Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, please put a penny in Joe Grundy's hat. Discuss The Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

Ho ho ho! Will this thread last until Christmas?

Good to have her back

Great episode! Lovely to hear Rob humiliated - the warm beer line was especially satisfying.

But will it just stoke his temper - on which his hold is already quite precarious? I can see him wanting revenge on home farm - is he going to out Lilian and Justin?

Has Debbie always been played by Tamsin Grieg?

Cracking episode. Wish they'd kill off Toby and the Brookfield lot and pay for TG full-time instead.

Yes, great episode last night! I did a little jig in the kitchen when Debbie put Rob in his place; it frightened the cat but the parrot joined in.

I'd second that selsigfach

I did a little jig in the kitchen when Debbie put Rob in his place; it frightened the cat but the parrot joined in.

thanks for that image

Mdragon You're welcome.

Has Debbie always been played by Tamsin Grieg?
Yes, from before she was famous for anything else, I think.

From that one comment of Jenny's I'm kind of hoping that Rauiri is very good at art - it would be fun for him to confuse Brian and go to Art school and he could convert a "barn" to be a studio.

I loved the fact that obviously everyone at BL already hates Rob, as no-one told him about Secret Santa. I do hope Debbie gets the chance to get in a dig or two with Justin about the decision to employ him.

The reason Debbie emigrated was so that Tamsin could focus on her non ta career!

Knob is sounding increasingly desperate - going throw that the secret Santa gifts! He's definitely on the verge of a breakdown. Probably after spending Xmas with Bruce who will undoubtedly be telling him what a failure he is. Although it may be Jess who incurs his wrath as he stands by the threat he made

debbie magnificent and does rather make you wonder why the rest of ambridge is so spineless...

What was with Justin's "are you still here" comment? Was Rob needed for some nefarious deed(s), has served his purpose and Justin is hoping that he will jog on?
I liked it when Rob was saying it wasn't a good idea to get too friendly with staff. Justin agreed with him a bit too strongly. Right back at ya, Rob!

I didn't really understand the "are you still here" from Justin to Rob either. Unless Justin's come to his senses and regrets giving Rob the job, and wants Rob to jump before he's pushed?

Even on the premise that Rob is there to do Justin's dirty work, I would have thought Justin ought to be capable of working out that a good manager doesn't alienate all his staff - which he must have done for them to be able to keep the Secret Santa thing so completely quiet.

Yes ...

I wondered if there was some gradual change of editorial direction happening. Justin certainly didn't sound friendly towards Rob.

I thought the 'Are you still here?' comment was just that Justin expected him to have already gone somehere else for Christmas. Somewhere he was wanted, perhaps?
Double BOOP for a great episode.

I thought that too - that it was Justin hadn't expected him to turn up to the Christmas party.

I felt it had been written as Justin's rather barbed comment being all part of a completely shattering evening for Rob starting with not being part of the secret Santa, followed by Justin implying he shouldn't be there, then Debbie trouncing him utterly and Ian flamboyantly sweeping Adam off for a terrific evening.
It all went horribly wrong for Rob and all his little barbs failed to hit home.
Marvellous.

I was glad Debbie mentioned Ruari's age. When Jenny said he was good at art the other day I was imagining him still as some six of seven year old who does a particularly impressive portrait of daddy with oversized ears and no neck.

Can you imagine if Rob had been included in the Secret Santa though? What would you have gifted him? (nothing too scatalogical please, too obvious).

Perhaps a nice old fashioned solitaire game?

This would probably have come inside even a very tiny Secret Santa budget. [fsanta]

Was Justin's remark made after Rob's comment about getting too friendly with staff?