Orange Is The New Black in Ambridge. Just ask Helen. But will anyone in The Archers ever ask her WHY?

[PseudoBadger]

I reckon this thread will see us through the Euros, both footy and referendum. Await the clunky topical inserts here.

Joe has been at death's door for as long as I can remember when it suits him. he can manipulate clarrie into giving him an extra sausage roll because he is an old man...

so glad Helen is talking abit. I hope that the cafcass worker picked up on the coercive control thing.

Quite re Joe. So all the more unrealistic that he actually thought he would die while they were there, surely? The impression I get is that we are supposed to believe he thought they'd end up staying many years, based on what exactly?

"Oh yes, also, there was that time seconds before I stabbed him and on which my defence should be resting when Rob snarled 'come here,you little .....'"

Fogs

I know. I was wondering whethter to park at the side of the road to listen to that bit, but no, she stopped herself from mentioning that bit.

at least we are working towards it.

Anna's going to fall for Rob isn't she, and then Anna will drop the case leaving Helen in the lurch.
We are doomed for months of misery.

Anna won't fall for Knob, but she might be subject to his charm offensive before he realises who she is. I think if she were to meet Knob she would instantly recognise what Helen was dealing with which would make it much easier for her to ask the right questions.

If that happens I'll report her to the Bar Council myself!

But yeah ... Occasional Twitter speculation on that possibility too. Awful, awful thought.

Remind me, was she introduced to us as a champion of women victims or as an advocate for all DV victims? Might make a difference to the logic of the story. (Not that logic has troubled SOC recently.)

Won't she have seen photos of him and his injuries? I don't think his face was marked at all. And wouldn't she be on her guard, as pretty much everyone involved in the trial is in Ambridge? The chances of her meeting someone involved for prosecution or defence could only be higher if she invited them all up to the library at Lower Loxley.

I wonder if H will tell CAFCASS that she rang WA. I see the CAFCASS website link above mentions that there's often a lack of 'hard evidence' such as contact with the police or other agencies, so it would help her to disclose that she did ring them (twice?).

I mentioned upthread that Kirsty was apparently going to look into whether H had rung WA - or at least, she told Tom that she was going to. Absolutely nothing's been said since so the SWs appear to have forgotten about it

Absolutely nothing's been said since so the SWs appear to have forgotten about it

Perhaps it will be produced with a flourish along with many, many other bits of forgotten about evidence in September and Helen will get off scot free. Huzzah.

Does anyone know why Nancy Banks-Smith has stopped writing about TA in the Guardian?

I'm hoping its not because she's poorly, which can only mean even she can't bear to listen to it any more.

R4. I think that's exactly what will happen. Helen will suddenly remember what happened on stab night.

Anna was introduced (by Jill) as specialising in DV cases. Dominic seemed to be in awe of her so it seemed she had a good reputation.

I'm disappointed they had to muddy the waters by introducing her to Ambridge. It makes a mockery of the whole DV storyline. I don't need/want to get to know Anna as a character.

.
The library at Lower Loxley, EBearhug don't give SOC ideas.

I'm sure she's going to run into him in Ambridge.
I hope he'll show her his nasty side or, if he tries charm, she is ready with a really good put-down.

This is what worries me:

"Mrs Titchenor, you say that you stabbed your husband, flood hero and cricketing man Robert Titchenor, because you were afraid for yourself and, more importantly, for your son, Henry. And yet when you were specifically asked on the afternoon of June 20th whether you had ever had any reason to fear for your son's safety with Mr Titchenor, you failed to mention the apparently mortal peril you felt he was in on the 1st April, mentioning only some trifling incident in which your husband, as any hard-pressed parent might, had confiscated a toy from your son and that he would not allow this five year old to share a bed with you as you wished. Indeed, on this matter, many childcare experts might be tempted to agree that co-sleeping with a child this age is not the most effective way to treat a common childhood problem, and further, might wonder whether your relationship with Henry was so close that it might be described as smothering in this instance. I put it to you, Mrs Titchenor, that your exclusive relationship with Henry for the first four years of his life was so very close and exclusive that you resented Mr Titchenor's rather more traditional methods of discipline, and that your anxiety over being displaced as the primary carer in your son's life left you jealous and insecure, leading you to interpret perfectly normal methods of parenting which I imagine many in the jury would recognize, as not only draconian but somehow equating to your son being in mortal peril! The key fact here is that, when asked very clearly whether you could ever remember a time when your son was in danger from Mr Titchenor, you had nothing to say.

Helen: No.... no.... it wasn't like that .... he says things.... OH THIS IS TOO HARD I WANT TO GO BACK TO MY CELL.

Seek. That's exactly what I was thinking when I listened to last night's TA.

Seek - you've just saved a SW a whole heap of work ...

... I got properly into that!

SEEK that's brilliant

Seek

Arse, bold fail!

Seek you've missed your calling there....

In the last week I have had 2 dreams about Rob - they were traumatic
And that is in spite of the fact (or perhaps because of?) I have been trying to get some space from TA.
Seek - please accept the job as the new editor - banish Helen and the rest of the Titcheners for ever.
I fear it could all go a bit Catherine Cookson - Caz will be released and turn up on Rob's doorstep to tell him what a crap job Helen is doing of mothering Jack and will support Rob in the custody case. He will employ her as nanny to Henry and Jack, while twisting his moustache evilly and having his wicked way with her, and threatening to get her sent back to prison. He will also end up marrying Anna, who he will also destroy as per Helen. Somebody will die of consumption.

God Annie, that must have been horrible ... I think I had a Rob Helen dream back before the stabbing too

Anyone else hearing 'make mama a cup of coffee sweetie-darling?' This storyline is really weak.