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

Early vote for reference to falcon sketch being included in next thread title.....

Not heard tonight’s yet. I did think Lily’s assertion that she wasn’t running away from her relationship with Russ wasn’t totally believable.

Well we have had confirmation from the young people just how much of a joke Lily and her "life- partner" are.

Russ needs to remember that TS Eliot, Larkin and Proust all had day jobs: banking/publishing, librarian and insurance respectively.

How precious is he? His rep at Brookfield will be comprehensively and derisively trashed by the young 'uns. Possibly irrecoverably. I hope.

I hope the mockery of the younger family members doesn't have the opposite effect and make Lily more intransigent, clinging on to Russ from pure stubbornness even when the scales have well and truly fallen from her eyes. He needs to be gone.

Maybe he could shack up with Kate. They're similarly oblivious to the need to earn a real income and caught up on foodie fads.

This being Rosie's first Christmas made me wonder if Robin Fairbrother is going to turn up again.

On Christmas Eve, like a louche Santa Claus, tinkling bottles instead of jingling bells

I’m just delighted that someone finally articulated that the fact that it’s Kate’s fault that Home Farm has to be sold and that she’s a feckless waste of space that fucks off when things get tough.

I liked that Lily effectively told Russ that he's not pulling his weight & that one of them has to earn some money - she's already anoyed with him, regardless of the fact that if he goes to the family Christmas dinner it will be a disaster - the older ones like Kenton & Shula already are uncomfortable with the age gap & see him as a predator & the younger ones clearly see it as a sad joke. If she already has her doubts, hopefully seeing him the way the family see him will help her to dump him rather than drive her towards him.

But echt, they were mere writers. Russ is an artist.

I had the same thought, Fink, that in the face of her extended family's horror/derision she'd stick with Russ to save face. Hopefully he pisses her off too much for that first...

I did enjoy picturing Shula's face when she walked in. I loved the way she said "That's nice" to Russ' announcement that they were 'life partners'.

As I decorated my tree earlier I found myself hoping that Brian had at least sorted one of those out for Jenny and then I remembered they aren't real . Ruairi's a chip off the old block, isn't he?

Just caught up with the film.

I loved the boys sniggering at Russ and Lily - the little insight into the “chaos” at college left in his wake and the fact that they obviously disliked him anyway, before they twigged about him coming with Lily.

The new, realistic Lily is growing on me! I hope she shows Russ one of the many LL doors soon.

All that whinging from Russ about the time Lily was spending away from him clearly had more to do with the fact that he was having to pay for his own food rather than rely on Lily picking up the tab.

I loved the boys sniggering at Russ and Lily - the little insight into the “chaos” at college left in his wake and the fact that they obviously disliked him anyway, before they twigged about him coming with Lily

That was very cleverly written.

Oh I love Russ and his winter smorgasbord

It doesn’t ring true that this guy got to a senior role in the school.

I bet the boys continually refer to him as ‘Sir’.

After a slump, post Knib departure, I am really enjoying TA at the moment. We are getting some realistic conversations and great character development. Love the Ruari/Ben Banter, the Russ and Lilly bickering. Some good storylines, with the exception of the Home Farm sale, which is just silly.

Does this reflect the new producer or different scriptwriters ?

KNOB! Not Knib LOL

Lillian seems to be in a lovely festive mood and is less sozzled than usual?

Christmas at Brookfield is gearing up to be a corker. Is it wrong that I'm almost looking forward to TA Christmas more than my own?

It doesn’t ring true that this guy got to a senior role in the school

If you mean from an arts background, yes, it doesn't ring true. And before folk pile into say they know...etc.etc. I've been teaching for forty years and never ever encountered/heard of an art specialist on SLT.

If you mean can a self-regarding arsehole with more front than Sainsbury's and fuck all ability can get on SLT, then yes. I can think of many examples from my own experience.

Jenny has already talked about her Christmas tree Witch though I personally find it unbelievable that you would put one up if you were in the midst of packing up your house yourself. Love the fact that reality is finally biting for Lily with Russ. Their relationship so far has been hidden from view both in Ambridge and then closeted away from other students in Manchester. Lily is finding it much harder to assimilate Russ into real life especially while he is being shown up for the idle shirker that he is (though I agree with pp that this does not chime with him having been college deputy).

It makes me think how strong the relationship between the Macrons is to have withstood a huge reversed age gap i.e. much older woman/younger man and a rather dubious beginning - her a teacher, him a pupil.

I saw a documentary in which President Macron said how hurtful and humiliating it had been - and still was - listening to the sniggers and nasty comments. A couple of differences between the French couple and the Ambridge pair; Brigitte Macron continued working as a teacher until he decided to run for President. Also you can see why he is attracted to her - she is so purposeful, confident and engaged. Whereas Russ ...

Is it wrong that I'm almost looking forward to TA Christmas more than my own?

Me too!

I missed that LilG. I probably would have a tree but I would have engaged packers! I agree with what someone else said though - I think there are a lot of people who haven't moved for a very long time who don't realise what a task packing will be until they start. And also, possibly, the last time they moved they were younger, had less stuff, couldn't afford packers etc.

By the way, Lynda will be on Front Row tonight to discuss the play, there's nothing on the R4 website about it but John Wilson mentioned it at the end of Friday's episode.

I probably would have a tree but I would have engaged packers!

Ditto on both counts! We last moved well over 20 years ago and I have not forgotten how grim it is. We had packers for that move and it was wonderful. I would prioritise paying for that above a good deal else, although as I recall it wasn't all that expensive, probably because it makes the removal firm's life a lot easier too, so they want to encourage use of that service.

Thoroughly enjoyed last night's episode. The actor who plays Russ is doing sterling work. I haven't seen a picture of him so have a very clear mental image for once - droopy moustache, longish hair falling over one eye and getting flicked back in what probably seemed an attractive mannerism to Lily when she was first infatuated but may by now be irritating her beyond endurance ...

Terrific detail about Russ insisting on organic food even though they can barely pay the rent. Loved the idea of Russ working in the kitchen at the Orangery and his reaction to that suggestion!

Yes, Christmas should be an absolute corker. I wonder how many actors they will stump up for because it looks like there will be upwards of 15 people for the big meal. I realise I'm losing track of what we've been told, so here's a round up.

David, Ruth, Jill, Pip, Rosie, Josh, Ben, Shula, Elizabeth, Lily, Russ, Kenton, Jolene + Brian, Jennifer, Ruairi - if they accept the invitation
Toby and Rex?
Alistair is going to be with Jim and Jazzer presumably
Where will Peggy be? With Lilian and Justin or at Bridge Farm or will the whole lot of them be together?
Tom off to Wales to be with Natasha and her family
Hannah?
Christine at The Laurels
Grundys at Grange Farm - Joe, Eddie, Clarrie, Will, Poppy - Jake and Mia?
Ed, Emma, George, Keira moving between Grange Farm and Ambridge View, if that's where Neil and Susan will be - was there some mention of Alice and Chris going to them?
Lynda and Robert at Ambridge Hall - family with them?
Kate in Durban, good, hope she doesn't come back
Debbie in Hungary?
Harrison and Fallon at his family?
Kirsty and Roy at Willow Cottage
Adam and Ian - ? Is Ian working and Adam skulking around Grey Gables to spend a few minutes with him here and there? Dim memory of something like that being mentioned.
Oliver?
Long time since we heard from Alan and Usha, so no idea what they're doing
Kathy and Jamie now silents, barely ever mentioned
Have I missed anyone?