All we hear is Radio Carter - come and gossip about The Archers here

[PseudoBadger]

Hides in laundry rooms

Oh, you weren't imagining it. I clearly remember the earlier iteration of Justin, steely international dude in the world's most expensive suit ... I could imagine every female in the village being attracted to him - but he was completely inaccessible.

(TinyTumble - how are you listening to 2014? Did you record the episodes or did the BBC publish them? Welcome, by the way!)

The trouble is Matt would have seen straight through Knob which is why he had to go.

Stupendously accurate. Though also, obviously, SOC couldn't maintain two villains in the same space. (Thinking about it, Matt v Rob could have been an intriguing story.) It was just so frustrating the way they set up Charlie as Rob's opposition - and then made him so "conflicted" he was rendered completely ineffectual.

I don't think anything that Justin has done recently has been particularly ruthless. With regards to the bridge farm deal Tom behaved like a complete arse and Justin responded accordingly. With regards to Matt, Justin was happily ignoring Matt until Matt started messing about. I have no sympathy for matt, and I am going to say it, hope Justin wins.

I agree re Matt and Justin, who seems to be tolerating quite a lot.

Matt went originally because he was written out by SOC, not for any other cleverer reason, according to the actor himself.

Abra - it's the reason for the writing out that's so interesting!

I've never believed that Justin's anything other than a baddie? I'm more annoyed, in fact, that we've never heard anything more about the 'links to Ambridge' that made him so set on acquiring Brookfield for silly money!

Never forget that Justin had no compunction about employing Rob.

And he knows about Culvertgate.

I have no sympathy for matt, and I am going to say it, hope Justin wins.

Never going to happen .

The only question is, when is it all going to go awry? At the wedding ceremony I hope, when Lillian can't quite get the words out.

The Grundys have very short memories when it suits them. Oliver did a phenomenal amount for Ed.

I think Oliver was quite justifiably furious. But Clarrie and Eddie have been using that bedroom-

Oliver was objecting to strangers using the house. Quite right too. Listening to him just now is making me furious on his behalf. Eddie doesn't give a toss about poor Oliver.

Oh, I hope we don't have to wait as long as the wedding - that's a long way off, because he has to divorce Miranda first.

I don't like Justin. I'm not keen on Matt either, and Lilian is better off without either of them. But Matt doesn't have quite the same vindictive streak as Justin, and he wouldn't have put up with Rob, whereas Justin was quite happy for him to carry on until he became a liability.

i love the transformation of Jill into eco warrior. I hope it does not end badly, with her being arrested or some such.

I get intensely irritated when Eddie puts on that wheedling voice, and was glad to hear Clarrie telling him to shut up for once. I just wish she'd do it more often. I'm amazed she hasn't learnt by now that when that voice comes out it inevitably means that he wants her to do something absolutely disastrous and she needs to do the opposite of whatever he's asking.

I hope it does not end badly, with her being arrested or some such.

Oh, I think a scene between Harrison and Jill (who are both getting quite a bit of airtime at the moment,) could be quite entertaining.

(Agree about Eddie.)

but oliver 'rents' the house/farm to the grundy's he can't just march in. does the law not apply in ambridge?

Oliver said that Joe took him inside, I think.

Yes, it sounded like Joe was trying to be the perfect host, as far as he is able.

Can't Eddie fall into a pond or something? I'm bored with him continually bringing the family down. The rest of them would stand half a chance without him.

Gruach - thanks for the welcome; wrt the old episodes - there is a chap called Adrian Beal who has been storing all the omnibus podcasts since 2009, Google his name + TA and it will take you to the site on which he hosts them (under a thin advertising guise for his main business). It seems safe and legit though I'm loathe to post a link as knowing my luck it would backfire and you'd all curse these upstart lurkers...

It's true of course that characters develop organically as the years unfold, but I think in the case of Justin it does seem like there have been two incarnations - first, the austere and ruthless businessman, then the romantic gentleman who has (in fact, not) swept Lilian off her feet. Again, all fine, people can and do change, but when he made those threats to Matt it sounded a little ridiculous - that wouldn't have been the case 3 years ago. It would have been genuinely sinister.

But who knows? Maybe he'll unearth a more authentically threatening demeanour as the weeks unfold...

Justin is turning into more of a controlling bully than Rob.

Telling Lilian she didn't need her money now she's with him doesn't bode well.

I don't have any doubt about Justin's feelings for Lillian and don't believe he's anything like Rob in terms of their relationship. She's the one with the upper hand so it'll be interesting to see what happens to him when it comes to its inevitable end.

I'm not sure how legit those podcasts are Tiny! The download terms are 'personal use' aren't they? Though I can't imagine the BBC paying any attention.

Adrian Beal used to be the Colchester Plumber. He's OK, isn't he.

What a piece of work Alice is - gloating in spreading gossip.

And Justin is a vindictive bully. This has nothing to do with Lillian.

And all that sneering at Jill. They all sounded like arrogant tossers. Plenty of people in the countryside are against hunting- my family and I are.

TinyTumble please don't go back to lurking - I like your analysis.

Telling Lilian she didn't need her money now she's with him doesn't bode well

I agree.