Silence in court! Discuss The Archers and shout from the gallery here. Send him down.

[PseudoBadger]

What day is it again?

If Jess does tell the court about Rob intimidating her re giving evidence, I presume he will be arrested for trying to interfere with a witness, or whatever the legal term is.

I agree with Gumo that we are so conditioned into everything going Robs way that we can't belive Helen will get off.

Or maybe Jess will testify in Rob's favour. Remember that Helen was the OW. Jess encouraging Helen to leave could have been part of her plan to win rob back.

Didn't Anna say to the judge that someone (presumably Jess) had come forward with another claim of rape?

Just LA'g at the womenfolk being sent to the cafe!! I get that it is horrifying for her mum, but how are the men strong enough? Grrrrr...As you were...

xmas the police and CPS would take it up. Private prosecutions are incredibly rare in this country (hence "pressing charges" doesn't happen).

Well, pat really did need out for a bit, Peggy is >90( though tough as old boots and probably not too shockable), and Kirsty was taking care of them. Tom has already faced up to some of his 'guilt' in his discussions with kirsty earlier.

Didn't Rob say something to Jess about her having a clean slate and it being a shame if she were to spoil that? So nothing overt, but she (and we) knew what he was talking about.

And Tony did have a point re Helen finding it difficult if she saw her mum so upset. I also think it was a device to get them out, so we could hear Pat, Peggy and Kirsty discussing what H had said.

If Jess gave evidence for Rib, she wouldn't have contacted Anna, H's barrister. She would also be lying in court which carries a pretty heavy sentence.

By way of a little light relief, I think we're going to have to find a new NN for St Smugula - I can't imagine that tag fitting her again for a long time.

This all seems to be building up to show that Helen was sorely provoked; but I'm not sure that there has been much to demonstrate that on the night of the stabbing she was acting in self-defence, or to defend Henry.

Even though all that is needed is for the jury to decide that the case is not proven beyond reasonable doubt, my guess is that she will be convicted of wounding with intent but that her sentence will be relatively short and that she will have served much of it while on remand, so will quickly be back at Bridge Farm. The custody battle will be the long-running story. Rob won't be prosecuted for rape because the evidence will be old and thin- corroboration by Jess will just look like two ex-wives ganging up for revenge. A coercive control case is more likely and when he is convicted an earlier custody decision in his favour will be overturned.

I heard SOC say a while back (in the midst of some pretentious twaddle about this all being like Thomas Hardy) that Helen would be ok in the end but it would be a long and agonising process…………..

I'm in kind of two minds about Pat et al going to the cafe. On the one hand, Helen doesn't need to see her mum so upset. On the other, if I were her, I'd worry that my mum was so horrified that she couldn't bear to see me.

And I agree that it was much better than having them whisper over the evidence from the gallery. I do enjoy it when odious Peggy starts to sound a little less sure of herself - she was so taken in by Rob.

Bertrand - that's an interesting idea re Ethan and one I hadn't considered!

I can't see Jess testifying for Rob. She's had months to try to win him back if that was what she wanted, and she's also had months to contact the prosecution and offer to be a witness.

I think it would help her case for self defence - it shows that she had reason to be afraid of him, and that he had a track record for physically overcoming her resistance, particularly if you put it together with hitting her.

I guess whatever happens it would be a long and agonising process for Helen getting better: you don't get past months of abuse overnight, and unfortunately Jack will always be there as a reminder.

When I was looking on Lowfield, I came across this reminder of what Peggy can be like:

Helen seems more relaxed in the company of her mother and grandmother, though has a momentary panic when Henry disappears to look at a piglet. Luckily Johnny is on hand to help Henry summon up the courage to touch it. Peggy is in full-blown disapproving dowager mode; Henry is too old for a soft toy; Lynda and her pageant are quite beyond the pale; fancy Henry being scared of a piglet. Pat changes the subject rapidly.

Peggy waxes lyrical about the wonder that is Rob. Helen must be so proud of him. Unfortunately Helen thinks she means Henry. Helen fetches cake for Peggy, but is 'too full' to have any herself. Peggy expresses concern over Helen's appearance - characteristically Helen flares up. Pat tries to calm the situation, and as she drives Peggy home, is treated to Peggy's opinion: in her day women did not have hormones. They just rolled up their sleeves and got on with it.

Let's hope current events are opening her eyes.

Rob is going to use that thing about Jack against Helen in the custody hearing, isn't he? He will be (of course) maintaining that she's delusional and he's innocent (which in law he is at the moment) and that Jack won't be safe with her. That argument doesn't apply to Henry so my prediction is that Helen gets custody of him(or P&T if she has to serve time) but that Rob gets Jack - or rather, Gideon.

Sorry - possibly silly q but I'm not a regular on this thread - what does SOC stand for?

Delurks Can't see if this article has been linked to before: standardissuemagazine.com/in-the-news/free-blossom-hill-one/
the description of Smugula makes me think the writer is a regular on this thread

Judy - the irony there is of course that Helen's behaviour was not as the result of 'hormones'. Too easy for her to use that as an excuse in her own mind for her turmoil, and for Pat to accept it. Pity Peggy didn't follow that thought.

The 'hormonal' one in this story is Rob, too much testosterone.

Dragonsarebest (how true...) - SOC is the editor, Sean O'Connor.

I'm increasingly wondering if Knob's somewhat unlikely job with Justin isn't a plot device to keep him in Ambridge after the trial. Let's face it if Helen gets out (either off entirely or on the lesser charge with a short sentence which means the time served means she gets out) why else would he hang around? Once the village knows what really happened he's unlikely to be coaching the cricket team again any time soon. Also wouldn't Usha be thinking of terminating his contract at BHC (maybe Ed and Emma could move in there?) His job gives him a reason to stay around for a bit so we can see him face the music during the custody hearing (which he surely won't win now) and keep popping up to try and bribe Henry. Also hopefully he will make a total hash of the job, his previous incompetences will be uncovered and his humiliation will be complete - then he can leave Ambridge.
SOC = Sean O'Connor (Archer's editor currently serving longest notice period ever)

Errol - ah ok, thank you :) I wouldn't have worked that out, was getting stuck on Son Of C...something...

just had a sudden thought re the push for a home birth-
Rob, Arsula etc are witches
It's a Rosemary's Baby situation

That's why Justin gave him a job- he was bewitched.
Also explains how he maintained his good image for so long, why no one in Ambridge compared notes, and various other dodgy dealings.

I wasn't listening over the summer so missed out on Knob's new job - what's he doing exactly? One of those hard to pin down farm manager type jobs?

Isn't it essentially what Charlie was doing before? (one of those all-important managerial roles which they somehow didn't need to fill for months)

Seems like Rob is staying in Ambridge for a while anyway.
Preview for 16 September next Friday says 'Rob thinks about his new job' ...
unless new job is sewing mailbags