Quelle surprise! Rob hasn't FOTTFSOF and is in fact hiding in the bushes at Henwee's school. Discuss the latest unlikely Archers events here.

[PseudoBadger]

What do we want?
Realistic storylines!
When do we want them?
As soon as the writers see this!

He will turn up on the doorstep for Jack's 18th then. This time Henry will be the one attacking him with a knife to repay him for the ruthless way in which he discovered that Rob wasn't Daddy.

I thought it absolutely closed down any possibility of him coming back again. It felt like his final stand and he lost

I think Tom was dialling before she'd finished speaking so now it does become a police matter and the culvert thing is going to become public knowledge too.

I can't decide what I think about it yet. Need to digest. On the one hand I'm glad no-one's dead, on the other I wish there was at least the possibility of a jail sentence so we know for sure where he is. Even if Helen has some sympathy for his predicament she's never going to be able to relax again. He could turn up at any time. Maybe it's not over yet?

I must say, very well done to Timothy Watson, who played Rob. Fantastic acting from him all the way through. Almost sorry to see him go!

Well that was all a bit anti-climactic.

And what was the point in the continuity announcers telling us TW would be answering questions after the show but not mentioning it would be on sodding Facebook?

I DON'T DO FACEBOOK!!!

Gah!

I think it's finished as far as Helen is concerned because she beat him at last and gained the upper hand but I am very pleased they're calling the police.

I thought it absolutely closed down any possibility of him coming back again. It felt like his final stand and he lost

Only in the sense that he mustn't be seen surely? I have a feeling that he'll begin to think "if I can't have him, no-one can".

Although...

Maybe now he has nothing left to live for he will go off and top himself

It is an interesting interview. It definitely sounds as though it is farewell for now, but he has said there is scope for an ongoing connection with the boys.

If that is the end of him then I think it's appropriate that the victim was able to scorn him verbally and make him back away.
She won. She bloody well won!

I liked Helen's realisation that she could say what she wanted to him. And the strength that gave her.

Why, oh why, would she not call the police? Especially after her own mother , brother and best friend have pleaded with her to do so? Foolish.

Did Helen kick Rob or was it Henry. It's too soon to LA

He liked recording the poached salmon episode, with a wet tea towel for the sound effects. He enjoyed having a rare chance to swear.

He genuinely hates tuna bake as he is vegetarian, but he likes cold custard.

Why, oh why, would she not call the police?

Possibly because the last time she called the police she spent quite a long time in jail? Who knows what her state of mind is.

Was there ever an episode with so many missed opportunities? a storm, a fallen tree, an inexperienced driver turning in a narrow lane while talking on the phone,a distraught mother with a squeaky voiced whiner, a manic father with a crying baby in a probably badly fitted baby seat*, a pregnant woman and her never to be mother in law, four cars converging............ And phut . Nothing.

so bye bye Rob, as he swishes down the culvert of character oblivion and into the black hole that is the sieve of collective memory of Ambridge, joining Greg, Amy, Darren and all the other characters who have been put in the Gone and Immediately Forgotten box in the scriptwriters attic.

• for one glorious moment I thought Robs evil machinations would be defeated by the baby seat, fair does to him, he got the thing in his car , which is not bad going for someone under extreme stress, doing it for the first time, in the dark, in the pouring rain and without the instruction booklet. I could forgive the scripties if they had allowed him to be caught red handed struggling with the car seat , brought bang to rights and finally defeated by the evil plot device of a conniving car seat.

Ha I thought that viques! Fitting a newborn seat is a bit of an art. I thought he was going to decide it was taking too long and proceed without it. Therefore leading to Certain Doom.

Well that has to be the end for a good long time or its just another damp squib

Tbf, Helen has had her victory over him. Hopefully that has redeemed a little of the public service remit. But a custodial sentence would have been better

Ok. I like that Helen had the final say and she defeated him by being stronger in the end.

BUT. Who in their right mind would not report this to the police???? I would be terrified he'd become even more of a maniac and burn down the house or something. It just seems like madness but I suppose that's the point, that she feels the only way is to beat him by herself.

So Rob isn't dead yet??

I haven't been able to bring myself to listen to it since the Rob/ Helen thing.. I was so hoping they'd kill him off so it would stop being the Helen and Rob show.

But she did agree to call the police. Not readily, but she agreed.

Well, if Tom has reported it to the police (onya Tom and Pat - personally I'd have said - actually, Helen dearest, this is my nephew/grandson that has been abducted here, and the other nephew/grandson traumatised and abused horribly and frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn about your views I AM REPORTING IT TO THE POLICE) won't Rob at least be arrested on suspicion of and brought in for questioning? Am I being immensely naive? Tom will be reporting an abduction. Surely the police have to respond and Helen proclaiming that 'it's sorted, 'e won't be baaack' like some East End
villain won't cut it?

I enjoyed this episode. It seemed set up to allow Helen to be assertive, to show that she was no longer under Rob's control. He has been truly undermined by helen. Perhaps he still harboured ideas that she would come back to him one day. He can be under no illusion now that that will never happen. He's gone! (At least for a while. He's too 'good' a character to not be brought back.