The Archers - Freddie is getting OUT: will Russ hop it? Helen is falling DOWN: is Lee still in the frame? Tom is heading UP: will Natasha be the boost his sausage needs? (Thread no. 101

[DadDadDad]

We're still here and still discussing TA (The Archers). We welcome newcomers and old hands, so if you have a question or a point of view, please dive in. No spoilers - if you've seen info on future storylines, there's a separate Radio Addicts thread for that.

I loved all the name changes on the last thread. Don't forget to change back! (If you want to).

Who's going to get Russ out of LL? Freddie? Lily? Elizabeth? Or is it Freddie who will head off?

I was in a SW London Waitrose at the weekend and there was a whole shelf of kefir.

Probably doing well due to all the publicity its had on The Archers

Going back to the Jill/Grace/name angst - Nolethandu's middle name is Grace.

I remember a conversation when Kate and Lucas announced the name and Jennifer said something along the lines of "how lovely, a family name as a middle name" and (obviously) Kate was completely oblivious and that's not why they'd chosen it.

No hint of angst - not even Jill going out and quietly kicking a chicken without saying anything. So either Jill didn't care because it wasn't a Brookfield Archer, or she never knew, or the Grace-angst is a relatively recent invention.

(Disclaimer: I haven't actually managed to listen for days so all my knowledge of recent events is from this thread...)

Sorry to be slow on the uptake but why is Johnny the true heir? I understand if people only mean in terms of character and farming skills. But in terms of birth right is that how it works. I know it does in the royal family but in farming? John is dead so the farm is automatically Johnnys? , so if pip dies tomorrow the farm wouldn't go to Ben or Josh it would go to Rosie when she comes of age? I need to get a life.

I understand if people only mean in terms of character and farming skills Yes

But in terms of birth right is that how it works No

I know it does in the royal family but in farming? John is dead so the farm is automatically Johnnys? , so if pip dies tomorrow the farm wouldn't go to Ben or Josh it would go to Rosie when she comes of age?

Ownership of the farms will pass according to a will if there is one or rules of intestacy if there isn't. Rules of intestacy vary according to whether there is a spouse, children and the size of the estate but it does not pass to the oldest child to the exclusion of all others unless the will gave it to that child.

"Birth right" isn't really a concept even in the Royal family. Succession to the throne goes (now) to eldest child but the personal assets of members of the Royal family will be dealt with by will or intestacy in the same way as anyone else.

I don't think he is legally the true heir, more the fact that he is the eldest son of the eldest son - so if John had lived, his position would have been more secure. John was a farmer (the pigs which Tom took over - who knows what Tom would have done if John had lived, a point he made himself yesterday). More to the point, Johnny is a farmer. In spite of growing up in Leeds miles from the farm, you can see it oozes out of his every pore. He is a natural. I think Johnny's story arc has an almost fairytale quality to it. No-one even knew existed, Bridge Farm never stopped mourning John, Johnny turns up - passionate about farming and determined to learn, practically the reincarnation of his dead namesake. He also has that humble quality of a fairytale hero - he is not entitled and is happy graft, reluctant to even offer an opinion unless it is forced out of him. He certainly doesn't think of himself as heir and he will never think himself worthy of the mantle, but it will be his - because it deserves to be his and not just because he is John's son.

practically the reincarnation of his dead namesake
You overdid it there. Johhny is not another John. John had charisma, personality and presence. Johnny, although pleasant enough, is wet and lacks self-belief. I wish that they would move him on from all this earnest "do you think I can do it, granddad?" guff.

I can certainly cut butter to within a few grams of the weight I need. I doubt Jazzer is over feeding the pigs.

That was in reply to discussion about measuring by eye, hadn’t seen the thread had moved on.

People talk about the Pargeters as if they are loaded- but is there actually any money? Or is the business keeping the family and maintaining the buildings? I would imagine that Lower Loxley is pretty much unsellable in today’s climate.

Morello cherry kefir is delicious.

John had charisma, personality and presence. Well yes, I agree with you. But isn't the point that John was born to his position and felt secure in it as the eldest son. Johnny (or Rich!) still can't quite believe his luck and is making sure he does nothing to blot his copybook. He knows he needs to learn and can take nothing for granted - actually he is probably more like his grandfather in that respect which is probably why they get on so well.

I would imagine that Lower Loxley is pretty much unsellable in today’s climate. I imagine a house like LL costs almost as much to run as it makes. The Pargetters are not loaded - no-one has gone off to make a fortune in the city or married billionaire. It is never made clear of course, but I imagine the house pretty much pays for its keep and all the staff who help to run it, but Elizabeth can't afford to take her eye off the ball business-wise. Its future is by no means secure.

Thanks Lass. I wonder what is in Pat and Tonys will. Have they changed it since Johnny came on the scene, or more importantly since Natasha arrived.

Wasn’t John a bit of a bastard? (Disclaimer - hearsay only, don’t think I was actively listening at the time).

Yes. He was going out with Hayley but Sharon was on the scene too.

Flipping heck! I've just seen the post count on this thread.

We need a title for the next one, and someone to volunteer to start the next thread (or else I shall nominate someone).

Can we include Bunny Boy in the title? (I’d also like reference to the horse liniment but that’s not allowed I know ).

Now all the fatted calf sarnies are gone, will the Easter Bunny bring home the bacon to Lower Loxley?

Oops, I forgot something, that was meant to be:
Now all the fatted calf sarnies are gone, will the Easter Bunny bring home the bacon (and eggs) to Lower Loxley?

Will Tom Archer's sausage (business) get the chop?

Sorry, Mike, I've got a crowd of comedians from the 1970s outside already saying I've had their sausage innuendo long enough for this thread.

@Dumdedumdedum - I like your suggestion. Please can I suggest that you start thread 102? (We'll need it in a day or so).

I like dumdedumdedums suggestion. Somehow throw in a mention of Tom (possibly) selling his bacon to cover Natasha's debts and it's a clear winner.

I'm happy to start the next thread in the absence of any other volunteers!

Re John being a bit of a bastard - I'll say! He went out with Hayley for years but she discovered him in flagrante with Johnny's mother Sharon at the cottage Hayley and John shared (Keeper's, where the Grundys lived later on, IIRC). He'd had a fling with Sharon when he was much younger and she was living in a caravan in the Bridge Farm yard with Johnny's half-sister Kylie, after Sharon was abandoned by the worst person ever to live in Ambridge, Susan's brother Clive Horrobin, convicted armed robber, horse slasher, arsonist and attempted murderer. Pat found Sharon's knickers in hers and Tony's bed, didn't she?

Is Kylie’s dad a local, then?

Thanks for offer to threadstart.