100 Archers threads! We are truly overinfested. Whether you need some help from a therapist in a tabard, or want to move your wife in with your FWB, there’s something in Ambridge for you!

[PseudoBadger]

Well hasn’t it been a fun few years! Thank you all for supporting the threads and sharing in love and critique of The Archers.

I was just thinking how I’d like a ‘special gentleman’ - especially a dapper one (I have one - he’s currently trying to pretend it’s not time to get up).

Which made me think isn’t Jill allowed to have a lover or a fella or a boyfriend like younger folk? Are we only allowed special friends when we get older? That seems a bit shit!

But yes it was a scene well done. Maybe it’s a clever wrongfooting with Natasha. She came across as clumsy with her ideas for the business, getting her feet under the table too soon. But we were quick to make that all about her when really it was an expression of a more complex interplay of her and Tom (and it was Tom being crass and selfish!)

it’s a clever wrongfooting with Natasha

I agree. I think they have quite cleverly misled us at the start into building Natasha into a 'type' and are now slowly revealing her real personality to us ... and the Archers family.

Jill and Leonard is pure Last Tango in Halifax (I think the actor who plays Leonard was in that show and his northern accent makes me think of it every time). David is finding it hard to come to terms with because he doesn’t think of his mum in that way at all - she is just his mum (now gran to his kids), always there, baking flapjacks and making casseroles. She is not someone who has a life of her own. The idea that she might be looking for romance has never even crossed his mind. I think he’s awkward with Leonard because he can’t believe it’s happening and he doesn’t know how to relate to his mum in this situation - I think many of us would be the same, however lovely the new partner may be. Eccles I think your summary of the Elizabeth/Geraldine situation is spot on. I also think when you look at all the stuff going on at LL they must have loads of staff - you couldn’t run an operation like that purely on casuals. There’s no way Elizabeth was ever doing her own housework (in fact wasn’t that one of Jill’s problem when she moved in - she had nothing whatsoever to do?)

he doesn’t know how to relate to his mum in this situation - sorry meant to add he is someone who has essentially lived at home his whole life. Taking over the family farm by its very nature means you never really leave home. Jill might have moved out of Brookfield temporarily from time to time, but she is very much the matriarch. She has continued in the farmer’s wife role that Ruth has never aspired to fill.

Well I guess not all the incoming spouses can be evil. But it's funny that they've immediately given Natasha an Ambridge centred occupation. It's the Justin model all over again - global entrepreneur to dealer in Ambridge minutiae in the blink of an eye. (Or the swish of an eyeliner.) How soon before she announces that she's sold the drinks business and taken to whey-based beauty products?

have I left anything out?

Previously a venue for concerts opera and fashion shows. And a provider of regular child centred outdoor activities - don't know if those carried on in the same way after Hayley left.

Re Lily telling Russ that Freddie couldn't dictate who lives at LL: if Freddie put down a "him or me" ultimatum it's a fair bet that he could.

it's funny that they've immediately given Natasha an Ambridge centred occupation - quite. Entirely reasonable that he might meet a go-getting entrepreneur through Nuffield, less likely she would be happy to put it all on the back burner and move in with someone who doesn’t even have a home of his own to move into.

Natasha is a mass of contradictions.

And I'm far more interested in her business than in her abilities to do makeovers.

If Natasha gives up her business and “descends” into Home Farm, t
I think I might have to kill someone......

Her business is never mentioned at all now.

Erm... Radio Carter mentioned upthread, and I heard Natasha say that she's taking a week off work to discover the village. She's doing the makeovers for the Lent appeal for charity (to help fund the unit in the hospital that treated Nick).

I think Lily and/or Russ will outmanoeuvre Freddie by letting him know that his being at LL is the reason for the lack of license (can't remember whether it's c or s and CBA to look it up) and the deteriorating business. At which point F will take himself off.

I hope it doesn't play out like this. I want Russ got rid off, fast, scales falling from eyes, etc. But I fear the writers will torture us longer.

If I was waiting for these I'd be pretty excited.

So much depends on how Freddie has been changed by his stretch.

Maybe tougher and kick arse. Maybe whimperingly keen to be mummy's boy again. Maybe an older and wiser drug lord in waiting.

I think Lily and/or Russ will outmanoeuvre Freddie by letting him know that his being at LL is the reason for the lack of licence and the deteriorating business.
Alternatively, Lily could say "I've done my stint at babysitting Mum. Now it's your turn."

I don't see why the lack of licence is such a problem. If I could book a wedding location where I knew they weren't going to (nay: couldn't!) rip me off on alcohol prices I would be very pleased. If I was LL, I would make a positive USP of it.

So would I Radio. They could have a cool non alc cocktail bar too.

But presumably the ripping off on alcohol prices is one of the ways they make their money. What happens with the vineyard and the LL wine - it’s not just weddings is it? They can’t sell alcohol in the Orangery or at any of their events. I agree that not everyone wants alcohol, but LL is not the tea room.

They can’t sell alcohol in the Orangery or at any of their events. I agree that not everyone wants alcohol, but LL is not the tea room.
Kenton did try to talk about ways round it yesterday (I assume along the lines of 'buy a bottle of tonic, get a shot of gin free!') but Lizzie cut him off because having Freddie home was more important than alcohol-generated income.

I wouldn't book 'LL without an alcohol license, it's just another hassle for the person booking the venue. I can't imagine that Freddie will have become a drug baron .

“I don't see why the lack of licence is such a problem.”

Because that’s where a lot of their profit will come from.

There are more and more people who are worried about driving over the limit, and not wanting to use taxis. Alcohol and the effect of over doing it is becoming less and less acceptable.

The price of 2 or 3 trays of 'welcoming' glasses of cheap fizz at a wedding reception is appalling , for the punter not the seller of course, (I speak from bitter experience

A dry-ish wedding might mean fewer guests deciding to stay for the night after, which I'd guess is part of the usual business model.

And it's not just weddings, they do a lot of conferences. While many may be sober affairs, I expect quite a lot also function as 'jollies'.

There are more and more people who are worried about driving over the limit, and not wanting to use taxis. Alcohol and the effect of over doing it is becoming less and less acceptable. But that’s a question of personal restraint and allowing people to bring their own booze is not going to solve that problem anyway. From Elizabeth’s point of view, trying to keep LL afloat, they need to squeeze as much cash from everyone who comes through the doors as they can and selling alcohol is a big part of that. Weddings are just one of their ventures - presumably they sell their own wine in the Orangery and then hope people will pick up a couple of bottles in the shop, they have overnight conferences, mulled wine at Christmas, events like the Hunt Ball the list goes on. Without an alcohol licence they are losing money every time - assuming they can even attract people to these events in the first place. Actually I’m interested to know how this will pan out long term - if someone has a conviction for dealing drugs can they ever hold an alcohol licence? Will Freddie ever be able to take over LL or will someone else always need to be in charge?