to TA....about 3 months so I'm a bit new to the characters butvwas tuned in prior to the Hell/knob SL. Missed tonight's but He'll just needs to open her bloody mouth and speak up!!! Yes, sad, tragic dv and all that but for gods sake woman!!!! Gggrrrrrrrr!!!!
Frustrated rant over. Thankyoumuchly.

Thanks for the new thread, Pseudo!

Does anybody know what the policy is for women who give birth while in prison? The very existence of mother and baby units suggests that it is recognised that it is good for the baby to stay with the mother, especially if she is likely to be the main caregiver when she's discharged (Social Services permitting), but does it depend on (a) what the mother is charged with/convicted of and (b) whether there are other family members who could look after the baby?

I imagine in a lot of cases the new mother is a single parent and if the baby doesn't stay with her he/she would be taken into care.

But in a case like this, where the father has PR for the baby's sibling and also has family and their money to provide a home/full-time care for the baby - would the court rule that the baby is better off going straight to Rob?

What about breastfeeding? If Helen said she wanted to BF, the medical evidence is that that would be good for the baby and she did do it for Henry. Would that tip the balance for the first few months?

If she gets convicted, she will be in prison for years, though, so eventually the baby would have to be separated from her.

All this assumes, of course, that Helen loves this child conceived in rape. She might well have great difficulty bonding with her/him.

What a dreadful situation.

Sushi I'm with you. Well said. Get a grip Hell!!!

There is a very fine line between being exasperated by Helen and victim blaming. And considering the appalling mysogyny of the script writers I think we need to be very careful........

There is Bertrand. But there is a far bigger danger of the SWs perpetuating myths about the survivors of DV.

One of Rob's assertions was she was unhinged and incapable of looking after herself.

Thankfully she isn't real so it does give a vehicle to discuss what is/is not vb without actually picking on anyones real situation.

Mostly I think people are just frustrated at poor writing. If they are going to make TA plot driven they need to get better at it.

Is the Helen in the Victoria Wood skit the real Helen? Sounds very different.

I think the Victoria Wood skits are v useful in reminding us what H was like before Rob came on the scene. You can understand why in the early days of the relationship with R, pre elopement, he was regarded as a saviour and solution to a problem and why it's so difficult now for outsiders to see evidence of any sort of abuse.

Thanks for the new thread pseudo

I wonder if Helen will remember the rapes first. There has to be a reason (in TA land) she mentioned the music playing on custard night.

Rape also more specific than CC, and didn't Jess also say she was raped? I suspect the CC will take longer to emerge.

If Jess would come foreward with the rape allegations then he could be prosecuted and end up on SOR. Much harder for him to keep the kids.

It woukd also give the SWs a convenient and plausible reason why she won't speak. (Basically nicked of the Maxine Peake thing
But that fits vwell with Socs cut n paste drama)

Oh fgs MN has destroyed my ability to spell. As well as all the typos I have now started using random homonyms and totally made up spelling

Today I have had of for off, way for weigh, to for two, and now foreward.

Does anybody know what the policy is for women who give birth while in prison? The very existence of mother and baby units suggests that it is recognised that it is good for the baby to stay with the mother, especially if she is likely to be the main caregiver when she's discharged (Social Services permitting), but does it depend on (a) what the mother is charged with/convicted of and (b) whether there are other family members who could look after the baby?

This is a really interesting article.

**

I shouldn't laugh at you legs/eggs and your mangling of the keyboard but I can't help myself.
I have visions of you and Lynda hanging up a hed in sham in the shepherd's hut. It sounds so authentically rural.

I think Hellin will remain in shock. Not answer any questions Anna puts to her. Have no defence offered and end up in prison.

This will be long enough for the actress to go on maternity leave.

Henry will live the K&A

Then she will come to her senses and appeal and get off and fight for hen.

So we will have to wait a year for a resolution.

Nooooooo

Marking my place. Thnks for the new thread (my keyboard A is missing so I have to press esp. hard on the empty socket!!!)

Love the title Psued

The SL is blimmin annoying btw.

frocksnog - welcome to the threads - I always like to see some delurking.

And I'll do my usual shaking of the tree: come on, you other lurkers reading this - join us, tell us what you think, the more the merrier!

Is Hellin actress pregnant???

Ow, D3 no need to shake so hard!

I am finding TA really hard going atm. Mainly listening vicariously through you lot.

I REALLY NEED HELEN TO GET A FUCKING GRIP!! ANSWER SOME BLOODY QUESTIONS AND HELP YOURSELF!!

Ahhh, that feels better!

Helen-actress / Louisa Patikas is pregnant but I can't find her EDD.

I said on an earlier thread that I couldn't see why Louiza Patikas would need to stop working if she is about to have a baby. They only record a few days each month and not everybody is needed every day. Actors are usually desperate to keep on working as much as possible to keep a high profile. She might have taken maternity leave in earlier years if it was a time when Helen wasn't appearing much, but now? Surely not.

hed in sham

It sounds so authentically rural.

Rural witchcraft probably. A spell to loosen tongues and bowels ...

That Independent article was - sobering. Poor, proud Helen was in the gaps between every line - screaming in disbelief and horror. How she must wish she'd never met him.

She might have taken maternity leave in earlier years if it was a time when Helen wasn't appearing much, but now? Surely not.

This is her DC3. She likes TA and voiceovers because they are a good fit-around-the-DC jobs. Telegraph article pre-custardgate

Didn't there used to be someone here who knew Louisa (from school)?