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 -->

Excellent detective work on the due date there! I don't think the Dopeys do know it's already all round the village. David certainly doesn't, anyway. Ruth may have her suspicions after that snatch of conversation with Jennifer the other day. I can't see David taking terribly well to the idea that Elizabeth and Jolene both knew long before he and Ruth did. As for the news that the Grundys and the Carters were aware too ...

David and Ruth's reaction was frankly unbelievable. Pip is 25 not a vulnerable teenager (even though she lives/works pn the farm)
David sounded like something out of a victorian melodrama

The piplet is going to be cared for by Great-Granny Jill as Pip, Dayveed and Ruuuth are far too busy busy busy on the farm.

Josh will have to shift back to the camp bed in the dining room so that the infant prodigy gets its own room.

Jill will be ready to start feeding it on casserole and Lemon drizzle cake by next Christmas.

Who will start talking first - Ben or the Piplet, or will the BBC recycle all of Henry’s “allwights”?

I'm a lurker and enjoy the Archers thread. I hope you don't mind me coming on to clarify something - someone mentioned up-thread about Freddie cutting off some careers for himself if he gets a caution/criminal record, for example not being able to work in law. The person who was convicted of a sex assault on me some years ago (and who went to prison for it) works as a solicitor, so I think it is not necessarily the case that even a profession like law would be closed off. Not many people seem to realise this can be the case.

I was wondering how Brookfield will afford Pip's maternity leave and who they will get to cover her. She might not take a lot of time off but she'll surely need, and be entitled to some. But yes, the Ambridge childcare/farmer fairy is needed.

Toe-c will be looked after by Jill.

Will she be able to face looking after a child that is genetically half Fairbrother?

Names anyone? Robin/Robyn? Rob for short? Just to finish poor old Jill off?

Grace even?

DH, who is not a TA fan spent at least an hour yesterday morning proclaiming "Not Toby Fairbrother" in a poor imitation of David, after the climax of the film.

I may lock him away before Jill returns from her hols,

Where is Jill? Bet she finds out from someone in the shop.

I remember the scene with Toby and the bike, I thought at the time it was a bit clunky, and served no purpose . I wonder if they were thoughtfully sign posting us saddos to remember the date of conception

Minister, very sorry to hear about your experience - I was the poster who talked about cautions. I'm not a solicitor or police officer, just a parent who wants my children to understand what they are getting into, potentially, so I do my research and I talk to those who know. The advice from the criminal barristers and police officers that I know socially is DO NOT accept a caution without proper legal advice (probably not from the knackered duty solicitor at the station); you are likely to come under pressure to accept one because it helps clear-up rates, but even spent cautions (they are technically spent as soon as issued) stay on your record and can seriously stuff you up. THis is from an article written by a criminal justice solicitor:

Nearly 400,000 cautions were issued by police across England and Wales over the last two years (here). These cautions were added to the Police National Computer that is searched by the Disclosure and Barring Service, the body that conducts criminal record checks and issues criminal record certificates to assess a person’s suitability for employment in certain roles.

A new filtering system has been introduced to reduce the circumstances when cautions must be disclosed partly as a consequence of a case known as ‘T’. However there are a range of exempted fields where cautions will still be disclosed to prospective employers. Cautions will not be filtered if they relate to listed offences or have been issued to someone with a previous conviction. Cautions issued to adults within the past six years will also be disclosed and a shorter period of two years applies to police warnings issued to children under the age of 18. Though legislation allows individuals to not disclose ‘spent’ convictions to prospective employers (cautions are “spent” as soon as they are given), this does not apply in respect of certain regulated occupations, positions of trust and when someone works with children or vulnerable adults.

Obviously I don't know the circumstances of which you speak.

Anyway, never meant to derail a jolly thread. When is Jill due back? If tonight, I might find that a perfect time to be making risotto...

FWIW, a contemporary of mine who was at the Bar School at the relevant time was convicted of a minor offence involving dishonesty. He was duly disciplined by the Bar Council but avoided being struck off by virtue of the fact that he hadn't been admitted at the time, so he was allowed to carry on and be admitted. He's now a judge .

I don't think Freddy is any danger of seeking admission to the Bar or becoming a judge, bless him! Does he put you in mind of the Harry Enfield character Tim 'nice but dim'?

I was wondering how Brookfield will afford Pip's maternity leave

I'm not sure if she is an employee of the farm, or a self employed partner in the business or a self employed contractor. As an employee, she is entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay, which is paid through payroll and reclaimed from HMRC. If she is self employed I think she can claim Maternity allowance herself.

It shouldn't cost Brookfield extra, unless they pay her cover more than they pay her, which I suppose is possible. You could say it will cost them in recruitment I suppose.

De-lurking!
Have to say the pip story line is bugging me so much. As others have mentioned, she is being treated like she is 15. I know it sounds cold but I was disappointed that the writers didn’t allow a female character to choose to terminate a pregnancy. The show seems full of women who seem to lack control over their own destiny. It also would have been a modern story line. I also think pip is far too babied. Her character even sounds like a baby in tone of voice.
Anyone else?

TASWAMA!

Agree, unicorn. Also, Ruth's wheedling, cloying, "Do you want me to tell her?" Argh! she's so fucking needy as a parent!

I liked Ruth's "are you sure you want the baby? Are you 100% sure?" echoing/reversing the words of the abortion nurse a few weeks ago. And Pip doesn't sound sure about it at all.

But Ruth is annoying me going on about how Ben suspects something because "he's not stupid you know" - he's 14(ish), not 4!

Agreed unicorn . Roy talking to Ian on behalf of Lexi was also pretty patronising.
BOOP however for the continuity announcer tonight!

Ah I’m always at least one episode behind and catch up while making DS lunch - he’s become an avid listener too...

Thanks Dairy

I'm not sure if she is an employee of the farm, or a self employed partner in the business or a self employed contractor. . Is the sort of thing I'd like to know about. If we are still on the everyday story of country folk I'd like to know how everyday country folk run everyday things.

Pissed off to see Ben's guesses about what's going on styled as "shooting his mouth off". He never speaks, he's in the dark (and the cereal cupboard). Not even "real" and he's cast in a poor light. Unlike the brave Pip who didn't tell her mum she was very much not on her own in the run-up to the planned abortion.

While it's all plot so that the dramatic reveal of Elizabeth can happen later, it also reinforces Pip as a thoroughgoing liar by omission.