#102: Fatted calf is off the menu - will the Easter Bunny save Lower Loxley's bacon, or will there be egg on Russ's face? Will Tom's sausage business get the chop? Join us here to discuss The Archers!

[GabrielleNelson]

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, principally Dumdedumdedum and MikeUniformMike on this occasion.

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 this thread, where spoilers are positively welcomed!

So, to business: will Helen's new cheese be a success? Will Kate succeed in keeping her visiting Brummies under control? Will Pip, Toby, Tom and Natasha fall into the slurry pit, leaving Rosie to be brought up by Anthony Head Robin Fairbrother? Will we ever hear Lee again, and will he casually drop in a mention of his fine collection of framed Bruce Lee posters?

The episode including the discussion between Chris and Jakob had some annoyingly abrupt scene transitions. Does anyone know what if anything is the significance of Tandy, the disgruntled horse owner? Jakob seemed to be taken up short by mention of her name.

That could be phrased better. Tandy, the disgruntled owner of the horse. Though the horse may well be disgruntled as well if it's got problems with its hooves.

Natasha seems to believe that Tom is a manager/director - certainly that he should behave like one, image being everything. So when she sees him doing anything manual she can't stand it.

I am such a softy I actually feel some pity for Tom in his confusion and desperation to impress her. Then I remember he's not actually 17.

Have we ever heard Bella? I bet she is just lovely. It would be so satisfying to see more of her as a compare and contrast, with Jonny and Bella taking things slowly and being genuinely loving. His cautious excitement about possibly living with her was touching.

(mike while you're getting some stamps could you pick me up a pint of milk thanks)

Could we have a lyrebird picture please?

Natasha and Tom were stupid getting married so quickly. They're not compatible at all - am not sure who is worse between them though!

Please please please don't let the SW heap disaster on Emma and Ed, I couldn't bear it. Stay away from Tim!! (Why are wrong uns always cockneys on R4 drama though?!) And it's made me think really badly of Peggy as well. How could she just dismiss Emma without any notice?! Horrible behaviour.

As a newbie to the Archers threads (and relative newbie to the Archers - started listening avidly about 3 years ago) I just checked the abbreviations thread... Who is HWMNBN Daryl?!

Tandy, well, I'm thinking she and Jakob were an item, and fell out badly, so she won't be too pleased to see him, meaning he won't be able to tell her that the horse going lame has nothing to do with how Chris shoes it.

Here's one, Bertrand. Not the one I saw, but the one I watched was also a chap. They make tremendous racket scratching around for food, so if you approach silently ( I was on my own), you can sneak up on them:

And then there's also the dead famous David Attenborough src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/VjE0Kdfos4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen>Y

Though I never fail to be niggled by his saying they are found in south Australia. South Australia is a state, where they are not found. South-eastern Australia would have been more precise.

And breathe, pedantically.

Hello all, thank you for the new thread Gabrielle

Interesting bird, thanks echt.

Who is HWMNBN?
He was a non-Cockney wrong 'un! He had a whiney Brummie accent instead and used to annoy our esteemed thread-starter Pseudo, hence he was whispered about as Must Not Be Named. Here's a quick BBC biog
He is chiefly remembered these days as being a subject of Shula's sanctimonious and disastrous Do-Gooding (circa 2014/15).

He (Daryl) must not be named in case the SWs remember he exists and bring him back.

Can’t recall if it’s been mentioned but I sincerely hope the new editor hasn’t been reading Chekhov.

Natasha seems all too familiar - and I fear for the Bridge Farm clan.

Tom is still stupid
This should always be part of the introduction to these threads, along with no spoilers etc.

Tim isn’t a cockney! I’m shocked at the suggestion!

Can you elaborate on the Chekhov reference. I was educated in the 80s - woefully under-read!

Also I’d forgotten about HWSNBN! He was almost as awful as the fact that shula made a pet project out of him!

I don’t think Natasha has any kind of nefarious plan, she’s just being Natasha.

At a push Tim could be from Ipswich, but not Cockney. You’re not the first person to say that though, someone else said he sounds like Matt.

I’ve never read or seen Chekhov either and await enlightenment.

She’s an unwelcome SIL in Three Sisters DumDeDum.

Scroll through this Wiki characters list.

Or see the play at the Almeida.

I’m certain someone at TA had her in mind ...

“Tom is still stupid
This should always be part of the introduction to these threads, along with no spoilers etc.“

AND Tom is nearly 40! NEARLY 40!!!!

It was the Thomas Hardy influences that were worse than the Chekhov, if you ask me...

I would have linked to a volume of Chekhov’s actual play - but there are too many ...

Thank you George

I’ve been looking for a decent production. It’s been a while. Our local rep is really excellent too.

@birdsdestiny - you could add that useful summary of Tom's character to the info thread. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have?msgid=86347798#86347798

We could use that thread to build a pithy guide to characters and their recurring flaws.

The trouble is that we won't agree and the thread will turn into a long discussion where it's difficult to find a quick answer to a question about what a particular acronym is.

I just listened to the repeat today. I couldn't catch why Freddie was getting arsey with Russ for helping Johnny to move something into someone's barn ? Anyone clear about it?