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 -->

Simon Williams is lovely, but when I hear him in TA he sounds increasingly like the Major in Fawlty Towers. I just picture someone old and irascible, insufferably pompous or - and this is the worst - fawningly attentive. I particularly dislike his name and the way Lillian says it.

He makes me want to clear my throat!

DoctorTwo - I was thinking exactly the same thing this morning as I caught up on Sunday's episode. They could string this out forever with question marks, hints, showdowns etc etc....

So - is Pip going to get a happy 12 week scan or will something possibly not be alright with the baby? I'd like the former just because it would be nice for TA to do a straightforward pregnancy story but I fear the latter!

It's gonna be twins.

Anybody else think Roy will impregnate Lexi before Ian and Adam get the chance?

And then a question about them adopting the child?

it's gonna be twins.

The abortion clinic would have told her if it was?

The Piptwins will be fine though cos Jill will be their (unpaid) nanny.

Pip will probably want her to wear a uniform

If it's twins then it will be the final proof that the sw hate me

I'm rather hoping that she has a miscarriage or dies in childbirth. I dislike Pip that much.

Me too

I hate that Kirsty wasn't allowed to have her baby but pip will sale through it all. Of course, it's partly because the pip actress isn't capable of pulling off a sensitive sl

Nauseating ep. I was with Rex there, do get on with it Toby.

Not convinced that Jim would stoop so low, as to effectively blackmail even though it's a faintly comic sub-plot.

Hate the way many major characters have changed their minds suddenly over big life decisions..Adam ( I definitely don’t want a baby , oh wait, I do) Toby ( I definitely don’t want to have anything to do with this baby, oh wait I do) Roy ( I definitely don’t want you to be a surrogate, oh wait go on then)

The way Rex was tonight, I think "It should have been me" would have been an appropriate choice for a The Bull's jukebox tonight. It wasn't just Toby being a pain in the arse - he clearly still has a thing for Pip (God knows why).

I'm rather liking New Toebee - I find his story arc believable, and he was showing signs of responsibility regarding the gin business before the pregnancy. I think he's basically growing up.
Dave on the other hand is being ridiculous. His grandchild has a right to a relationship with its father, not just it's saintly mother, so now is not the time to be pulling the rug out from T's feet.

Mrsgrindah does no one in your family change their minds ? Circumstances change etc. people think things through, thank goodness, and grow up a bit. like RubyLennox says.

If one is facing a life changing experience like a baby it's intelligent and sometimes necessary to change ones mind

I quite object to Jim taking the moral high ground whilst blackmailing the Grundys.

I like Toby. Much preferable to Pip and bloody David anyway.

Everyone looks good acting vs pip

I agree about the mind changing - they have been very sudden. I think it is poor writing though as also agree with ppeat that it isn't unusual

Apologies if it has been mentioned before (but I've just listened to lunchtime edition and I must be in a grumpy mood).

Why oh why does Adam (a bloke in his 50's) suddenly decide he'd make a great dad? I can't imagine Ian is that much younger, either, otherwise they would surely have been a few remarks in the early years? Presumably they would need to share the night-time shifts/feeds if Ian carries on working at Grey Gables (or maybe Lexi will pop an apron on and get it a few AA rosettes after she gives birth). Lexi seems to come to the rescue with pretty much everything else that goes on in Ambridge (except the panto - note for next year).

I write this as an older Mum, a tiny bit older than Adam, and I suspect DH would faint if I suggested a new baby in the house.

Pecan I like Toby too.It's sweet he wants to be a proper Dad (he took Kenton's advice).

I don't think Toby's being unreasonable either. Fair enough it took him a while to come terms with the idea - so did Pip come to that. It's not as if they had a totally random one night stand and had never set eyes on each other before - they used to live together and he still lives nearby. If he stays in Ambridge he will see the baby all the time - Pip is already talking about what a marvellous uncle Rex will make. She is unreasonable to think everything should be on her terms - Toby has many faults, but he is not Knob Titchener, there is no real reason why he should not be involved.

I suspect Adam envisages Ian doing all the boring/nasty/tiring/hard bits of parenting.

They will protest for nine months that they will be "full time fathers". Then, two weeks after the baby is born, a new young woman with nannying qualifications but no job will serendipitously move into Ambridge ...