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.

Insert clunky reference to referendum here SWs: 'Who votes, mostly? Of course: old women.'

Tbf, my grandparents would never disclose whom they voted for, they considered the right to a private ballot to have been hard won and not easily to be discarded, but even so the SW could have done that better.

Nice to hear Roy and Phoebe back on good terms. I've always hated Kate and I see no reason to change that now. How vividly she reminds me of someone I used to work with...

The SW really seem to be overdoing it. Joe making carpentry mess in the swanky kitchen, Carol refusing help from anyone, Kate phoning Feebs for help on the morning of an exam, ...
They have lost any subtlety.

vg script seek. It was exactly the scenario running through my head. The Helen situation is annoying me no end. She doesn't talk to anyone for weeks and then when she does - she doesn't say anything.

I think I love Roy.

I think I love Roy.

Really? Every time I hear him speak all I can think is, 'You idiot. Why couldn't you just keep it in your pants?! You've ruined a happy family for nothing.'

Starfish I've hunted around the interweb and can't find any mention of her since her last column in April. Concerning, as I believe she's 87.

It's been like that before with Nancy - she has missed the odd month (or even 2) here & there, & there was no news of her, so not necessarily significant (please god)

I'd prefer to think that she's having an Archers break like so many of us

I like that Roy is being a good parent to Phoebe - despite his destroying the happy family home with Hayley and Abby. But having said that, it doesn't take much to be a better parent than Kate - and if he were a really good father, he'd have realised the potential problems of Phoebe being alone with Kate and Auntie Lil at exam time. I imagine the two houses are completely different just now!

On the Helen case, I''ve been thinking about RL cases and wonder if Anna's arrival in Ambridge will bring a situation where Knob is heard by Anna to be prejudicing the trial - in a sense he's doing that already by influencing Henry - though only we know that so far. But a SHL should be suspicious in case like this, as should the Cafcass woman. And so the trial could collapse.. But ti would eb better for Helen to get her day in court and actually talk ....

Roy has always been a good parent

I am willing to overlook the Liz affair as it was just way too ridiculous. Just hoping we manage to get Hayley back and get to forget the stupidity.

Tbf surely CAFCASS woman should also be concerned about a mother with a track record for violence and with known MH issues.

We know Helen is a DV victim but no on else does because she would rather look at trees. Superficially she appears dangerous and as yet there has been nothing to suggest she isn't.

I am willing to overlook the Liz affair as it was just way too ridiculous. Just hoping we manage to get Hayley back and get to forget the stupidity

Me too. Why doesn't Phoebe go to her father's ?

Yes he has been a good dad, perhaps the Elizabeth thing was just a dream, he'll wake up soon, and Hayley will be there. ( mistey eyed optimist here)

Oh she does! Boop.

EBearhug don't give SOC ideas.

Sorry.

Much of the population IRL has known MH issues. Most are not a danger to others or to their children, and anyway Helen being in prison means the 'custody' question isn't about her just now. Helen is innocent till proved guilt, y so on the violence thing the jury is out as it were. A good CAFCASS person would know these issues are rarely black and white.

I know that topaz but they also cannot just assume woman good man bad in a situation like this. Rob is also innocent until proven guilty and indeed hasn't even been accused of anything.

I find it a bit difficult to believe that JD would have left Phoebe in Kate's tender care during her exams, given how much JD is invested in Phoebe getting into Oxford.

jd left phoeebs with lillian. lillian has done fuck all to help with the instructions.. no milk, no tidying, no cooking supper, drinking with kate.

I preferred tonights episode to sunday's. it was a bit paint by numbers though.

JD is going to go ballistic on her return. That should be fun.

I liked the Phoebe/Roy interaction but them both referring to Kate as "Mum" grated. Since when did Roy refer to Kate as anything other than Kate? Phoebe too usually calls her Kate, particularly when she's annoyed with her. "Mum" was what they called Hayley.

Was for all the new listeners they hope they've gathered amelie ...

Very good point Amelie. Phoebe always made a point of calling her Kate.

Bad sw again

Yes I spotted the Kate/Mum thing.Very poor script.

It's insulting isn't it? Sod those of us who have invested decades in these families' stories, dumb it all down and alter characters beyond recognition for the sake of new listeners/current plot expediency. Fed up.