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 -->

One of my friends mothers was an identical twin. Each twin had 2 children (mixture boys and girls). When they were slightly older (late 30s) they each decided to have another 3rd child. They each had identical girl twins.

Was there no genetic factor?

I know a family with several identical twins.

Roy is outrageous in his proprietorial attitude!

I'm no fan of Roy but I think he was saying it's up to her to decide but that he didn't think their relationship would survive if she goes ahead - that's a legitimate opinion to have & one many might share.

Also, he's not unreasonable to be a bit miffed with Adam & Ian & to think they might be taking advantage of her good nature - they are neither strangers for whom it would be a purely business arrangement nor such longstanding close friends that she would feel strongly that she really wants to do this for them as a personal gesture. They are short lived aquaintances pushing their luck. She said something when she'd had too much to drink & Ian homed in like a heat seeking missile. Regardless of one's views on surrogacy, these two are not being nice about it - to Kate, Helen, Lexi - anyone with ovaries and afew eggs going spare.

Agree absolutely. Roy has no right to tell Lexie what to do but he has every right to say that he can't be in a relationship under those circumstances. Ian and Adam are wealthy men and Lexi is vulnerable in terms of her financial position. Horrible.

I don’t think Roy is out of order at all. Lexi hardly discussed it with him - in fact she denied she was considering it at first when he found she’d been researching it. They are supposed to be in a loving relationship. He has every right to say he doesn’t think they will survive if they go ahead. Not every man could cope with his partner being a surrogate. Plus he knows that with village life they’d see the baby all the time and have a constant reminder . Don’t forget he has to work with Ian. I like Roy but I think Ian is showing his true colours.

Another one who thinks Roy's position is perfectly reasonable.

But the whole idea of surrogacy full stop makes me shudder TBH.

I think Roy’s position is reasonable too. But his sillly sulky passive-aggressive tone with Adam and Ian is very annoying

I wonder why all the flags about Peggy being frail have suddenly started appearing

Ian and Adam are, at 50, too old to be parents of a baby - and I say this as someone who became a mum at 41. They're utterly selfish and are exploiting Lexi. They should go down the route of adopting an older child.

I'm with Roy on this one, even though he is sulky and drippy and generally unappealing.

Also with Toby: he's getting the flip side of everyone thinking Pip a saint

BOOP I wondered that as well. Perhaps the actress wants to retire

Roy's opinion is fine. How he's communicating it is not.

I hope June Spencer isn't going to retire - I want her (and Joe!) to make their centuries. Maybe it will just be some scare that will pull the family (eg Kate and Nolu) together.

I think there's still a chance Roy will come round. Lexi rather sprang it on him so his reaction is understandable, but I think something could happen which helps him to understand both perspectives.

I also thought the Toby/Rex scene was well done - I felt it put across the feeling of being outside the enormous Archer clan very well. I actually felt quite sorry for Toby.

But Fink JD has probably only heard Kate's side of the argument. But you're right she should be siding with the abandoned teenager regardless.

I don't think that Ian n' Adam have been unpleasant esp. not to Kate , and Helen They offered!!!

I Loved Toby's expression " The whole basket of Archers" who are going to bring up his baby (is he getting paternal feelings?).

I think Toby is feeling rejected, and I did find it poignant that Pip said Rex would be a great Uncle, when Toby has been told to basically get lost - admittedly Pip obviously doesn't know what her Dad said yet.

Perhaps Lexie will suggest to Pip, that she helps out Ian and Adam.

I don't blame Roy at all for his reaction to Lexi acting as surrogate.

Still think Kirsty will step into the breach and co-parent with Adam and Ian.

Didn't Toby say he wanted nothing to do with the baby? Why is he now acting as if he's being pushed out?

I agree with EBear that Roy’s way of communicating his opinion is the problem. He’s being whingy and PA, which would put me right off him if I was Lexie.

Yes too to signposts that Peggy may be about to SOTMC. What would happen to Christine in that event, I wonder? No home of her own and swindled out of the profits from her house sale 😬

I wonder how long Ian and Adam would let Lexie stay in the Home Farm cottage once she'd handed over the baby.

Didn't Peggy rewrite her will to look after Christine.

June is actually older than Peggy and said in her autobiography (great read) that she wasn’t sure she’d still be an active character by the time a Peggy got to 100.

wahey! Bridge Farm in pollution scandal!

It's the land that Justin Lillalot sold 'em.

Was that the Trout quintet on Jennifer’s radio . . . ?

I thought it was Home Farm land that's involved.