The Archers No. 94: Freddie’s doing porridge, Tom gets his oats, but will Home Farm be toast? We’ll have to wheat and see ... Serial production is in full swing in Ambridge

[witchmountain]

Thanks to LilG for the title, and DDD for starting the last thread and the tradition of the thread starter nominating the next thread starter

Lurkers are always welcome to unlurk and join in, including asking questions of the many very knowledgeable posters with a long Archers-listening history.

Don't post spoilers based on forthcoming plot synopses that you've read, there's another thread for that (and we'd love to see you over there). Once an episode has aired then it's fair game.

Potentially unpopular opinion but shouldn't Geraldine have run through what the actors were going to do before they did?

And to be clear I meant the person who resigned gets the competent solicitor. Horrible Hannah can get Useless Usha (it's not going to happen is it ?)

Hannah is bang out of order with docking wages.

When you're on the clock, if you clock on at 0803 for an 0800 start you're fine, but an 0804 clock on time sees you docked 15 minutes. I'm on Hannah's side here.

shouldn't Geraldine have run through what the actors were going to do before they did?

I daresay she would have done, normally, but the students were hired at the very last minute because Elizabeth forgot to pay the orignal actors - so they withdrew.

But LL always seems to be run on a weird, soapy timetable - the ice rink is another example.

I think SW & TV researchers work on different timetables, I had someone who was working on a documentary give me less than 3 hours notice they wanted some archive materials. Not physically possible when you’re not just round the corner.

*I'm on Hannah's side here
*
she's just the sort of ruthless stickler manager Justin will love, rather than our lovely empathic Neil.

Also the pigman commuted and ended up quitting over being stuck in traffic.

Hannah is a bully. And it depends on how the employee is paid as to whether it can be done.

She has no saving graces - she's nasty and dull.

Geraldine might have had time to check on the actors had she not been doing all Elizabeth's work as well as her own.

YY to different timetables for radio and TV. I was once asked at short notice to record a quick interview for a TV programme featuring what I do at work, but they wanted me to travel to their local studios to do it - which would have been a four hour round trip for a slot that would have been five minutes at most. When I asked if they'd be sending a driver, they said oh dear, that would be a bit expensive. Precisely, I said, which was why I didn't fancy paying for it.

Didn't Hannah change the rotas making it impossible for Duncan (?) to get there in time? Neil would have considered things like this.

But LL always seems to be run on a weird, soapy timetable - the ice rink is another example.
Yes, they were talking about booking it the other day. Our local garden centre has its ice rink installed and open for business already.

It's about time that someone told Elizabeth that the best thing she can do for beloved Freddie is to get her act together. Else he won't have a home to return to.

Going back to murderous David, was at Brexit - the play (Kings Head Pub Theatre), in which Timothy Bentinck plays the PM. He mentioned that one of the other characters had, allegedly, been the "Minister for Badger-culling". Coincidence?

By the way, if you are near Islington, it is worth a trip. "Brexit" and "funny" isn't something I ever thought I would say

I'd like to hear the conversation when Elizabeth phones the editor of the Echo to complain about poor little Freddie being the victim of character assassination.

"But, Mrs Pargeter, all we said was that he was a convicted drug dealer. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't he convicted of drug dealing? How exactly is his character being assassinated?"

I've heard it said that bellringing is good for bad backs - something to do with the spine being stretched when they reach up to pull the ropes. Maybe Susan should make Neil go and ring after all.

Indeed Lass Hannah is a bully. She's so vile. I'm hoping she gets in trouble for this.

The Kings Head is bijou but lovely. I've seen some pocket sized Gilbert & Sullivans there.

I'm secretly rather enjoying hating on Elizabeth. Shhh. It can't just me? They are making it really enjoyable aren't they?

Didn't Susan report that Lexi had been poor-Lizzieing? Is she going to be the new Geraldine?

Is she going to be the new Geraldine?
It would be less stressful working at the chicken factory.

I was imagining if my sibling had treated me the way Lizzie treated Shula on the phone. Pretty much hanging up on Shula after S had made it clear she wanted E to listen was downright rude, even if they are sisters. Surely there comes a point when you just snap?!!!

I quite hope that Shula does snap soon and tells Elizabeth to recognise the reality that Freddie is not a poor misunderstood little orphan but an idiot who supplied drugs and carried on doing so knowing that it had put his own cousin in severe danger - but that he now seems to have a more mature and realistic reaction to his sentence than Elizabeth does. I could become quite reconciled to Shula if she does that.

Random fact: many years ago, my brother was in a play at the King's Head. We saw it at least three times, there were hopes it might transfer into the West End but it coincided with a fuel strike and just didn't get enough bums on seats to make it viable. At least I can now bask in the reflected glory that he trod the same boards as David Archer.

Is that it for Geraldine? Silent character for years, finally given a voice and then ... a few weeks later she's gone!

I reckon she’s got a case for constructive dismissal. We need a lawyer- Lass..... LASS!!!

Good for Geraldine.

(D'you reckon she knows Duncan the pigman?)

New job for Lexi coming up!

Loved that ep., Elizabeth instructing Geraldine to come back as she went and then constantly interrupting her when she tried to account for her leaving. Such arrogance. Presumably her comeuppance will be epic.

Go Geraldine !! I’m getting seriously sick of Elizabeth and her nonsense.

At last someone has finally said no to Loathsome Lizzie.