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!

I agree that services are overstretched, but at the very least, there could be a nod to this, "perhaps the counsellor (or whoever) will have some advice, but it's ridiculous we can't have an appointment before April." Or something.

I cannot understand why Henwee is not already receiving professional support, given that the reason Knob was not allowed contact with him was because the court accepted the psychologist's report that Knob had already caused him psychological damage.

Try getting a suicidal child seen and being told that the wait is weeks not days
Or one with anorexia who is dangerously thin and will be seen in 12
weeks

Henry would be way down the priority list

But harsh and unfair as it is in my experience a child like Henry wouldn't be way down the priority list because he is a very public child - as he has been part of a very public court case. If the court or some other high status organisation referred him he would at least be assessed. Even if then just referred to a charity or similar.
Even more all schools around here have a "home school link worker" often only basically qualified, and part time, but surely a child like Henry would be seeing them regularly?
I do have hope that the new editor will have members of the family seeking help. They do seem to be developing the story rather than unrealistically treating it as a "happy ever after ending".

I imagine that the family would fork out for some play therapy sessions in Felpersham.

He witnessed the stabbing and he was with rob for 6 months

Helen may not want to slag rob off but Henry has seen with his eyes that she behaved badly (stabbing) so it must be very confusing not to have the balance of why she did it.

I suppose it sets us up for him finding rob and wanting to be with him but rob disappearing when Jack rejects him

If he witnessed it all he will also know that she stabbed Knob to save him which might help him understand better. Maybe that needs to wait till he's older though.

Just heard Paddy O'Connell doing a trail for Broadcasting House on Sunday. They're interviewing Huw Kennair Jones and want listeners to send in questions for him.

Huge Canoe is on Broadcasting House on Sunday morning, and they want questions/comments. I might ask if he likes his Mumsnet nickname... :o

Bugger. Fink beat me to it. :o

Is Peggy really the Ambridge Health Fairy?

I teach 4/5 year olds.
None of them talk like this. They all sound more grown up than Henwee.

Is that a new Henwee? he sounds more babyish than ever.

Do you think he needs it!! FGS!

Whilst I've always liked Lillian's cackle it was extremely vulgar tonight!

I think that was meant to be drowsy Henwee.

Dwousy Henwee sounded like a child from a horror film, like a baby possessed by a demon

I found Lilian's cackling to be most unpleasant. I'm not enjoying the Justin/Lilian affair at all, possibly as they are close to my parents' age.

Desolate and other criticisers of Henry's voice; I am confessing my low brow tastes here but I listen to BBC R2 in the mornings and Chris Evans interviews children every day. Mostly they sound like Henwee (esp. the younger ones) perhaps it's because we listen more intently on the radio. I remember recording our dcs and their voices sounded more babyish than I actually "heard' in real life.

Leave the poor little fella alone .

Why have they suddenly made Lillian so vulgar?

Well it's not sudden is it Bert ? She has facelifts etc. she has affairs etc. with oddbods. She drinks like a fish. She's not exactly a shy retiring librarian is she?

With all the forced cackling going on last night, I found myself thinking "Nothing's that funny." I'm surprised Justin doesn't try to calm Lill down, it's like going around with a massive sign saying "I'm Justin's bit on the side".

The word for Lillian is 'fast', I think. A kindly interpretation might be that she's seizing the moment before the inevitable crash. I suppose we should be grateful that Lillian's poor choices are possible. In another century she'd be the spinster aunt, living on Brian's charity, and even more emotionally redundant than she is now. At least she has some options now. But I agree, the portrayal of the affair is pretty unedifying. And Jenny's responses just bewildering.

Does anyone remember her dancing at some event with Scott her toyboy (who was also involved with Brenda)? I'm pretty sure there was some cackling then.

Fallon could stage a "grab-a-granny" event upstairs at the Bull and Lillian could show'em how its done by twerking.

I'm surprised Justin doesn't try to calm Lill down

On the contrary, Justin seems to be living dangerously. It's almost as if he wants the marriage to be over, can't end it himself but is giving Miranda all the ammunition so that she ends it.

Lil was desperate to snag Matt and live out her days with him but he never committed to marriage. She has done an about turn with Justin - is happy to be the bit on the side - but it seems, ironically, that this approach is working better and make actually secure The Big Prize (a man, his money, a place in Society, blah, blah)

I'm finding Jenny far more irritating that Lillian