Male or female, young or old - Bad Stuff can happen to you in The Archers. Discuss the perils of Ambridge life here.

[PseudoBadger]

Not exactly upbeat at the moment is it

Have just realised how repetitive they've been regarding Shula. Both her husbands have now gone into partnership with young, ambitious, "Asian" (BBC perception) women.

Wonder whose best friend Anisha will become eventually. (As well as who she'll marry ...)

(Has someone said that already? Sorry if so ...)

Picklemepopcorn I feel the same. I really like Lillian's character but all along I've felt it's really out of order. Probably because someone had an affair behind my back last year. I don't like Justin at all.

AuldHeathen, if you like Tom Hollander, you need to go to see Travesties.

Nope. Jazzer's accent is Just. Too. Much. Now.

When was he last in Scotland? The 4Xtra road trip with Fallon and co? It's getting silly now.

I have a spare ticket next Saturday night for Travesties if anyone needs a Tom Hollander fix. DD can't make it.

Sometimes in my spare moments I like to indulge myself by looking up The Archers family tree and listening to old archive episodes. Anyone else this obsessed?

Yup.

My son does this. Then over dinner he tells us what's been happening and dh and I can reminisce. DS4 does his best ignore us all.

I remembered another paper from yesterday. 2 education lecturers from UCL.They discussed how Nigel's death could have contributed to F's underachieving. Apparently boys who lose a father at 12 and under (and likewise for girls who lose their mother) are more likely to do less well academically. I found it fascinating, esp as I am the wife and daughter of men who lost fathers at 12 and 8 respectively. And both of them underachieved too - though dad turn things around,to a point. Dh less so, I think. The speakers talked of offsetting the loss - so Freddie getting support from uncles, even Kenton, is a good thing.

I'm surprised (and a bit alarmed?) about who you find unlikeable.

Helen and Anisha seem pretty ok to me, in fact none of the characters are ever nasty, well except for you know who. I like watching the bumptious young ones mellow a bit as they navigate life's traumas. Most of the characters are flawed in the way that small communities cope with- never get involved in a Grundy scheme, never trust Clarrie with an actual secret...

The ones I dislike are Brian, battering his way against all other opinions, and Justin who casually disregards the accusations made against Rob and again pursues what he wants with callous determination. I think there's something fishy about the 'special deal' on that land. Though I've always thought Lillian a bit vain and shallow.

I think Miranda was deliberately unlikeable as a plot device to stop us worrying about the affair.

Heathen I misread your post as Freddie's underachievement leading to his father's death... Harsh, I thought!
Though I've remembered how much I disliked the young Elizabeth.

There was a huge amount of Elizabeth hate at the conference (those who have met me will know why that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable) - perhaps I am too young, please could someone enlighten me?

I'm not sure about the Elizabeth thing but I've never really liked her either. She's quite insecure - she used to worry that her Dad preferred her other siblings. She has done pretty well in life but I find her lacking warmth and generosity.

I also think she's a bit chippy and therefore smug about her place a Lady of the Manor. I know she is portrayed as adoring Nigel but I think he was too much of a clown to really be a good match for her. I can't help thinking of Mrs Merton... 'So, Elizabeth, what first attracted you to Nigel Pargetter, heir to Lower Loxley?' Or of Elizabeth Bennett getting her first sight of Pemberley.

Eddie Grundy was at my office the other day.

#slebwatcher

She was a real madam in her youth. Spoiled and entitled. Reminded me of Violet, 'if you don't give me what I want I'm going to scweam and scweam until I'm sick!' Brown, from Just William.

She was precious about getting her share of the farm, when David and Ruth were slaving day in and out on the farm, etc. Jealous of her siblings etc.

Sometimes in my spare moments I like to indulge myself by looking up The Archers family tree and listening to old archive episodes. Anyone else this obsessed?

You need to see Dr Nicola's paper on "Power, Networks & Actants". Even she was embarrassed by her level of nerdiness.
We all cheered when she revealed who will be the kingpin of future-Ambridge if she was in charge.

Elizabeth was pushing very hard to have David and Ruth sell the farm so she could take the cash. She genuinely felt hard done by as mistress of Lower Loxley and having to make it pay its way through conference business, etc! I think she had one of her funny turns with her dicky heart, so wound up did she get about the gross injustice of it all.

That's right, I'd forgotten the details!
I have to confess to a period where I slipped away from ambridge due to life circumstances. I got by on a couple of episodes a month for a while. I'm still struggling to make everyone fit in properly, but I have finally learned how to do the whole podcast thing so I will never be out of touch again!

I'm trying to remember the name of the petite, auburn, high energy actress who bounced around variety shows in the late seventies and eighties. High pitched voice, belted out showstoppers. I always picture Elizabeth as being her for some reason. Did the actress I'm thinking of play Violet Elizabeth in Just William? Or am I making random stuff up... Erm.

Bonnie Langford?

Oh yes! My mental image of Lizzie is similar.

Ben has a friend!! And interests outside the cereal cupboard.

driving home this morning from a week away for half term, was perfect timing for the Omnibus edition.

Cue much moaning from the DC. "How much longer does this go on ... I thought it was only about 10 minutes long?"

But even they were moved by Kirsty's storyline...

I find Miranda's snobbery about shops, food & restaurants very unbelievable.

I don't know anyone like that IRL - even the the most hard core London ladies I know appreciate that things are different in the country, a nice cosy pub, etc. And Miranda has horses so she must have some experience of country life. Even Hampshire women aren't as bad as her.

Yes, Bonnie Langford! Thank you. I could only think of Lena zavaroni, which wasn't what I wanted.

I don't know about Miranda. There is a certain 'set' that have to be more bored than everyone else... Not at all done to ever appear pleased with anything... It's a sign of your discerning taste to criticise everything.

Hmm. Maybe I've been unfortunate in who I've met!