The Archers #96: Is that a rat I smell or the whiff of Snell? In Chaucer’s famous Tale of Two Torsos, Brian’s ‘still got it’ and Poldark is searching for scything opportunities in Susan’s kitchen.

[NotdeadyetBOING]

Welcome..... I'd concocted a longer title with all sorts of references to bitch stitching and pasta bakes, but was thwarted by the pesky character limit

b) cement their status as misogynists

I read option b and initially thought you were referring back to the young and ambitious Elizabeth and the older, nice-but-dim Nigel

My nieces/nephews who are late teens/early 20s would be mortified!

I was wondering how many of the young Archers had been taught by Russ. They all seem to go to the same sixth form college.

I thought that Les Soeurs Heureuses was a little reference to a Frasier plotline where the brothers Crane decide to take on a restaurant and call it Les Freres Heureux.

an older Tim nice but dim who has already shown his true colours when he gave up on a happy, loving relationship

Oh come on, that's a bit unfair. It was Anisha he gave up. She was as horrible, selfish and self- centred as Hannah and Narasha.

Re Lily and Russ - they really are cringe-making.

She was as horrible,selfish and self centred....

I agree Marguerita Not everyone is after the top dollar in racing/gambling fraternity towns.

Rex is a devoted uncle. I think that's one of the reasons he stayed in Ambridge.

I like Lily. I don't like the green pop-tart muncher. She eats instand porridge for a start.

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Tony Archer's wonderful performance as Falstaff in the RSC's brilliant production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. I didn't realise it was him at first despite seeing his Titus Andronicus (not a euphemism)

Or Joe?

Interesting, Joe! He's a very good actor. I remember him from A Very Peculiar Practice, which must be 30 or more years ago. Loved that series.

It’s not that uncommon for people with eating disorders to preoccupy themselves with cooking for others ime

That's certainly what Helen has done in the past. I don't see Natasha as having an ED, though. I just think she's somebody who's adept at jumping on bandwagons. She makes and sells this juice because it's currently in demand. She's not really interested in food, as signalled by the poptarts and instant porridge and her failure to enjoy Pat's wholesome home cooking. If the demand for her product falls off, she'll move onto something else. This is diametrically opposed to the Bridge Farm stance on organic farm, which is ideological.

I wonder if eventually the scales will fall from Tom's eyes. If not, I foresee big problems ahead as Natasha will clash with Tony, Pat, Helen and Johnny over the future direction of Bridge Farm.

Jill does still think Liky is gay because she and Elizabeth had a conversation about it back when Lizzie was atill under that misaprehension. Jill was all gobsmacked at how supportive Lizzie was and this shamed her into going to Shula and almost but not quite saying sorry for being such a judgmental cow about her divorce.

Ugh check out my typos, sorry pedants of this thread, i have sausage fingers

I totally missed that!

That's it! I knew there was something lurking in my brain. Thanks Madame.

Have a Lovely Christmas Archers fans I'm off line now for a couple of weeks.

Happy Christmas ppeat, enjoy your aged mincemeat

Thanks @MadameButterface. I kept on typing out something similar and deleting it because I couldn't remember the exact details. Didn't they have a walk up Lakey Hill and Elizabeth was talking about supporting your children no matter what, which is what led to Jill's change of heart with Shula? I think it was something like that. It was definitely during an outdoor walk.

In other Jill-related news, I find it so hard to believe that she would be the sort of person to go for the 'baby's first Christmas has to be special' stuff when baby is far too young to take any notice. She didn't come across at all like that with her own children or grandchildren, as far as I can remember, and now all of a sudden with the great grandchild, Rosie's First Christmas has become the event of the year.

I think Jill is making sure the FairGrandfather doesn't get a look-in.
Has she invited Toby?

Has she invited Lewis? He won't be left on his tod at LL, will he?

I keep wondering whether there is a PLAN for poor Lewis. He is so ostentatiously absent at every turn.

I think Jill is perhaps aware this might be her first and last Xmas with pipette

Is Elizabeth Ruairi's godmother?

Hurrah - Lily is finally starting to assert herself. Russ is unspeakable. With any luck she'll tell him to shove his falcon sketches before the turkey is carved.