We never thought we’d feel sorry for Will. Although of course it should have been Pip! Discuss The Archers here (Titled edited by MNHQ)

[PseudoBadger]

Welcome all! I was really touched by the potential for Ed and Will to reconcile. But wonder if Will can accept Ed’s support.

As ever, no spoilers here (there’s a thread for that) - discussion permitted as soon as the pm episode is broadcast.

New editor is Jeremy Howe, currently BBC Radio 4’s Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction. No start date announced, just 'later this year'.

Selfish, self -centered, alcoholic Alice.

Thanks for the past episode info Bekabeech!

Shredded cabbage put in at the end of cooking a vegetable stew is delicious.

Just a little PSA there!

Where do we get the idea that Pat is a terrible cook? I don't recall a series of culinary disasters, quite the contrary.

The gooseberry jam is pretty much the only time I can remember her food not being well received.

I think not terrible but a bit worthy?

I would imagine Pat is a good gook. She’s a very capable person- I honestly don’t get why people dislike her so much.

She’s a very capable person- I honestly don’t get why people dislike her so much

I agree. I don't see why being environmentally aware makes you a bad or dull cook either.

I think people often dislike "do gooders" out of guilt.

She calls herself a feminist too.........

Pat has me cheering when she stands up to other people's nonsense, but she has a massive blind spot when it comes to Helen. She's utterly incapable of challenging her daughter (this may be a maternal trait more widely shared among wimmin of TA, actually...) and it's that side of her we've heard more lately. And, alas for Helen (although she's so pigheaded I don't suppose it would have made much difference really), had Pat been more robustly feminist in her response to her daughter's surrendered wife schtick, some alarm bells might have gone off at a point where they could have been helpful.

Pat's lost one child in an accident and nearly lost another one- and that child has had several episodes of very fragile mental health. I think her tiptoeing round Helen is completley understandable in that context.

I agree Bertrand completely understand why Pat is like she is with Helen. Actually I think lots of people in RL have blind spots for their own kids with far less reason than Pat. Re. behaviour when Knob was on the scene, I think we can all agree that Patbot was a creation of SOC and generally felt to be necessary to making the Knob plot work (Kirsty had to be exiled for the same reason).

She calls herself a feminist too.........

Yes, and regularly derided for it by other characters, although its more subtle in recent years.

Agree entirely with Bert & Lilian regarding Pat's experience affected how she feels protective to Helen.

I'm always surprised when people focus on the terrible things which happen to the Grundys whilst skipping over the life experience of Pat'n'Tony.

If you cancel bad things which happened to the Grundys due to Eddie and Joe's fecklessness and dodgy deals I'd say that Bridge farm had endured more over the years.

I cheered when Alistair shouted at Shula yesterday - "how dare you unilaterally decide our marriage is over". Sums up the whole frustrating situation .

He might have been protrayed as dull and worthy. But he also appears decent, honest (the gambling thing notwithstanding) and trying to be a very supportive husband. I bet there are thousands of Alistairs up and down the country.

Hello, i am just a lurker but i have a vegan coming to visit at the weekend and would be very grateful for a good vegetable stew recipe and could you add dumplings ?

I am sure that Alistair is an ok bloke but that doesn't mean shula has a duty to stay with him.

Maybe not to stay with him, but she must know she’s tormenting the poor guy - his worst crime seems to be that he’s a bit dense on emotional matters. If she really loved him as a wife and a claimed Christian, surely she’d be letting him down a bit gentler and kinder.

I actually think she is being as kind as she can be, pretending he might have a chance would be more cruel.

I think it's a bit like when I lot of women in mn find out that their dh has been cheating. It's a complete shock to them whereas the partner has had a longer time to reconcile to the idea and check out emotionally. It's a horrible thing for Alistair that's for certain. Shula is being so cold

By the way, did anyone hear the (RL) traffic reports of an accident at Lower Loxley?

Yes! Couldn't believe my ears. Was it a wind-up?

The presenters had a chat about it asking just that. But she came back and said it again so I guess she checked

I've just looked it up on google maps and it's near uttoxeter!

Ha ha yes, I heard the LL reference too.

What was all that clumsiness about Bert and Pips bump? It was an incredibly toe curling reference to #metoo. And the wrong characters IMO to pick. Bert would have touched the bump, he’d have written a poem.

In the past few weeks we’ve had nods to sepsis week, sport relief and now this. Are the SW going to have a couple doing their Wills for Dying Matters week too?