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.

Sorry if this has already been covered - Mia’s accent! I’ve just caught up with yesterday’s omnibus. Apart from Mia sounding a lot older than I thought she was, can anyone from that part of the country comment on if it’s accurate for there to be an ‘R’ sound on the end of words like “yeah”? I know lots of the characters do it with “Emmur” etc. and it has always grated, but with it being a new voice it really struck me.

It's the Borsetshire arksent. Even Christmerze gets an extra r.
Worst offenders are Emmur, Clarrie, Eddie an Farlon.

Patrick erm, it’s a fictional part of the country so they can make up whatever accent they like

I forgot Kristifur. ...in moi howse, ... moi woife.
Brendur was a Borsetshire larss too.

Jessie thank you for clarifying that

I loved Lily saying ‘so you’re pimping me out now’ (or very similar) !

Welcome back PseudoBadger!

As for last night - I can't imagine what Alan is planning to organise, in memory of Nic, that could be ready for the coming weekend. Some sort of impromptu craft fair?

Would rent arrears have an effect on Lily's credit rating, which would then mean she will have some issues with running LL?

Yes if landlord got a decree and why would they move out if there wasn't a decree ?
Landlords do apply for decree for arrears even where there is little chance of payment simply because it messes up all credit checks for the tenant. Even applying for a mobile phone contract can be screwed up.

They could have moved out on receipt of the Notice to Quit - lots of people don't seem to realise that Landlords can't make them move without a court order. If Lily then comes to an arrangement about paying arrears she won't have an adverse credit rating.

Freddie probably wouldn't be where he currently is if Russ had behaved with an ounce of the adult responsibility expected of him. He deliberately left Freddie at (was it?) Ellis's mercy to preserve his own position. He's very much to blame there

Not sure that that is necessarily the case. Even if Russ had reported hiim to the Principal and got him chucked out, I suspect that wouldn't necessarily have stopped Freddie: he had that teenager assumption that he couldn't possibly be caught by the police and anyone who tried to stop him was a boring old fuddy-duddy, plus he liked the money he was making.

I thought Alan was probably thinking of something in aid of a sepsis charity, which is why he wanted to discuss it with Will first.

I was hoping there that Elizabeth would tell Lily that Russ couldn't stay at LL. I can't see having Russ hanging around all the time will help Elizabeth's recovery.

Quartermiss I can't imagine what Alan is planning to organise, in memory of Nic, that could be ready for the coming weekend.*
*
Isn't it a Lenten thing? Pancake day is amazingly late this year, doesn't kick off until March so 2 Sunday's yet.
Or did I misunderstand entirely? Smallest inkling was running about with my phone (that I listen on) so the speaker reception was intermittently fuzzy at best.

Also assuming it will be sepsis fundraiser. I'm still traumatised by that whole episode.

Boop for Mia actress, I find her so convincing, to the point it took me a while to notice.

I can't see having Russ hanging around all the time will help Elizabeth's recovery

I'm getting very annoyed by Lily. What was that drivel about Russ cooking meals. Russ is a complete loser , goodness knows why Lily can't see it.

Ruari having his wicked way with Mia?

Well, hurrah for an Ambridge family finally moving into the 21st century and getting their food delivered!

Two questions though:

Firstly, could they not just skip the whole Mia married to the house and trying to replace her mother thing? It's a bit ...

Secondly, far as I remember the Cathedral School is selective. Probably even more so for sixth form. So how can Ruairi be certain of a place before he's taken his GCSEs?

(I also thought Elizabeth might question the plan for Russ to take up permanent residence in her kitchen - but I guess she's learned to keep silent where he's concerned, if she wants any sort of relationship with Lily.)

My goodness, Pipsqueak was very squeaky tonight. Is it bad acting or is it supposed to convey something?

I listen on the iplayer after the event. I skip in 20 second bursts when Pip appears.

It sounded to me like she didn't want to go home and be with Rosie.

I don't really listen when Perfect Pip is talking to Rooth. I was only paying attention in the Mia/Ruairi/Clarrie/Lily/Elizabeth scenes.

I am still trying to bleach my brain after hearing the Rooth and Dey-vid bedroom seduction scene the other night (shudder)

Ruari wins tactless arse of the year award for boasting about playing his parents to.... Mia.

If Russ mentions the Gwen John, Lily will go lairy.

He's not overly blessed in parental history himself though, Knight! So I'm sure Mia would forgive him - if she knows.

That's true Quater but one might think it would make him more sensitive, having lost his own mother. I can't imagine him worrying about Brian or Jenny the way Mia worries about Will.

I'm sure Mia would forgive him - if she knows.
She knows that his surname is Donovan so she knows that something is not totally straightforward.

Ruari wins tactless arse of the year award for boasting about playing his parents to.... Mia

It didn't strike me like boasting. He was talking about his life- life goes on. Mia sounds sensible enough to realise that. She doesn't strike me as someone who is going to resent hearing about someone else's parents.