If The Archers characters were acted by dogs, Rob would be a Shih Tzu. Discuss Ambridge events here.

[PseudoBadger]

Avoided a non-sweary title.

"I heard a polite Glaswegian accent. I don't think I could tell if someone was highly educated by their accent."
I didn't mean that how it sounded - of course you can't tell a level of education. But if someone goes to University (or some kind of external training) it tends to modify the accent - because you can't retain the thick accent and still be understood - although you might revert (I used to to East London after a couple of days home). Of course there are people who live in a heavily accented area, have no qualifications but still sound relatively "posh" just because thats how they were brought up.

Of course there is no explanation for Jazzers accent.

I did LA at 2pm and really I just think, as others, that Anisha is definitely 'west not east'. It could be from anywhere around Glasgow. I kind of know what mummytime means by 'educated' but, again, that varies in the people I know from Glasgow who have degrees. I suppose in this story they would just want an accent that isn't Jazzer's, and that underlines the difference between those two characters. I grew up in Glasgow and my accent is similar to Anisha's but flatter, so perhaps closer to Jazzer's!! Who is indeed unique. My background is not posh at all, but I generally use correct grammar. and I think the accent I have now is affected more by the people I mix with in adulthood. I'll be trying to blend in in Lincoln.

So what are grandparents for, acc to TA?

I rather liked Tom's deflection of the imminent disapproving rant and wish I'd had the wit and steel to employ it at various points in my own, ahem, vigorously debated family history. Shall definitely use the 'well, it may not be the circumstance you would have chosen or wished for, but that's how it is,' approach in future. Helen has gone to phone Rob or Ursula hasn't she? And she'll probably be annoyed that Tom chose not to involve her in the Big Reveal.

Just popping in to say surely Lillian would have been to see Helen to reassure her that Rob had actually left. She must know that Helen will be on ninepins worrying that it's some kind of trick/trap on Rob's part. Even if she can't give the full story to keep Damara out of trouble you'd think she would tell her something. I appreciate that Helen will likely always be looking over her shoulder, but it would surely help her to know what's actually going on here.

And any chance of her calling the SW to let them know she's been told he's left... and ask what to do about next month's contact visit?

Cromwell I thoughg that Helen's rather marked exit from the ?kitcheb implied that she knew Tom was going to tell P+T and was tactfully giving them some space. Although writing that about Helen I realise how unlikely it is.

Belated thanks for the new thread Pseudo

kitchen

TNMT I thought the same - that Helen was giving Tom some space.

I find it fascinating how differently we all hear things on the Archers - one of the things I love about these threads.

Isn't Scottish West Coast more Gaelic speaking anyway? I wonder if she can do Gaelic, it's quite popular amongst trendy young people. It would be amazing if Jazzer tried on some Scots and she came back with Gaelic. I wonder if her asking (and not getting) Jazzer's age was a hint that one of them will try it on with the other

Large parts of Scotland never spoke Gaelic and larger parts don't now (despite the best efforts of Scottish government translating east coast railway stations and street signs in Edinburgh into Gaelic)

From wiki The 2011 census of Scotland showed that a total of 57,375 people (1.1% of the Scottish population aged over three years old) in Scotland could speak Gaelic

Boop Roy if that was being deliberately boring , then great move and tactful too.

I also thought Helen was giving Tom space. To be honest I'm slightly surprised Knob has already moved out of his flat given he only got his marching orders on Friday. No one actually believes he's gone to Minnesota do they? That was just the story Justin span so he wouldn't have to explain why he was sacking Knob.

I warmed to Tom today. I like how he told Kirsty about his time away and how he was assertive with Pat and Tony and avoided fueling much more Bridge Farm wailing.

Also liked boring Roy and letting Tracy down gently. But boring Roy is exactly how I've always thought of him. Which made the whole Elizabeth thing so unbelievable to me.

I liked Roy as well. But I don't like the fact that I liked him. They are only trying to make me like him so I will be ok with him being with Kirsty. It's all about me obviously.

I want to listen how do I get into it??

Oh, yes, I see what you all mean about Helen giving Tom space. Obviously I am heavily biased against her and cannot credit her with any tact or consideration at all!

Chelazla - just start and then ask any questions you have here (as long as its not anything you've read as that could be a spoiler).

Chelazla the BBC official Archers website has a good Who's Who and background details of some current plots. All episodes available on iplayer, you could start with the omnibus episode (Sundays) to get a decent intro with various characters.

Don't do it Chelaza - you'll spend your life catching up and catching up here and reading Low field and have no one in real life to discuss it with..

Hence the TC nickname.

Please can you explain what this means?

Helen was nicknamed the Thin Controller

Thin controller - a ref to her eating disorder and control freak tendencies.

Another who thought it was clear that Helen was getting out because she knew Tom probably wanted to tell Pat and Tony. I'm also a bit sympathetic towards their reaction. They're probably afraid that Kirsty might decide to leave, as Sharon did, and they'd have another grandchild they wouldn't be able to see. Obviously if she and Tom were together there'd be a smaller chance of that happening.

Lillian is behaving appallingly if she doesn't let Helen know asap what's happened to Rob. With nothing left to lose he's now at his most dangerous and no-one seems to know where he is! I can't believe that Lillian's happy for Helen (or Kiirsty!) to be out and about unaware that he could turn up at any time. I'm really shocked!

Lilian might not know what's happened to Rob - she told Justin what she knew, Justin may have told her a version of what he told Brian, at least that Rob said he's off to Minnesota. We don't know if there was any communication about the executive flat, or if he just walked out and left. (But having a to-let sign up by Tuesday when the bust-up with Justin was only on Friday is a remarkably quick turn-around, even if Rob was able to hire a van and move it all at the weekend.)

But we heard Justin tell Lillian that he'd got rid of him and Stefan was mentioned so Lillian (having passed her information to Justin) will be able to guess what's happened! She knows Justin's concocted that story.

I'm now confused by Helen. My initial reaction about her clearing out of the room was that it was related to Rob. She has said things before (eg being unreasonably reasonable about the divorce) that make me wonder if she is still harbouring feelings for her idealised version of him and she had a huge under-reaction to the news of him vacating the flat - I was expecting dancing on the tables.
But it could have been making herself scarce whilst Tom imparted the baby news, although Tom seemed to make no hint that he wanted her gone.