As doors slam shut in Rob's face and behind SOC, a new door opens for the next Archers editor. Are we expecting some New Tricks, or just Archenders?

[PseudoBadger]

Welcome one and all. No spoilers please!

What a load of rubbish, Alan. Hurrah for Usha!

That does ring bells, Jessie, but I don't remember the details. Must have been series 4, going by this - www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zwn0j/episodes/guide Unfortunately, Lowfield doesn't cover it.

(BTW Huw, please don't bring AmEx back.)

I remember Jessie. Did it all come out around the time that Amy discovered her boyfriend was married? She had a spectacular falling out with Usha, left to go and live with Alice, then started stalking him.

Just listened to tonight's episode and caught up with latest posts! So happy with tonight's episode, especially with Usha! I had high hopes she would want to chuck Rob out. After putting up with the mild disapproval voiced by Lilian, Caroline, Oliver and Justin at the Grey Gables dinner, it's a relief to hear someone outside her family express shock and outrage.

Topaz -- I liked your post from 19.46 today regarding Helen. I've never felt the dislike so many seem to have for her. Yes she is flawed, and has made mistakes, but most of us have - well I know I have!

Imbroglio - I do like your fantasy Archers, I've been thinking along the same lines! It seems to make sense for Helen and Ian to live together, ( & maybe Kaz could join them at some point). Then all we need is for Charlie to return, move in with Adam and expose Rob's dodgy accounting😀

'Her' means Helen

Would like Amy to come back. She had a really distinctive and engaging radio voice. Also the only black person I can think of.
Ambridge needs a few more ethnically diverse characters.

Yuck, Alan made my skin crawl. Raping and abusing multiple women and psychologically abusing a child are bad, but no worse in Jesus' eyes than not forgiving someone for doing so. What a creep. I'm glad I'm an atheist.

Imbroglio I love your ideas. Esp the bit about Rob self-combusting (that's how I picture it).

More I think about it, the more pissed off I am about Alan's blithely offering forgiveness. It's really not up to you, you idiot. Ask Helen what she thinks, eh?

I'm grateful to Alan for reminding me why I'm an atheist. He was outrageous. Absolutely shocking.

I'm no fan of vicars, but in this case I think he was playing devil's advocate to some extent. Also quite liked that he brought up Bruce (and more that Usha squashed that).

I also enjoyed the Brookfield section - I think that after all the high drama they were really happy with the smelly old cheese lines.

But then the ending ... Adam was a fool to call Ian's bluff, but I feel sorry for them both. Ian moreso of course. Brilliant idea that Helen and the boys should go and live with him. Adam can flounce off when Rob gets too much, Rob will get the sack for bad management and Debbie can return to do both their jobs (ok, thats a wish too far).

So there was Adam with his bags all packed ...
Do you think that if Ian had attempted to stop him then Adam would have got the kitchen knife out?

Well done, Ian. Nice to see him with some backbone and self-respect. But I expect they will patch it up.

I don't think Doc Locke's voice is that similar to Adam's. He has a fairly pronounced accent, doesn't he?

Predict Adam will be in for a tough time between, Ian, rob and Brian.

Like to hear more from usha. Can remember the last time I heard her on the radio.

Alan's, not Adam's.

Doctor Locke's voice is similar to Alan's, not Adam's.

Ibrowze, I think that annoyingly perfect Dorothy is supposed to be black, but nobody has actually ever mentioned it. The actor who plays her is black, and I think that the whole being called after Dorothy Dandridge thing is meant to be an indication, but it's not actually been made clear. I think it's another case of the Max(ine)s in which SOC assumed that all Archers listeners were middle-aged, middle class white heterosexuals who couldn't possibly imagine that anyone in Ambridge might be from any sort of oppressed or minority group.

I see no reason why she would settle in Ambridhe, though, even if/once she marries Dan.

I also believe Alan's line of enquiries was an important foil to Usha's viewpoint. There would be many people struggling with how they'd approach a RL situation like Rob staying in their village from an ethical/religious perspective and may genuinely be looking for guidance.
Years ago we had a local man exposed as a paedophile and there was much wringing of hands as to whether he should be sent to 'Penny Hassett' or just ignored.
Incidentally, atheism and the concept of forgiveness are not mutually exclusive - I know of humanists who would embrace forgiveness and those with a belief in God who would struggle with that particular tenet in many religions.

I found the Usha/Alan exchange interesting. It is odd though listening now after such a long Helen/Rob-induced break.

Adam is a sanctimonious arse. Was from the start though when he came back from SA and Debbie thought he may have HIV. ? Memory dim.

Like Ian lots.

Usha/Alan was also a bit clunky. Esp Alan.

Errol personally, my issue with Alan's stance is that the discussion omitted 2 major points:

1. if Alan accepts Helen was a victim of abuse and rape (which his remark about Rob not being convicted almost suggests he doesn't believe to be the case), then he needs to ask what would be best for Helen

2. Has Rob shown ANY remorse? No. And that issue didn't come up at all.

I suspect bad or curtailed by necessity writing is to blame rather than something inherent to the character, but even so. Arse.

Adam leaving is the first sensible decision he's made in a while.

jasperDamerel I didn't know about Dorothy Dandridge - is this her surname in TA? I knew she was a black actress as its a crucial part of my addiction interest in the Archers to look up new actors when they appear. Just thought her being a black woman was irrelevant.
However, I did think her character is gay (Dorothy obs) and she comes from a very religious background that would require her to hide her true sexuality and settle down dutifully with an upright member. So to speak

Maybe all this has been covered on previous threads ?

Glowfrog - but Adam didn't really 'decide to leave' - he was calling Ians bluff, he was expecting Ian to back down. So Ian had to kick him out.

'Forgiveness' (or lack thereof) may well be a theme for a while to come. Ibrowze - yes, of course atheists can have the concept of forgiveness. But it has to be granted by those who have been wronged. Theres no god to magically bestow it, no priest to absolve you. I suspect that the misuse of 'Christian forgiveness' has played a significant part in the serial child abuse offences and cover-ups in some churches. (Alan wasn't on that page at least)