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.

mjnair isnt there a difference between a parish councillor and a local authority one? What clout would Emma and the Parish Council have?

Silvery yes there is a difference parish and town councillors are elected and the role is voluntary. Local authority councillors are also elected but the role is paid. They usually cover a wider area then a parish councillor would. They work alongside the local authority who run the day to day stuff.

In my council the local authority does listen to our comments but the planning officer would generally have the final day of it was a controversial application they would put it to the planning panel which is made up of local authority councillors for a decision. The parish council could attend to make representation but that's about it

Local Authority Councillors are not paid but do get allowances which town/parish councillors do not.

I like listening 'live' to TA as it unravels (and am grateful to those that keep spoilers to the appropriate thread). Having said that, I do enjoy listening to the film where you can use your fore-knowledge to pick up titbits dropped by the SW that you often miss first time round.
This week we had Tim admiring Em for her cleverness, and making it sound creepy, but also Susan admiring Alice for her cleverness, and making it sound genuine and supportive. It's all in the inflection!

Ref. Tim and the van did we hear where it's come from? I noticed that Tim didn't say or offer the papers, Clarrie or Emm and Eddie should pick up on that surely? Even if Ed's too daft to.

I wondered the same about the papers, with an annoyed feeling of dread for the Grundys. Plus these days road tax is non transferable.

I'm not sure what to make of Joe's character transplant. He has always been steadfast in his attachment to the land but, on the other hand, it's a sensible solution to the ridiculous situation of the Grundys living at Grange Farm.
Maybe Joe realising that people are more important than land is the turning point in the Grundys' fortunes. If they stop flogging themselves trying afford a homestead that is beyond them i.e. if they live within their means, then maybe they will start to live a more comfortable and happy life. Maybe, even, Eddie and Clarrie could discover the State pension and Pensioner Credits!

Susan: 'a therapist in a tabard'. :o Massive lol at that. :o

Why doesn't Roy want to be Tom's best man, or go to the wedding?

Helen's not going to be able to hide from Lee for ever, and eventually, people will notice that something's happened, when Henry stops going to karate, and everytime Lee's about to appear, she suddenly finds something pressing that needs to be attended to. Also, Emma's going to want to know how it went. Will Helen tell her, or make something up? I wonder what she told Pat? Considering she's living with her parents, you'd think they'd have been aware she wasn't alright on Friday night when she got back, early.

It's all going to unravel, and I hope the SW don't draw it out as long as Lizzie's storyline, because Helen is being extremely irritating.

Massive lol at that.
Excellent! It got a round of applause here.

Motoko I only tuned in half way, but is it because of seating and Tracy?

Why doesn't Roy want to be Tom's best man, or go to the wedding?

Let's speculate ...

Still smarting over his own heartbreak?
Loyalty to Kirstie - after Tom's last attempt at a wedding?
Unresolved mortification over the disastrous tractor episode last time he was best man for Tom?
Suspicion of Natasha?
Exasperation with Tom?
There must be more I can't think of right now ...

Tracey! Of course ...

Why doesn't Roy want to be Tom's best man, or go to the wedding?
From his conversation with Susan earlier, he's not in the Natasha Fan Club. It's not that he dislikes her, it's just that he doesn't know her. He may also have the same sneaking suspicion that it's not going to end well and would rather not be acting as chief cheerleader or be at the scene of the crime.
Why should he jeopardise Grey Gables and his career for a snap wedding? Tom didn't consider other people when he set the date so I don't know why the onus is on them to jump to his command.

It’s just typical Tom though, isn’t it? He’s got his great new idea (marriage, Natasha) and has no thought that other people (including Roy) cant rearrange themselves round it because they have their own ideas and lives.

Re the date, Helen’s reaction was so extreme surely even lee, who seems pretty passive, will be prompted to do some digging, even if just to reassure himself that it wasn’t catching sight of his nunchucks that freaked her out.

Ha! A very appropriate time for the dreaded Rob to put in an appearance as a barrister in 'Call the Midwife' just now...

Did they get as far as Lee getting his nunchuks out?

Doesn't he read the papers?

Given their rapidly falling readership figures, not many people do these days, and Lee doesn't strike me as a great reader, really. Plus Helen was tried as Helen Titchenor, so he wouldn't necessarily make the connection even if he did see reports of the trial.

Wasn't Roy going to be best man at Tom's last attempt at marriage? He might well feel it would be somewhat disloyal to Kirsty to be best man this time around.

Was Roy making excuses or was it genuinely that he couldn't get out of his work commitments- I thought the latter? Does Tom need a 'best man' anyway (loved Roy suggesting Hannah, that could have been interesting....)

Re quick weddings, I've forgotten how Helen and Robs IOW wedding worked... maybe they had planned it but kept it secret? (Trying to find the details I found this which has a few gems...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5RPLgBJsFnwsDgZfmglVmFq/is-the-reaction-to-this-couples-happy-news-a-shocking-reflection-of-broken-britain)

I did a massive catch up today so not sure which episode this was in, but BOOP for Susan this week - with Alice, the tabard, and for neatly manouvering superfluous Roy from her dinner party by invoking Tracey.

More fool Roy for believing Susan would ever invite her disreputable sister to dine with Aldridges!

Yeah, it never occurred to Tom that the date of the wedding (a Friday, so work day, and only just over a week's notice) could cause problems for people attending.
I like the way Susan thinks Pat needs her support!

I see Roy could have a number of reasons. I hadn't started listening to TA when Tom was supposed to marry Kirsty, although I was aware of it, of course. Didn't realise Roy had been his best man then too. I find it hard to imagine Tom and Roy being best buddies, they don't seem to have any interests in common. Although, neither seem to have any interests anyway, other than Tom with his Nuffield stuff. Oh, and Roy likes Stephen King.

Back to Helen...I'd have backed away slowly at the Bruce Lee posters.

echt delurking to say me too, although I'd also have alreadybeen irritated by the unsuitable clothing for walking.

Lee doesn't need to have read the papers. If he has ever been into the shop, or had any conversation with any of the silent karate Mums, he will have heard all about Helen

Aethelthryth - hello, and I love your delurk Thank you for that image, as you can see, I have changed my username (it was Brexit related) in hommage to your choice phrase!