Will I understand if I start listening now ?

[Farmerswife36]

Never ever listened to the archers but it was on at work other day and it sounds like it's right up my street . It was the omnibus where pup tells her parents she is pregnant and a foreign lady agrees to be a surrogate for a gay couple . Will I be able to get into it or am I wasting my time ??

Pip

Will I be able to get into it or am I wasting my time ??

You pick it up as you go along but you have to accept that there are bits of history that you missed. It's a standard joke that most people are newbie blow-ins, even if they have been listening for decades.
It's a lot easier to get into these days as there is lots of stuff on the interweb, not least the BBC site. And we like showing off our knowlwdge are luffly so you can ask us any questions.

Welcome to the village. Would you like to come round for a coffee? I think that I still have some of Jill's lemon drizzle in the cake tin.

Thanks . Sounds like it's s no then judging by lack of comments

Thanks r4

Give it a go ! But many of us old timers are finding it a bit tedious now.

I started recently and have figured it out.

Why is that tedious ?? As I'm a farmers wife I was particularly drawn to the farm setting and references.

Axioms how long did it take you to figure out the storylines and plots ? Did you do any research or did you just pick it up as you listened ?

When I started listening regularly a few years ago, DH bought me a book of Who's Who in The Archers. The BBC website has a similar page which might help. I still have to look up some characters who are mentioned from years ago. I never miss an episode now.

Adios not bloody Axioms haha darn auto correct

I listen every day or on catch up. Go for it!

I started about 10 years ago, prob took six months before I really felt I knew everybody. Absolutely love it - the only soap I can't bear to miss. Enjoy OP!

I love it! Read the bbc page to work out who's who. Ambridge is my happy place

It didn’t take too long to figure out the current storylines but what’s trickier is the background of how everyone’s related (seems like they all are ) and their back story.

So that bit’s coming slower but doesn’t stop me enjoying it if that makes sense. And I’ve asked questions here (thanks everyone!) and the BBC page helps, but that’s more curiosity.

It’s soothing to listen to, somehow, I think it’s because it reminds me of my mum who has listened since I was a baby!

I’m fairly addicted to it. There’s a thread running on MN somewhere usually about it. Pip is an Archer. Her dad is David and they live at Brookfield farm. She’s about to design their new robotic milking parlour possibly in herringbone style. she was going out with inane wastrel called Toby. They split up but had a fwb arrangement and she got pregnant. Her mum is Ruth. Hope this helps!

Brian Aldridge is another big local farmer. His place is called Home Farm. In big trouble with EA at moment for having polluted the river Am with some godawful chemical. Tricky as he has rather overextended himself buying extra land recently and is now facing monster fine and clean up bill. Ticklish also as he has just been made borsetshire businessman of the year and has been swanking around even more so than usual.

I've listened intermittently. I'm also on a specific Archers forum. It's interesting having the countryside as a background. There are a few farmers on the forum who can tell the rest of us how (un)realistic the agricultural stories are, so don't be surprised if it doesn't tally with real life. However it's drama so in many ways it doesn't need to.

Come onto the Archers thread! Always happy to answer questions there. I’ve been listening since 1985 (just worked that out!). Plus we love some farming insight

The Archers: Discussion #84. New Year and some of us are still listening even if we don't know why.www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3130867-The-Archers-Discussion-84-New-Year-and-some-of-us-are-still-listening-even-if-we-dont-know-why

Here we all are

Yes I have learnt from here that it would never be called ‘the herd’

The Archers thread on here is the best thing on Mumsnet. I only lurk now because I only listen to the film (Sunday omnibus) but the folk who post regularly - DadDadDad, Gruach, R4, Bore, among many others - will keep you right and have you laughing.

John Finnemore provides a useful primer here for newer listeners...

Catzpyjamas how long did it take for you to get into it and understand the character dynamics ?

My grandma and my mum actually tuned in. I found it really familiar and so have listened for the last twenty odd years. Got my mum back in with the Helen/Rob story. It's funny that Pip is old enough to have a baby. I remember when she was born

I stopped listening about 6 months ago after being a loyal fan for 30 years.
Shall I start again?
Is it worth trying to catch up?