There's a slow hand clap for Knob. Will there be one for Toby? Discuss The Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

Sorry for the poor title - the end of the last thread has arrived sooner than I thought and I haven't had the benefit of hearing all of the last 2 nights....

The interview scene was good fun, and one of the positive elements was that the SW remembered the characters' backstory, particularly Brian and Tom (GM protest, falling out over a business partnership etc) to give it some depth.

Maybe after SOC left, they found the archivist tied up in a cupboard and they have finally been let out.

D3 😀😬

While I liked the interview for its use of backstory, I thought that the panel throwing Tom'a past at him like that was pointless as the Nuffield interviewers will know none of it. They should have stuck to generic questions.

Also I do hope that Roy and Kate don't get back together.

Gypsy Seek glad I'm not the only one who feels that way about Adam's voice!

Re: Rob's ostracism I think we may see the back of him sooner than we thought. Met up with a friend of mine who's written a few eps of EastEnders and he said it's quite common for a new editor to kill the previous one's storylines. So although SOC said Rob could be around for years, it's quite possible the new editor would rather move on....

I hope they don't actually kill Rob off, though. I think it would be more realistic for him to pop up from time to time, demanding access and being an arse and refusing to pay any maintenance or anything. And one thing TA has usually been quite good at (apart from the SOC era) is remembering what's been before, and not completely forgetting characters who aren't currently active and so on. But even if Justin's job is still there, I cannot see how it's sustainable for him to stay in Ambridge, because he has no support from the community at all, so that will have to come to a head in fairly short order, I should think.

At this rate, we might hear Chris and Kathy and Jamie in the next few weeks. It's been good having old characters back.

" it's quite common for a new editor to kill the previous one's storylines"

I am irresistably reminded of the behaviour of a lion who has ousted his old predecessor and replaced him as Head of the Pride...

Where is Chris?

He seems to have leapt from callow youth to mature young man in no time at all

It must be confusing for Pat n' Tony to have one Grandson who is in his late teens but acts like he's 30 and another who is coming up for six, but sounds like a toddler.

All things considered Johnny is by far the nicest of the Bridge Farm Archers. Wholly coincidentally he is the one who grew up furthest away from Pat n' Tony and their ceaseless moaning and self-righteousness.

Am I too late to give an opinion on Alice's presentation? I thought maybe the problem was she has a slightly patronizing opinion of those working "of the land" and their ability to understand technical guff. Hence her telling Brian that she wanted her presentation to be understandable. So she didn't put in all the pretty pictures because she's a girl, but because she thinks that would make it easier for the simple non-engineering type farmers to understand. Which would also explain why they laid into her in the QandA if that attitude had come across. It ties in with her treatment of Ed.

Gasp, just read your last post (about Jim) to MrT (also a classics graduate and a Listener) and he has nodded sagely.

I seem to have missed bits of tonight's ep - will LA tomorrow as it's bedtime now.

I just wanted to say hearing Adam being told not to leave talking to Ian 'too late' means only one thing. He will. Not for Adam but I will miss Ian. I too liked hearing Jim - the Bull scene was good altogether, and Kate and Roy sounded almost sensible. Shame about Hayley but good for her. So that's another 2 actors who want to move on.

All in all, quite amazing what one new (interim) ed can achieve.

sooootired, you might have a point. I find I don't care about Alice so didn't think about why. She was certainly a patronising PITA with Ed.

I can't see how Cathy can possibly re enter any scenes now. After her being firmly established as Pat's bff pre-SOC, complete with such a constant presence at the Bridge Farm kitchen table that it drove Tony nuts, that for her to return now after her absolute absence of support through all the family's trials would be positively embarrassing.
I don't think there has even been a one sided phone call has there?

The only explanation could be that Cathy has been on an extended managerial training course that requires no contact with the outside world. Phones handed in at reception and a year of meditation/wilderness/boot camp training. ...?

I may be wrong as I stopped listening in the summer, but it reminds me of my own relationship with a previously close friend of mine who knew I was going through a terribly tough time but didn't bother to call for over 2 years. I just wouldn't know what to say to her now.

Good point, sooootired

Kathy: on the one hand, I never cared for Kathy. On the other hand, the Bridge Farm Archers were an absolute rock for her during many times of trouble, and she was there for them during the E Coli trauma (as far as I recall). One of the many flaws in the way SOC handled the months and months leading up to the trial was the total absence of Kathy from the story. Even a brief mention every few weeks would have made a difference.

Tony: Oh, you're back. How was Kathy?
Pat: She's fine. It was good to catch up with her. I told her about.... and she thinks...

That's all it would have taken.

Re Chris: he's in the forge. All the time. It's very hot in there and it's affected his vocal cords. Either that or he's been kicked by another horse and this time it's knocked out his ability to speak. He probably communicates with Alice through the medium of mime now, like Lily. They could form a support group. Ben Archer could join, and so could Jamie Perks.

Re sudden change in direction when there is a new hand on the tiller: If you've never seen Hancock and The Bowmans, and have a spare 22 minutes, give it a go. I first saw it after my Archers addiction had taken hold and loved it.

I don't think it's necessarily the case that the Nuffield interviewers won't know about Tom's past, or ask about it. His experience of working with supermarkets and producing ready meals could be pretty relevant, and he can reasonably expect some searching questions about why he got out of both.

sunny I heard "cheese-blocked" too

Yes, but they would only start with the details Tom had given them i.e. the most positive spin whereas the panel were bringing their own experience of the same situations to the interview e.g. Brian saying things like "I always thought that the worst mistake you made was not selling to the supermarkets".

Eddie I don't know why!

I don't even have kids and can name Hipp and Organix off the top of my head as I've seen them in the supermarket. The magic of Google also brings up Ella's Kitchen... SW fail I think

I'd have loved to have heard a question in the interview about breaking into an existing market against these established players!

I can't imagine the SWs are unaware of organic baby food. I think they are just ignoring it for the sake of this storyline, but it's self-defeating because it is such an established thing.

It's nonsense, isn't it, Trevor. Tom wants the scholarship so he can investigate how they do it abroad but hasn't even investigated how they do it (and they do do it) at home.
Thinks ... why has Tom moved out now if he thinks that he will be off Nuffielding in the near future? What a waste of rent money!

AntiBoop Have you forgotten that SOC has personal experience of the gay lifestyle? He would be likely to know (if anyone does).

glowfrog Tom has discussed the organic baby foods subject and he reck
ons that the local angle is new and that is what he'll concentrate on.

If Arsula had her way Gidijack would be fed on pureed toad in the hole. Nothing organic would ever pass his lips.

I hear that toads are a declining species now enoch So that's why

pureed toad in the hole! yuck.

The Nuffield website says that travel must be "for a period of no less than eight weeks". That's two months' wasted rent. I wouldn't have thought that the Bridge Farm Archers have money to spare atm with all their legal bills.

Why did nobody say: 'Mr Archer, your idea for organic baby food sounds.... AS THOUGH IT'S TWENTY YEARS TOO LATE'??