Thread 99 (yes, 99!): Join us for spirited discussions of The Archers and its Top Blokes, whether you're Team Elizabeth (low spirits), Team Kate (Spiritual Home) or Team Toby (spirits =gin)

[Bittermints]

Thanks due to @PseudoBadger for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads and to @DadDadDad for being our resident statistician and keeping the ball rolling when Pseudo stepped back a bit. Thanks also to all those who contributed to the thread title.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed. We don't all agree on all points and most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you'd like to be Susan's best friend or other odd unusual views.

Spoilers: not on this thread, please. We don't wait for the omnibus to discuss the weeknight episodes, but we do try our best to avoid cross-contamination from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3439443-keep-it-to-yourself-the-archers-spoilers-thread-4, where spoilers are positively welcomed!

So, to business. What a fantastic two-hander. Massive BOOP points to Alison Dowling, the scriptwriter and director (and the therapist). I had more than a small tear in my eye listening to that.

I'm another one with a vote of thanks to chemenger for all that information on the last thread about distilling. I should know some of that because I went on a tour of the whisky distillery near where my parents live but I've forgotten most of it except how delicious the end product is.

DFW we knew but Pip doesn't.

I think Tom has emailed out invitations so they have probably had one.

Tom admitted to Rex that he'd paid Emma, and laughed that Pip would be so impressed, she'd let him stay in her bed.

I think Tim is also going to try it on with Emma.

Itmighthave bee-un meee who pointed Pipswee ird intonation.
Mere's arksent pisses me off too.
Emmur might be stunning but she rarely smiles.

Thanks thislido I'm in the thick of calving so I've been falling asleep before the end quite a lot lately (podcasts at bedtime)

Birds I agree.

I can imagine the shouts of "cocklodger" and "LTB" if Lily posted here. That thought has crossed my mind a few times!

Toby is so irresponsible and feckless, I am baffled as to what Pip continues to see in him.

What's the mood of the room regarding Natasha? I haven't warmed to her at all but wonder if that's because I'm being unnecessarily judgy of an assertive, successful woman.

I don't think there are many supporters of Natsha on here, she's too pushy IMO and seems to think that a load of expensive presents have got her feet firmly under the Bridge Farm table. Tom is blinded by lust seems to be being led by his, ahem, baser instincts in his pursuance of her..

As I said above "marry in haste repent at leisure...."

I like assertive, successful women, even the emotionally brittle and tactless ones. I liked Anisha. I don't like Natasha so far, but we have seen relatively little of her.

Toby is so irresponsible and feckless, I am baffled as to what Pip continues to see in him

I don’t think she sees anything romantic in him, she just wants him to co-parent/thinks he has the right to do so, and is trying to be practical about it. All she sees in him is that he the father of her child.

and on that note I really really hope that they properly portray the hard work of parenting a toddler- a baby Rosie’s age is a walk in the park compared to a 2 year old who runs, climbs, is eternally hungry yet fussy about food, needs complex entertainment and who will be vocal if she doesn’t like who she is being left with.

Toby has good intentions, where his baby and job are concerned e.g., he' has paid Emma to clear up Rickyard but 'forgotten' to tell Pip . The shame is that his version of reality and actual reality don't add up.

I don't think they do have more bad luck, it's just that the impact is magnified by having no money. It's important to reflect that and how hard it is to get out of that situation, but they don't need to make them idiots to do that!

It's also magnified by virtue of the fact that the existence of things like tax credits seems to have completely passed them by.

I think Toby is awful but I think hiring a cleaner rather than cleaning yourself is entirely fine. I don't see the need to lie, but I don't see the need to get mad about it either. House is clean. Win.

It's Toby's constant dishonesty that pisses me off. It's so unnecessary! I agree it's fine to pay someone to clean your house, but to then lie & say you did it turns what should be a positive contribution into a deceitful action. Same as lying and saying Rex was looking after Rosie when it was Burt.

(This is brilliant!! No-one I know irl follows TA )

I am enjoying your excitement Beupstanding. I find Tobys lying really weird, it's the behaviour of a child. How did he think he would get away with the bert thing, the chances of being caught were extremely high.

This mysterious Christopher that everyone managed to mention tonight?

Have we ever heard him speak?

I like the sound of Susan's menu. I hope she pulls it off. Jennifer's nose will be put right out of joint!

However, Susan's interruption of Alice's work was irksome. Alice should just have told her to sling her hook. I was pleased they got that bit about Alice not being ready to have a baby out in the open, though, and Susan redeemed herself a bit there.

Christopher has often spoken. He was re-cast recently (totally unnecessarily, to my mind, unless the old Chris actor was not willing or able to carry on) and now he's indistinguishable from several of the other young men. The old Chris had a lovely voice.

Have I missed the discussion where we found out the the New Chris was Rhaegar Targarean in GOT? So Chris is actually genuinely as hot as it says on the tin. Which is nice.
Boop for 2 characters having a slight misunderstanding, one overreacting and then them both apologising and clearing the air immediately....like in real life. Very sweet between Susan and Alice.

That is the most completely freaky cross post! I didn't see yours bittermints before I wrote mine!

Yes Cat - he's a regular-ish speaking part. Although both his voice and character have undergone unfathomable alteration recently. He's definitely a son Susan can be proud of - both in his work and in bringing together the Aldridges and Horrobins.

Oh hello, lurking jinglebitch! It was mentioned last year but I'd forgotten about it. Yes, very easy on the eye.

(Another cross post. Sorry. Posts loading slowly atm.)

[quote NetballHoop]Just a quick heads up, tomorrow at 14:15 Radio 4 Extra have an edition of "On the map" which will cover Ambridge.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rlwwy[/quote]

Ooh this is exciting - thanks for the tip.

I for one REALLY don't like Tim. Too good to be true I reckon.

I think "Old Chris" wanted to concentrate on his music career.