Lies and subterfuge in Ambridge - from a policeman? That's just not cricket! Discuss The Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

Thank you R4 for the title.

auld hand up! I hope Ruth contracts IBR next after that.

I was shouting "shut up!!". Not "shut up and let Pip speak". Just "shut up!!"

Bridge Farm's record isn't good: in recent years they have nearly deaded three people - ice-cream girl, Tony and Rob. A spot of IBR doesn't really seem to compare.

Although to be fair R4 on a balance sheet Rob would go on the other side and cancel one out so only one bad nearly-dreading

Another day passes and Pip still can't tell the truth

Not sure if I have posted on these threads before...but I've had it with the women and cricket. How can a grown, educated woman not get that if she has no talent she shouldn't be in the team? Regardless of whether it' s a men's, women's or a mixed team.
This storyline has annoyed me beyond endurance, bye bye Archers.

Oh dfod Ruth. I am assuming the Friday night cliff hanger will feature Pip being exposed.

I'm so sick of Usha and the sodding cricket.

What a poisonous little weevil Pip is. Oh shut up Ruth. You utter twerp.

Well as Pip has put it off so long that it will be really bad when it comes out. I wonder if she will take the cowardly route and run off to (New Zealand?) leave by a note admitting all.
And I'd be quite relieved.

I think the big deal with Pip is that David and Ruth have been allowed to go round loudly proclaiming that it couldn't possibly have anything to do with them because their cows have never been off Brookfield land. Also, if they had known about the escape, might they perhaps have warned their neighbours earlier so that they could all vaccinate before their cows started getting ill?

I am conflicted; something reassuring about annoying cricket story rumbling on .A minor annoyance is acceptable but Pip and a Ruth nearly ruined our dinner! They are as self absorbed as each other... obvs a heritable trait! I'm close to exploding!

So it's a year since the stabbing (the anniversary got a brief mention tonight) - was this Huge Canoe's way of showing he can do intense drama too, but he doesn't need domestic violence to achieve it?

Good point D3. Also note that Custardgate was pretty much a two-hander (we complained at the time about how it dominated airtime) but IBR is involving practically the whole village. Those that aren't tangled up in cow problems aren't forgotten - they are caught up in the cricket instead.

The IBR mess was caused by craziness/mayhem around that Christmastime when Ruth bizarrely stayed in NZ.
Do you think that is a subtle dig by Hugh at SOC's expense, or am I overthinking?

What do we think of Huge Canoe so far? I think he's doing rather well.

Not keen on the Lilian/Justin shenanigans but, apart from that, it's much better. We've rediscovered lost villagers and the plots seem to come from character.

I'm loving Huge Canoe as long as Pip gets her comeuppance

When HC was interviewed on Feedback last week he talked about how he has been a long fan of TA, so I wonder if he is aware of the criticism of SOC and agrees with it. Being too professional to say anything, the way he is handling things (and has quietly killed off some SOC lines) suggests he is deliberately breaking with the SOC approach.

And what made Ruth's story striking this evening (and true to life) is the way it was not just one thing that was causing stress, but all those things building on top of one another, the difficult work situation, falling out with neighbours, realising she's not being a good parent, and (very soon) having to come to terms with the realisation that it's her saintly daughter that is the author of her grief.

Harrison is SO RUBBISH. How on earth does he cope with DV callouts, drug addicts, mugged old ladies etc and still have so little sense of perspective about the flipping cricket team.

Agree that the boycott is silly - Susan is about the last person to stand together with other women isn't she? She'd probably be suspicious of the whole thing. And it's a bit TASWAMA isn't it - oh these women are so touchy.

Well there aren't really anymore battles for women to fight so why not let them get their knickers in a twist about the cricket? It will give them something to gossip about while the men get on with the real business of drinking beer

It's almost like mockery.

I was a bit at Helen saying that the Angus herd was the only thing that got Tony through last year. What, not his daughter being acquitted and her vile husband getting no access to Henwee? Not the birth of another grandchild? Not the support of his mother, wife, son and grandson? Just the cattle?

I agree. How come we never get Fallon, for instance, supporting Emma to stand up to her lazy ass FIL? That would be nice and actually relevant. Looks like Linda Snell as "woman taking part in public life and therefore ridiculous" has now got a companion.

Another question about the Ambridge women - do none of them have any hobbies or activities outside home and work? Until the sudden Aquafit obsession, that is. Can't recall anyone going to choir or a book group or crafting type stuff or even an evening type business class (EMMA!). I guess the hunting counts...

Agree Mega - Helen was being such a cow they might as well get another dose of vaccine for her.

Wasn't there a book group at some point run by Jim? I think that involved some women. We do see women riding, bellringing and of course baking and jam-making. Then there were Helen's supposed jewellery-making classes.

How old is Ben? 14? I thought that comment from Pip - "I made him beans on toast and he ate it all up" made him sound like a 5 year old. And poor Ben, if that's his main meal of the day.