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!

To be fair, Kate's ex doesn't fit the black bus driver stereotype.

I thought it was not uncommon? I read quite recently that the novelist (and former TA scriptwriter) Susan Hill has ended her marriage of nearly 40 years and now lives with another woman.

I don't think it's particularly uncommon, either. After my parents divorced, my mum was in a long-term relationship with a woman. They eventually split up, and my step mum is now married to a woman with adult children from her first marriage.

I know plenty of people who are bisexual but have only really had relationships with people of the opposite sex because that's where the opportunities have been. A decision to stay away from men means that romantic opportunities are more likely to come from other women.

I can very much see Helen in a relationship with a woman. I don't really see her with Anna, though. Although I suppose she could get a crush on Anna which might lead to her considering women as an option.

Unless the SW lose their minds they wouldn't have a woman like anna act so unprofessionally as to have a relationship wi a former client.

Don't worry, Mephisto, the TA's SWs' allegiance to realism is like some kind of religious vow.

Perhaps half the population of Ambrige are people from ethnic minorities and no one there finds it unusual enough to remark on so we don't know about it??

Yes. Perhaps they are all black and we are guilty of blithely assuming everyone is white. Apart from racist Roy Tugger, obviously.

the TA's SWs' allegiance to realism is like some kind of religious vow.

Elona! Care Worker at the Laurels. She was (and really is) Albanian.

I felt Helen's comment to Kirsty about her lack of baby talking skills was fine- not bitchy, Just a bit jokey - at least Kirsty didn't mind. I think it was just there to show they are relaxed around each other. Besides which Kirsty did make a joke about Helen's driving ( something about not having long nails anymore). Loved the bit with Cyndi Lauper playing in the background as they drove (Cyndi couldn't have been picked for being a LGBT activist could she?)

And some of the Polish pickers may have been black

Ok, I've an idea for Huw
The time is ripe* in Ambridge for a trans/cis gender person to emerge - but who will it be.

*I know this as a country-dwelling relative in her 90's was telling me about her friend's grandchild who has changed gender and it all started with meeting someone on the internet!

Please, noooo ... TA has only just reached the point where Anna being a lesbian is supposed to be interesting. Somehow I don't think they'd handle it in a way anyone liked.

Blimey, look at the number of posts - has Psuedo got a thread title ready?

I don't think Helen is gay either, but have wondered whether the storyline is leading us that way a bit (or, as Errol says, maybe preparing for an awkward scene with Anna

No doubt appallingly handled. Of course all gay women are predatory lust filled harpies who will fling themselves at any straight woman going in an attempt to 'turn' them, despite potentially dire professional consequences.

I am looking forward to Helen visiting Kaz.

Why is Kaz in prison?

Happy to take suggestions Errol but I have a nice calm one in mind

In real life if your Daughter had been raped, you might want to discuss it with your best friend who had also been raped, but please can we not go there?

I will be following the saga of the Sausage King's super sperm very closely.

Lovely to hear Joe and Bert Fry. BOOP BOOP.

pseudo - a nice calm one sounds like a lovely idea after all the high drama.

Not so lovely to hear Joe being a cake thief...especially with the gingerbread being Carole's entry for the Flower and Produce show.

Gingerbread is one of those cakes which is meant to mature, isn't it? If pseudo didn't already have a title (which I'm sure will be better) I'd be thinking along the lines of 'Joe takes the biscuit... and the gingerbread...'

True Choccy I suppose I enjoyed Joe being Joe though.

Hadn't occurred to me that Kirsty could be pregnant, but maybe that will be what gets those two back together (which is the way the story seems to heading). I think Helen is seeing Anna so we can do the whole public information thing: "if you don't want to make a complaint of rape there is a new charge of emotional abuse etc etc" If Knob was convicted of that might that be something that would bar him from seeing Jack?