The Archers: Will Pip grow or Jill blow? Lil make her vow or Justin take his bow? Discussion #83

[DadDadDad]

TA (The Archers) annoys me intensely but I still have to listen
I think there is a possibility that we obsess about TA in a way that most listeners don't

If this is you (genuine quotes from earlier threads), or you're new and want to ask anything about The Archers, then this is the right place.

PseudoBadger started it, but we're going to finish it (er, will TA ever finish?)

The panto is meant to be Sleeping Beauty, but are you expecting farce (Mother Goose Pip) or tragedy (Puss Cat in Wedding Dress Boots )?

This should see us through to Christmas.

At the end of the last thread we were remembering recent successful marriages in Ambridge. How long ago was Ed & Emma?

Thank you for the new thread D^3. I remember the whole Elizabeth/Cameron Fraser era well, Elizabeth is very close in age to me. Actually there are so many Archers characters I suppose most listeners can find a character of their age & sex. Ruth seems so much older than Elizabeth, being associated with the golden son of the family has aged her.

Thank you for the new thread!

Just listened to and very impressed by Tamsin Greig on Sunday on R4. I'm not generally convinced of the benefit of celebrities involving themselves in political matters - but her input seems unusually worthwhile.

(Though I wish we could hear more of her in TA.)

Bekabeech I know two young people born after their respective fathers had vasectomies. So that's not 100% fool-proof either (or wasn't, back in the day.)

Is Lil the first woman to get divorced before the wedding?

My theory is that when Kirsty got upduffed one of the scriptwriters made an idle comment that if Pip had an unplanned pregnancy by a former partner the ramifications would be bigger and more far-reaching, so they miscarried Kirsty’s baby in order to recycle the storyline for Pip. It’s very strange, far too soon after Kirsty, and Phoebe’s is-she-isn’t-she.

Nah ... Poor Kirsty miscarried because they needed to keep her in the story but couldn't be bothered with an actual child. This way they've created an unbreakable familial bond with Archers - there's absolutely no other reason for her continued presence in the village.

And yes, their portrayal of young women is shameful.

Listening to the film, I know it's been mentioned before but the idea of creating, preparing and using a new advertising campaign for the GG Christmas menu three weeks before Christmas is just beyond embarrassingly bad. What were the SWs thinking. (Have I misunderstood? Are they talking about next year?)

Tbf, on re-listening, it does seem to be more of a 'bookings for the standard fare are poor, we need a re-boot' but it does seem late in the day to be doing this. I would be worried about sourcing supplies at this short notice unless you had FairBro geese in the village.

Thanks for the new thread, DDD.

Anyone feeling less invested in TA? I always listen, because I'm addicted, but I'm finding I care very little about any of the current storylines. New Christmas menu at end of November is ludicrous, but so what? All the SLs are ludicrous. I couldn't care less whether Lilian marries Justin or who ran Matt over.

It was a bit like this at the end of Vanessa Whitburn's long stint as Editor. She'd obviously lost interest. Actually, though, on reflection, it was worse then, because we had to listen to HWMNBN whining on and on and on every single night.

Any news on a new Editor yet?

Didn’t Ian say something about a big group booking that they would try the menu out on? The shoot? The hunt? BL? Can’t remember who. Anyway my point is that every work Christmas do I have ever been on, regardless of venue, has insisted on knowing everyone’s choices at least two weeks in advance, preferably much sooner. I despair of the SWs sometimes.

Doesn’t Emma realise that’s being on the Parrish Council will exclude her from getting one of the new houses?

It would be seen as an abuse of her office if she obtained one of the new development houses.

You're not familiar with the TA legal department are you Olympia?

Just listening to the film and I am confused.. (a state of affairs that is not that unusual in these parts) . Anyway, Frilly chatting to each other about birthday 'compromise' . F wants to go abroad but 'mum has his passport locked away'. Lilly explains "it's understandable after the IOW (?) .. but she'll have to hand it over next year. Meanwhile let's sort out this year ....". So how old are they meant to be. ? They've learned to drive, so at least 17, last birthday, but not adult ? My head hurts. It's their 18th, presume 'rich kid' Freddie has his own TF left him by Nigel. (Although that's a wild guess) so why couldn't he take his passport as an adult and go where he wishes.?

It would be seen as an abuse of her office if she obtained one of the new development houses

The approval went through close enough to the election that she could not have used a position to influence it. She campaigned from outside the Parish Council which is entirely legit and had applied/registered interest since long ago. Part of her platform was generally housing for young families.

Considering the blatant self interest TA has shown on the PC in the past I think you would struggle to block Emma. I don't think they will be able to afford it though.

Great title DDD . Thanks for the new thread.

Just being in office may be a bar to Emma getting a house. Hope not though.

so why couldn't he take his passport as an adult and go where he wishes?

On a purely practical basis, his mum has locked away his current passport (possession is 9/10ths of the law). I presume that, as an adult, he can apply for his own passport but (a) he's not 18 yet (nearly, nearly but not yet) and (b) it will take a few weeks to come through.
As a side note, does anything happen in Magaluf at this time of the year? Who of Freddie's acquaintances will have the money or time (it's term-time) to jet off to Majorca.
The Trust Fund may not kick in until 25 or 30.

Ignore my last remark, I obvs. Needed to catch up. Soooooo Pip.....
Ian and Adam will be . Will it be handed over. Sorry to be so crass, but it is a soap.

The Trust Fund may not kick in until 25 or 30.

If I were a trustee I'd be trying to enforce a mental age of 25 rather than a calendar age or begging Lily to become Liam.

@EBearhug: "Plus in places like Albert Square, they've got to get on with things before one of the parents is murdered, which isn't really a risk factor in Borsetshire." - so true!

I am also losing interest Gaspode. I was wandering about doing chores around the house this morning when the film was on. Normally I'm glued to the radio

Minimammoth

Is Lil the first woman to get divorced before the wedding

😀

I do understand that any TF may not mature at 18 . I am just confused by the script.. what do they mean by 'you can have it next year when your an adult (passport) ... meanwhile let's concentrate on this years birthday. (Which must be their 18th. ) Making him an adult with a legal right to have his passport in his own control. Why are they suggesting he is not an adult 'until next year' Have the sw just got it wrong. ?

begging Lily to become Liam

Which twin was born first? There was that Earl during the week trying to get the law changed so that if one of his four daughters (he has no sons, cf Pride and Prejudice) one of them could come out as trans and inherit. God forbid TA should go down that line.

If Justin's houses were going to be council houses then I can see that Emma could not get one. But affordable housing is different surely?

Technically Emma would need to disclose the house thing as an interest in any discussion about the houses and leave the room. That's what we have to do on my town council