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.

[enochroot]

The Birdman of Alcatraz popped into my mind when she spotted the robin!

I think we've heard the last of Charlie and he's been replaced by Justin as the outsider being absorbed into the village and softened.
The excuse was, I think, that Charlie had mishandled BF and done badly with the botulism outbreak even though he handled it well so he's been shuffled off to one of Justin's lesser ventures in Scotland under a bit of a cloud while Justin thinks Rob managed Berrow Farm better.

[MrsArthurShappey]

Justin thinks Rob managed Berrow Farm better

Helen Shmelen, I really want to see this injustice righted!

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

That bit with the robin really annoyed me. I live in Inner London and we have lots and lots of birdlife here, including many, many robins!

[BYOSnowman]

Me too gas. We have woodpeckers, lots of different tits as well as the standard pigeons, crows, magpies, sparrows etc etc

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

All of those, plus jays, collared doves, parakeets, goldfinches, blackbirds, thrushes, sparrowhawks, herons, gulls, wrens, pied wagtails and swifts. I see most of those in/from our garden and the sparrowhawk is a regular visitor to the park nearby. Pah! I know there are people who are utterly oblivious to their surroundings, but don't let's try to pretend that only a country girl could identify a common garden bird from its song.

[EasyToEatTiger]

A Sparrow Hawk is a helicopter. I'm no twitcher but I do know what a robin looks like!

[BYOSnowman]

Yes the parakeets are great.

[PseudoBadger]

I did go to university (in North London) with an adult who thought that sparrows were baby pigeons....

[theredjellybean]

aren't they ?

[LillianGish]

I actually liked the Robin bit. I think it showed just how alienated Helen is in that environment. I loved the birdsong reminding her of home in Ambridge - on the farm rather than BHC. Worked really well on radio too. I could picture her in the prison garden thinking about everything she's lost - not just Henry and her mum, but the rolling acres of Bridge Farm. I know what different birds look like, but I can't identify them by their song - it reminded me of Jim and Robert and their competitive birdwatching so a sort of nostalgia for the way The Archers used to be echoing Helen's own nostalgia.

[Gruach]

Lil'G I am loving your new BOOP-persona! (It's less scary than BOOP's BYOS metamorphosis.)

A little late but today's Law in Action (on now) is all about "Coercive and Controling Behaviour". (The blurb makes reference to TA.) I cannot pretend that I'll be listening.

[ppeatfruit]

Yes me too Lilian Hello everyone I'm back , thanks for the newish thread Psuedo

I had an idea about the 'nicked' hens possibly ending up being 'henpecked' to death as newcomers,; chickens are not benign creatures. With reckless Toby in charge for 4 days anything could happen.

[LillianGish]

I think BOOP's transformation has shocked me into stepping up to the mark

[Scarydinosaurs]

mrssharpey that has made me chuckle.

I got the bird thing- no way would I know a Robin from any other bird. Maybe a pigeon?? I wouldn't have a clue. I thought it nicely illustrated their developing relationship that transcended their differences. I hope Cas is the one to talk sense into her.

[BirdintheWings]

I can imagine Caz doing a 'Yeah, well, men, eh? What kind of a bastard was yours then?'

[SmallLegsOrSmallEggs]

I also think it nrought home to.Helen for all her woe is me she has had a relatively lucky life and one thing is responsible for where she is now but also although she may have had a better start that does not make her a 'better' person and she has more in common with Caz than with Knob.

[EasyToEatTiger]

Caz is probably incarcarated for failing to pay her tv licence or something.

[BYOSnowman]

Um hang on...

[SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace]

I've just gone cold ...

[BYOSnowman]

Is rob going to snatch jack when Tony takes him out? That would be very ee

Clarrie is really having to work her 'trying not to cry' voice

Turning off now as can't bear to hear knob. Bleurgh

[Stickerrocks]

Well at least he wasn't proposing coming back to the shop. they still haven't given him his P45 I assume.

[MrsArthurShappey]

Tell me tell me!!!

[LyndaNotLinda]

Not the Grundys again

[SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace]

Pat and Tony. Have the kid and influence him overnight, obviously!

[Wordsaremything]

Love the idea of shit hot barrister having a lesbian relationship in am bridge gruach - but with whom?