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

I also thought Lynda's scenes with Kirsty were interesting. We know Lynda has no children, I can't remember if we know why, but I felt there were definite undertones of empathy there which made me wonder if Lynda had been through similar. Kirsty pushed it off, but I felt Lynda had come closer than anyone to getting through to her. Lynda is another character I really love because she is so complex - she can be used for comic effect, but there is so much more to her than that.

It's more complicated than that Anti. Tom is what Kirsty wants, and has always wanted. Sadly he doesn't feel as deeply for her as she does for him but that won't stand in the way of a future reconciliation. He's lost right now and Kirsty is vulnerable and available. I predict a few happy years for them before the return of Brenda, who'll throw a spanner in the works.

Agree with all of your posts Lillian. Lynda really is the best. I love how kind she is to Kate too.

I don't agree vango - I think tom's past behaviour killed off Kirsty's romantic love for him. Whereas he's realised too late what he threw away. I reckon R4 is closer to the mark. Though what the SWs/editor decide to do with them really is anyones guess!

Ah, but if that were the case Errol why would she ever have come back to Ambridge and, more importantly, why would she have slept with him last September and why would she have decided to keep a baby that would bind him to her for life? If she had just wanted a baby (given her age) she didn't need to come back after Christmas!

I think that Kirsty originally loved Tom but has now transferred her allegiance to the family and the village. She doesn't want Liverpool and a mum who irritates her. She does want Ambridge and Pat and Helen.
When she was pregnant, in control and connected to Bridge Farm for life then she easily gave Tom the I-am-an-independent-woman brush-off. Now that she has lost the tie-in she is back to giving him mixed signals.
On an intellectual level, she doesn't want Tom any more but, on an instinctive level, she wants the life that Tom can give her.

If Kirsty posted in Relationships I don't think a single person would suggest she gets back with Tom.

Yes to all of that R4. I also think Kirsty wasn't particularly thinking of having children and the pregnancy was a shock, but once she got used to it she rather liked the idea and now that has been taken away from her she may well be thinking that perhaps that was her chance - given her age. It's not like she can just try again - even if she wanted to. I think it's entirely feasible that she and Tom could get back together - their break up came about as a result of Tom getting cold feet as she slowly turned into Bridezilla. He was as a selfish and self-centred as Bridge Farm Archer children tend to be. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then. I think Tom has changed (quite literally in fact since came back from Canada as a new person) - as a result of what he did to Kirsty and as a result of seeing what Knob did to Helen. I think Kirsty has been changed by the pregnancy. No one could imagine they would ever get married in St Stephens - maybe they won't even get married at all - but I can easily see how they might get back together and actually be stronger as a couple as a result.

Given the outcome of her pregnancy I'm not sure she will want Tom to be the father of her next pregnancy. She said herself that nothing goes right where they are involved

Given the outcome of her pregnancy I'm not sure she will want Tom to be the father of her next pregnancy. She said herself that nothing goes right where they are involved

Thanks witch, I obviously haven't been listening all that closely when Tom talks about the Nuffield I wonder why

I am sure Patrick has many hidden depths and would make Kirsty very happy. . Maybe if I mention his a name regularly, the Sw will bite. I suspect they think there are 2 countries in the world - Brazil and Canada.

It won't be Patrick as I don't see Kirsty with a silent partner - if Kirsty is to stay she will have to marry an Archer. Kathy almost managed it when she got together with Kenton - maybe she should get together with Patrick an they can be silent together.
I don't think Kirsty and Tom were unsuited, I just think he did a terrible thing. At the time it seemed like the worst thing possible, but actually there are worse things partners can do. Lots of couples split up and then get back together - admittedly before they get to the altar - sometimes it's the break up that helps them to focus on what they really want. I think Kirsty does still have feelings for Tom - she let her guard down at the end of the trial and that's how she ended up pregnant. I think when Kirsty is ready to face it, it will be their shared grief that brings them together.

But he's done it twice (split up with her in a horrendous way) - how could she trust him!

Lynda def wanted children and couldn't have any. Don't think we were ever given all the details but presumably the problem was with her, not Robert, given he had two daughters from his first marriage. She was trying very hard with Kirsty but not getting it right, to my ears. K needs somebody less unctuous. Lynda always got on well with Kate because laying it on with a trowel works well with her.

I don't honestly know, but I do wonder why she ever came back to Ambridge after the wedding. She had no job to come back to, nowhere to live, no family ties - she could have made a clean break. She feels a strong connection to Ambridge, to the Bridge Farm Archers and seemingly to Tom, who in his favour has looked at no one else since he dumped her (in spite of Roy's example on the dating websites). I think her head is telling her not to trust him, she certainly wouldn't have chosen to have his baby, but once in that situation she began to like the idea of having Pat as granny and sharing custody with Tom. It's not going to happen again by accident so now it's up to Kirsty, Tom has been really clear about what he wants. I think it could happen and the jilting thing will always be there in background so we will have to explain to new listeners in 25 years time why Kirsty can never really trust her husband.

And he cheated on her the first time.

But before they eventually get together, we'll have a long running, occasionally comedic, storyline about a proposal - don't forget folks, Kirsty made Tom PROMISE never to ask her to marry him again!

I did wonder last night, with all Alistair's talk if revamping te website and having to be on Twitter and FB a lot more, if Anisha had had some consultancy from PresidentOliviaMumsnet.

(Oh, my autocorrect recognises PresidentOliviaMumsnet, when it fails miserably on much standard English. What does that tell us about my use of MN from my phone? )

I suspect they think there are 2 countries in the world - Brazil and Canada.

With Minnesota sandwiched between, like Andorra?

Just because Patrick has been silent thus far, it doesn't mean he has to remain so for ever and ever. Anyway, being the organist means he has a role in village life. All they need to do is develop him further.

Something I was thinking- is the Kirsty actor really from Liverpool or environs? I can't place her accent.

I forgot about Minnesota, Errol. Yep, just like Andorra!

Just because Patrick has been silent thus far, it doesn't mean he has to remain so for ever and ever - no, but the chances are he will. Regular characters occasionally fall silent (Kathy, Lily - until recently, Christopher etc), but silent characters rarely if ever regain the power of speech.

But Patrick has spoken in the past! Look (if you don't mind photos), he still shows up in the cast list! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/2HKwPqXS0b5NxqsvdlDhp5g/patrick-hennessey

I remember Patrick and Kirsty speaking on one of their bird watching trips. Long ago now.