The Archers: Discussion #84. New Year and some of us are still listening even if we don't know why.

[DadDadDad]

New posters welcome - with your fresh views and burning questions.

Old posters welcome - with your jaded views and knowledgeable answers.

But new posters feel free to be jaded, and old posters feel free to ask questions!

How is the Pip storyline going to play out and do you care?

As usual, if you want to mention the advertised storylines for future episodes, there's a separate thread for that - no spoilers here, please.

Just imagine we're all sitting round a table at The Bull -->

Ebearhug, sorry , you are right. it was Peggy. But Jill can nurture a grudge with the best of them, and has had it in for Fairbrothers for many years.

I'm very uncomfortable with surrogacy TBH. Will be interested to see where this storyline goes.

Why does everyone refer to Toby as Toby Fairbrother, as if no one knows who he is?!

Anti It's not elder abuse; Jill CHOSE to go back to live at Brookfield and look after the family. She could easily go and live where Carol is living, it is hers anyway. (I can't remember if she sold it or lets it to Carol).

I wasn't saying it is elder abuse

I was saying they could very easily fall into that story though if the sw chose to

You said they're half way there Which isn't the case because as I said she WANTS to be a help. I liked the scene with her and Pip when she accepts the pregnancy ( I teared up a bit) jill is in the bosom of her family it's lovely.

I think it's abuse to be an OAP on their own and ill and neglected by their family.

As in they are halfway there to being able to do the sl.

Hello, I’ve been listening for a few months now and still trying to figure out who everyone is!

So a question if someone doesn’t mind - why does Jill hate the Fairbrothers?

Adios, [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thearchers/entries/237b2178-92f9-444e-a4bb-4130a8b57e30 this] might help.

In a nutshell:
a) Jill's husband was previously married to Grace Fairbrother (Rex and Toby's aunt), who died young. Jill felt that she lived in Grace's shadow.

b) Robin Fairbrother (Rex and Toby's father) had an affair with Elizabeth (Jill's daughter) while he was still married. He left Elizabeth to go back to his wife.

Sorry, link fail despite me checking with 'preview post'.

Try this.

What is Jill's problem with the Fairbrothers?

1. Jill was Phil Archers second wife, his first was Grace Fairbrother who was tragically killed in a fire when trying to rescue horses. Not only is she a heroine, there is a huge stain glass window to commemorate her in St Stephen's Church.
2. Robin Fairbrother has an affair with Elizabeth, but then dumped her and went back to his wife.

Do Toby and Rex know about their father's affair? It seems to be common knowledge in Ambridge.

Ah thank you both!

Jill felt that she lived in Grace’s shadow To be honest I think this a rather recent invention by the SWs. In all my years of listening I can’t remember this ever being referred to - even during Elizabeth’s affair. I can accept Jill being furious about what Robin did to Elizabeth and the fact that it appears history is repeating itself since Pip seems to have left her with the impression that Toby has abandoned her rather than the other way round. I suspect that what might happen is that Toby will turn out to be a great father and thus rather tediously win Jill round. Re Roy and Lexi, I can easily believe that any partner (however long or short standing) might take a while to come round to the idea of a surrogacy - particularly if that had been the farthest thing from their mind. Again, I suspect he will come round and be great about it - he has lots of experience of looking after and being sympathetic towards pregnant women.

Well Lilian you'd need an unnaturally extraordinary memory to remember everything that has ever been referred to in TA. I accept you may be an amazing fan of TA but are you so good ?!!

It was interesting to note that Pip was talking very much in terms of this being MY baby rather than hers and Toby's. I wonder if they're setting up a storyline where he wants to be a hands-on father and she won't accept it.

I believe at the time of the Grace overshadowing there was a lot of talk of it being a soc invention - not that she hadn't resented grace but that it had had this huge impact on her life blah blah. I seem to recall her irrational hatred of the FBs was suspected to be a symptom of soon to be diagnosed dementia. But turned out to be soc and is crappy plotting.

Hating robin was as expected

I'm sure Rex and Lizzie had a conversation that implied he knew and I'm sure Jill threw it in Tobys face once?

As much as I hate the Brookfield archers story arc and wish the sink hole would eat them up - things are so much better than the soc days!

But if the Grace thing wasn't originally a big issue (before my time so I don't know first hand), then why was Jill so hostile to Robin and Elizabeth's relationship before she knew he was married?

Didn't he get Lizzie pregnant and she had an abortion? That really pissed off Jill.

Jill always felt that she was living in Grace's shadow. Elizardbreath had a termination after she was dumped by Cameron Fraser, not Robin Fairbrother.

Pip's awfully clever isn't she. Having a baby all on her own.

I don't really recall much talk of grace when Phil was alive. He always seemed very devoted and I don't feel like he treated her as 'second best'.

But that was quite a long time ago!!

I guess we will encounter Robin again at the christening....

Thanks Mike

I remember that there was a discussion between her and Carol? (i hope E. Bron is alright she hasn't surfaced in TA for a while). Jill has a bit of an inferiority complex ( due to her upbringing), she imagined that Phil idolised Grace, it wasn't the case.

That was in the soc days though - was anythibg really mentioned before that?

Where is carol supposed to be? Have they said?

Carol Toboggan is in Cornwall (visiting Richard?), and Jill went to stay with her, and when she came back she got the news about WonderPip and the FirstGreatGrandchild-to-be or should that be Toe-b.

I assumed that's where Jill had been but hadn't really listened properly as I've not had much chance to focus lately.

I think Jill's feelings on the Fairbrothers did come out both at the time of the Commemorative window and Elizabeth's affair. But in the time of SOC it was rather laid on with a trowel and Phil isn't there to reassure her anymore (so it might have built up in her mind).

The writers lurch from top notch comic writing: Brian's interactions with Jenny regarding (not) consulting with her before proclaiming his decision to replace the agronomist and nonsensical writing, with Brian' suddenly becoming this vain, self-regarding subject of a magazine article.

And don't get me started on Jill's response to holy Pip's news. Barely a bleat of shock, and she's all supportive (and apparently ready to be nanny).