I'm a celebrity -get me in The Archers! The jury's out in Ambridge.

[PseudoBadger]

New thread for the celebrity packed hour long special tonight! Welcome to regulars and newbies alike

NO SPOILERS please there's a thread for that here

Added by MNHQ: NB there will be spoilers on this thread for those who are yet to listen to the one hour special.

[PresidentOliviaMumsnet]

@JudyCoolibar

So I think we're not hearing anything about a social worker because there's nothing a social worker would or could realistically do to change the status quo.

Also poss Rob's knowledge of how SW's operate from Jess???? he may be able to scheme his way out???
That's assuming he paid attn long enough to hear anything about "how was your day darling?" when they were married rather than "Mine was awful I spent it cooking the books and ignoring the milk yields"
Yes. Maybe not

[EBearhug]

Wasn't there so discussion a few threads back about what lyrics people song to the theme tune?

I didn't think Ian knew about Pawel, and I didn't think Rob told him outright, but made comments about an open relationship and then implied Charlie and Adam was an ongoing affair, rather than a one-off snog and lots of nearly-but-not-quotes (though definitely an emotional affair.) But it's possible I'm misremembering.

Also pretty sure Ian's not Helen's donor, though I think she did ask.

[Gruach]

Clever title suggestion Pseudo.

Cannot believe the BBC has so little respect for radio (and radio listeners) that they choose someone whose experience is entirely elsewhere.

[Tuktuktaker]

Nice amended thread title there, Pseudo, particularly like the New Tricks reference.

[Franberry]

Delurking to say that I remember a time long ago when Henwee was a baby or toddler and Pat said something along the lines of 'oh that's funny, when Henry stood up just then he looked just like ......' The sentence wasn't completed but I have always thought she meant, like ......Ian. No other clues since that I'm aware of though.

[Fiderer]

Ian is a Good Egg. Thought Helen got sperm from The Netherlands. Blimey, the things you end up typing

^^ Re Caroline, I'm not a fan either. She treated poor Vicar Robin v shabbily and wasn't good enough for the saintly gentle Guy Pemberton.

When she lost loads of money to the scoundrel Cameron Fraser, I remember feeling sorry for MA the Dog Woman but not for her.

[Mellowmarsh]

Judycoolibar, I think the reason we aren't hearing about social workers because the SW think it is an unnecessary crowding of the story and airtime.
In real life I am sure SW would have been involved from the stabbing. From their POV Henry may have witnessed many scenes of DV and need support, and Rob may have been the abuser. It would have been viewed as a potential child protection concern surely?

[Mellowmarsh]

Just catching up. I am going gp to stick my neck out and say that Monday's episode was great as I actually felt empathy for Rob. I think his pain at not seeing Jack is real, and his little sob sound when Pat closed the door I think shows his feelings were real and not just attempts at manipulation. Obviously I don't have sympathy as he brought all this on himself by being an abuser and rapist, and he'd have delighted in taking Helen' children away from her. But still, even to have felt empathy I think shows great acting and writing.

[Imbroglio]

Lilian might remonstrate with Justin but my bet is that she won't take it far enough to risk losing him. She always turned a blind eye to Matt who was a nasty piece of work (stuffed Alistair with the gambling, got him to fiddle with one of Matts race horses. And Matt kept a lot of his assets hidden from Yvette in the divorce). She and Jennifer both compromise to keep their comfortable lifestyle.

[Mellowmarsh]

Yes, totally agree with Imbroglio re Lilian. And don't forget her loud late night boozing with Kate whilst poor Phoebe was in the middle of her a- levels. there is no way Lilian will want to upset the Justin Apple cart. Still, she is trying, gently, to change his mind, but she will stick with him whatever he decides.

[JudyCoolibar]

The odd thing about Rob seeing Jack is that there seems to have been no reason why he couldn't have applied to be able to see him before, but he just didn't. Although it may well be that the reality is that the SWs didn't think of it, within the storyline there has to be some sort of explanation: it wasn't his health given that he's claiming to be fully able to look after Henry, so the likelihood is that he didn't want to see My Son in prison. So I couldn't feel too sorry for him that he couldn't see Jack now, particularly given that he wasn't in the least bothered that Henry couldn't see his mother.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Maybe theres no mention of social workers because the scriptwriters want to spare us posts with two different meanings of SW in them.

[ArgyMargy]

Haha Errol I've just been struggling with that while flicking through the last couple of pages!

[Fiderer]

Also don't understand why he didn't ask to see Jack while H was in prison.

And what is all this Gideon nonsense?

[EBearhug]

There were social workers involved right after the stabbing, because Tony said something about, "we're not that sort of family," ignoring the fact that for whatever reason, his daughter had just stabbed her spouse, so it was perfectly reasonable for the SW to take a bit of interest. But that seems to have been the last we heard of them.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Gideon is the titchner family name Rob wanted. Afaik its not a homage to our late unlamented chancellor.

[EBearhug]

Gideon was Ursula's father's name. It didn't occur to Rob or Ursula that the breeding vessel Rob had chosen might have her own ideas.

[redshoeblueshoe]

Ebear - that's what I thought - Dennis can sing the rude lyrics of an MNer

[GrumpyOldBag]

I think SOC chose the name Gideon deliberately as a subtle dig against our ex-Chancellor. He has clearly nailed his political colours to the mast - Sunday's episode was full of subtle and not so subtle references to Brexit.

[Cromwell1536]

Hey Mellow - isn't the point about psychopaths, though, that they do believe their own projected feelings and responses: their own internal dramatisation of the world is much more real than the feelings and motivations of others. So Rob does absolutely believe in his love for his Gack and Henwee, and the purity of his motives in regard to them, while we can see these feelings as further manifestations of his sick desire to control the world through controlling the people around him. Especially the women who have the misfortune to come within his orbit. Ooh, bit early in the day. Anyway, my point is that I feel no pity for Rob and I don't think the SW intend us to either.

[Cherylene]

The reason Knob did not see Jack in prison:

The MBU will allow visitors that the mother nominates. They may take the baby out of the prison (I think P & T did this once - I thought Knob was being set up to stalk them/abduct). They encourage this as it would be normal life for the baby when it leaves prison.

They must be nominated by the mother, reviewed and passed by the local social services team. The prison social worker is also involved. The prison social workers should have a plan for the baby so that it has continuity when it leaves the MBU. I am sure that if Knob had a court order for access, then they would have worked round this, but I could not find anything in the rules - probably does not happen that often?

[bakeoffcake]

The replacement for SOC is apparently another ex Eastender person. sorry I can't link as it's in Times and behind a paywall.

[bakeoffcake]

His name is Huw Kennair-Jones.

Off to ggoole him!

[Gumpendorf]

Rob didn't seek access to Jackeon at the hearing in June possibly because it would have meant acknowledging Helen's power. It must have taken a lot from him to beg Pat for sight of his son.

I haven't caught up fully yet, but I thought Helen's comment about not being free until Henry was home suggested that might be a while. I assume as long as H is bf, Jack has to be with her.

I've been told the evidence given last week can't be used in the family courts. It's a different system and in order to be valid the evidence has to be given to the family courts. Is this right? Will the family court only base their decision on the statements made before last week?

[Cromwell1536]

Oh, dear. But surely Henwee was in Rob's care because Hellin was in prison and, furthermore, needed to be kept away from Hellin for the integrity of the prosecution evidence? I have to confess that I didn't listen to the family court proceedings (too upsetting) so there are significant gaps in my understanding of the respective cases made.