Will Lynda agree that the Grundys are fungis? And is Peggy finally realising that Helen is faaahmly? Await the Ambridge Fairy on The Archers thread.

[PseudoBadger]

"Get outta my village" screams Peggy Mitchell

God only knows about witnesses for the defence. No-one seems to be in the least interested in investigating how Helen's situation reached the pitch where she felt she had to stab her husband. I know she's keeping quiet about it, but you'd think Kirsty and the family would all be doing their utmost to help by talking to people about what they knew about what was going on. And wasn't it Kirsty who suggested that contacting Jess might be helpful? Why the hell hasn't she thought of trying to dig her out now?

And I wish someone would explain to me how come Jazzer is the only person in the whole of Borsetshire capable of helping out with the pigs. Given the choice between (a) employing someone else and (b) closing down a major element of the business, why on earth would anyone opt for (b)? Especially when the reason is that you intend to concentrate on the shop, the profits of which are going to be shaky at best for some time.

I thought Neil was a partner in the pigs?surely they can't just shut it down without talking to him.

It's all a load of otto shit

I think Jazzer is going to return to Bridge Farm and then be instrumental in unlocking Henwee's memory of the stabbing during one of their little strolls.

I like this tweet:

Pat: "You know all those things that have happened to Helen for the last 30 years?"
Tony: "Yes?"
Pat: "They're all about meeeee"

I'd have thought that if they're planning on making Neil redundant, we would be hearing Susan go ape. Particularly when another Archer is hell-bent on buggering up his egg business.

Pat is clearly not coping. I don't think it would fall on Lillian or Jennifer really - they are Tony's sisters rather than Pat's

But you have to allow for the vow to renounce all family and friends made by incomers to Ambridge. Their memories are wiped, Men In Black-style, and past lives are never mentioned again. In exceptional circumstances of the SW being desperate a character may be allowed one relative, e.g. Usha's aunt, on the condition that the relative never mentions anyone else in the family. Jenny & Lilian may not be maternal aunts, but they are the only aunts that count.

Rob is highly atypical in having an entire family plus ex wife. Clearly a wrong'un.

"Pat is clearly not coping. I don't think it would fall on Lillian or Jennifer really - they are Tony's sisters rather than Pat's"

That is just such a Mumsnet "my little family" approach!

I was wondering why JD and Lill are not pulling their fingers out.

Or Kate. Bet she fancies herself as a doolah.

Oh my! Extract of Helen and Anna on PM now. "What is life like for a pregnant woman in prison?" Expert from Liv. University.

The Archers - an everyday story of country folk with additional social awareness raising for the middle classes R4 listeners.

More cows less Pat.

I want my farming awareness raised and I want ginger scones.

Can I give Tony a BOOP? Of course it may not be that much of an acting challenge but he's really nailed the "oh God what now" weary response every time Patwhine opens her mouth.

I agree about Kate, smalllegs.

She'd be so into breathing exercises and mindfulness and glaring at any too obvious prison officer staff.

She'd either be completely annoying and deserving of a year's reduction in any sentence, or rather good at it.

Not that I ordinarily rate her mothering abilities...

Also agree about Jazzer. He will unlock some key part of the story, which is why there have to be these obstacles to him getting back to BF.

Can't they just put Pat in a barn or something until it's all over?

I don't understand why there is a difference between a maternal aunt and a paternal aunt?

It's tough with Helen to see who she would have there even if she wasn't in jail

Are pregnant women treated differently depending on whether they have been convicted?

Was Pat with Helen when she was in labour with Henry?

I love the idea of Kate being Helen's doulah too.I reckon she'd be good at it to; she'd piss the prison officers off enough that they'd give them some space.

Smallegs More cows less Pat good thread title there.

I might be alone here but I do not understand the emphasis on Hellin saying I'll kill him. If I was on any jury, and that had been said in the heat of the moment I would not take that as a clear intention to kill shit

Pat - I have no words shit
They all need to wake up and DO SOMETHING ! ! !

Pat is wearing because her character has to change to fit the changing story. Pat is worrying about her special snowflake now and blaming herself (TruePat - that's how Hellin ended up the way she is), but when Hellin really needed her she had been transformed into PatBot - accepting everything she was told by Knob, never questioning him about the lies which clearly surrounded the dinner party no-show, not popping in on Hellin even though she lives with walking distance, not seeing Hellin that time she came to the shop and said she really needed to talk to her mum, but was then whisked off home by Knob. TruePat would have been questioning things like Hellin giving up work, handing over her job to Knob, having her wages paid into the joint account. This is why I find it hard to listen to - it feels like it is being written by someone who doesn't listen the The Archers.

Like three quarters of all the newspaper articles on the subject Lil'G? With all the glaring mistakes. That is exactly what's wrong.

Are pregnant women treated differently depending on whether they have been convicted?

This was one of the questions asked on PM yesterday BYOS. The university expert sounded very uncomfortable as she acknowledged that there was no discernible difference in approach towards those on remand and those already convicted.

I suppose Helen would have been slightly better off if she'd been convicted, in that there would have been no issue about Pat being with her.

Though the way Pat is at the moment, she's the last person I would want with me during labour. You can just imagine it, can't you -"Oh, Hellin, darling, are you in pain? It's just not right. It's all my fault, I've failed you all your life. But where's the justice in you being in prison just for stabbing your husband? It's not fair, why can't they see that. Anyone knows you wouldn't hurt a fly. They shouldn't be allowed to leave my precious daughter in pain. I feel awful about how I've failed you ....." and on, and on, and on.

Interesting. I don't think a woman should be 'punished' by being convicted vs those not found guilty. In any case they should try and make it as 'normal' as possible.

The lack of physical and mental health care Helen seems to be getting is odd

This farm would suit Adam.

So many posts above hitting the nail on the head! I am about the most hopelessly addicted loyal Archers listener imaginable but I'm being sorely tested at the moment. Roll on SOC's departure to Albert Square.

No one else wondering about the Bridge Farm organic cattle being grazed on Pip's non-organic pasture then?

After Pat's little speech yesterday about Hellin's birth and the death of John etc - I'm expecting something similar about Henwee's birth and her pre-eclampsia etc all of which seems to have been forgotten for the time being since the whole home birth debacle. Actually I would have thought Pat would have made more mention of that and perhaps put two and two together about Knob insisting on a home birth on the advice of Arsula (isn't she supposed to be thinking of examples for Anna?) rather than harking back to Hellin's birth. Also we've heard Adam wittering about cricket, but surely he and Ian would have been talking about Hellin and how they never liked Knob. Whole swathes of background directly pertinent to this plot seem to have been wiped out in favour of dragging stuff up from the distant past. It's so sad - what I used to love about The Archers was how how all the little stitches of plot and and character would knit together to form the drama. Now it is quite the opposite, all the little stitches we've carefully noticed and noted are dropped and the background is pulled apart to leave gaping holes.