Roll up roll up! It's nearly Apple Day in Ambridge. Grab a slice of Borset apple cake and see who's got the longest peel in The Archers.

[PseudoBadger]

I'm so happy with the return to the little things. Enjoy the new thread!

I wonder what Rob was planning to ride this Saturday when he told Oliver he would definitely be out. You would have to book a hunter well in advance and probably pay a deposit - he can't have approached Shula.

I wondered that too officer. The Knob probably thought he could just rock up to the stables cash in hand and take his pick.

Justin may not be persuaded by Lillian's actions but I think he will take notice of Oliver rejecting Rob as well. Unfortunately Justin seems to place much more credibility on men than women.

Wouldn't Rob be terribly unfit riding wise? I don't think he's ridden since last season and has had major surgery plus the stoma reversal.

You can't just plonk yourself on a horse and go hunting.

Well done Oliver, 'I'm not being polite.'

But what planet is Rob on?! He's well and truly lost it. Of course they have the right not to accept his membership. It's a private club ffs, they can take whomever they want, assuming he's not thinking there's some kind of minority discrimination he can claim!

Francis I like the way your mind works.

I liked Oliver telling him he wasn't behaving like a gentleman.

BOOP for Lillian and Oliver. Rob is pathetic when up against people he can't either bully or fake-charm.

Hope Pip didn't ingest too much of Toby's foul brew - she may be a pain but I don't think she deserves poisoning or blindness. Putting the random 'botanicals' in at the start, goodness knows what's in it and you can bet he didn't take much care with the distillation. I would have thought Pip might have a bit more sense - I bet she wouldn't trust him to make silage for the cows!

I have never understood, since fox hunting is illegal, what hunts hunt.

And I think someone's going to get hurt soon. I was worried about Oliver there.

Ynice little comment slipped in about boys at school picking on the new boy as well. Clearly knob has never been popular. Couldn't happen to a nicer chap!

It's drag hunting now, the hounds follow a scent trail. But occasionally (it happened in a TA episode iirc) they will pick up the scent of a fox.

Yes... it does seem like a crisis is brewing for Rob. He will be bottling it up until after his stupid renaming attempt and the family court - but as the indications are that won't go as he expects, seems likely he will erupt in some way after.

Perhaps Jess (who? You may ask) and Helen will get together to have him prosecuted and he will lose it in court or kill Jess (can't have him killing Helen after all)

Oliver basically told Rob he's not a gentleman without uttering the words "you're not a gentleman", because Oliver is a gentleman.

It was well done. Oliver is usually such an affable chap, total soft touch where the Grundies are concerned, but icily polite and unyielding with Rob.

Rob is going to get hold of a gun (probably via stupid Justin) and go on a rampage through the village. Some one entirely innocent will cop it, probably the vicar or Johnny. Helen will never forgive herself for not pressing charges. Horror is coming.

I think Lillian will talk Helen 'round to pressing charges.

I don't see how Rob can go snivelling to Justin about the house in order to pressurise Lillian when he's told her that he wasn't that interested and has found a much better property elsewhere. Even if he says that's fallen through, he's handed Lillian a cast-iron reason to refuse to do business with him by telling her that he only asked her out of pity.

I agree about the riding fitness. AFAIK, he's not ridden since last season, and since them he's had a near-fatal injury and resulting surgery. Starting with a gentle half hour hack along the local bridle paths would probably result in a bit of saddle soreness, not to mention his stomach muscles and core. So launching straight into a day's hunting, galloping cross-country and jumping fences and ditches and stuff - yeah, no problem. Though sadly we are missing the opportunity for a fatal riding accident, where he falls, hitting his head on a tree on the way down, is then crushingly rolled on by a horse before slipping into a ditch and drowning in cold, stagnant water. Just to be sure.

I believe I may have made similar points about his fitness with reference to cricket and shooting.

God, such a satisfying episode.

I listen to TA on weekdays the morning after (Au time) as I'm getting ready for work, and was punching the air at Oliver's gentlemanly yet firm assertion, and Rob's spluttering bombast.

We don't press charges in the Uk.

It was interesting to note Rob's obsequious tone when Oliver first turned up compared with the way he was talking to Lillian - another example of excellent radio acting. And it make it all the funnier when he was spluttering about how it was a crappy hunt anyway and he would find a better one.

I'm liking the idea of rob getting a gun and going in a rampage. Pip and Toby will be the first victims as they picnic on the green. Alan will get shot (but survive). David will be out shooting badgers and kneecap rob. Then there will be a scene where Tom arrives and holds rob gone to his head. Rob will taunt him - saying he's too cowardly, admit all the horrid things he did to his sister. Johnny will be going 'he's not worth it tom' and Tom will throw the gun to the ground saying he's right.

Oh wait, I may have seen that scene many many times before. I'm sure the archers wouldn't be so derivative.

A nice prosecution would be good. Although rob killing off Toby would be very welcome.

I know I've said this before, but any outcome for Rob except a prosecution and conviction for coercive control and rape would be an utter betrayal of abused women.

Yes - otherwise why bring it up in the first place? I wonder if womens aid are regretting their support of this sl. I wonder if it actually achieved anything.

I've not given up hope on that yet - it might be that they're wanting to show that its not straightforward, that the victims may just want to get on with their lives but that the perpetrator can and should be brought to account.