Discuss The Archers - yes, this really is Thread 103. Are you going to vote for feet, stations of the cross, or a hologram? Will Natasha ever return? Will Russ ever leave?

[DadDadDad]

Exciting times - this thread will witness our 100,000th post in this long-running unbroken chain of threads.

New and old posters welcome. Don't spoil with any future plotlines.

And if you need a beginners' guide see here: 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

Carry on...

Jessie - didn't the number of episodes per week change at some point? Going by 6 per week for 33 years, 13 mins long, that's about 2200 hours. If they were available you could listen again by playing them solidly for 16 hours per day and be done within 5 months. You'd probably be hallucinating that you were actually in Ambridge by then.

Jessie discount code for it here if you want it: www.stayfocusd.com/

Info on what it is here: freedom.to/blog/

Don't leave everyone! These threads are the best bit of MN and nobody I know IRL can discuss TA with as much insight as you lot.

Reading, I remember that too Borsetshire.

@thislido my favourite work of art is a piece by (I think) Bruce Naumann. It's really simple, a wooden frame and 3 fluorescent light tubes in the primary colours. I saw it when walking around Tate Modern with my then girlfriend and thought "bag of shite". Then I looked at it properly and my mind was blown by its simplicity and brilliance.

@DadDadDad I completely get what you said about art making you think, and remembering a piece makes it art. I think if you remember a work years later it makes it good, or even great, art, even if you thought it was shit.

It's even more complicated, DDD, because as well as changing from five episodes a week to six, at some point they changed the length of each episode from 15 minutes to 12.5 minutes; the omnibus used to have bits cut out to make it fit into the time they had left after Tom Forrest's homily each week, and Keri Davies said they deliberately included things that could safely be cut, like change-counting. These days the six episodes fit exactly.

I don’t remember ever hearing Tom Forrest’s homily. Thank goodness- it sounds dire.

Remember that CMR was an experienced A level teacher. He can be a creepy bastard and knowledgeable about art at the same

The scriptwriters are trying a bit harder with CMR. For ages he was just awful and risible and what on earth did Lily see in him. Now they are giving him scenes when he sounds almost reasonable, empathetic and even interesting.

Presumably this is because he is in there for the long haul. Is the gallery going to take off so CMR has a reason for staying when Lily goes back to uni in the autumn?

Lurker alert. Only commented once before on these threads I think.
Can I join even though I don’t like Freddie?

You don't have to like any of them Monty . Welcome!

as well as changing from five episodes a week to six, at some point they changed the length of each episode from 15 minutes to 12.5 minutes

I thought that happened at the same time, and the omnibus used to be 1hr 5*15=1h15, so cut stuff out of each episode to fit in an hour including Tom Forrest talking about how the bluebells are looking lively as he walked through Leader's Wood and that brings him on to how Shula was having a chat with Mrs Antrobus when they met on the track down there, and into the first scene we go...

And then 6*12.5=1h14.5 and no Tom Forrest or replacement either, though I think he'd gone some time before anyway.

I googled, but I failed to find when the change was. Mildly surprised, ad proposed changes to TA scheduling tends to warn of the end of the world, or at least letters to Feedback. I suspect it will be in one of the many Archers books, but I can't be bothered to look.

They've done that before, LassOfFyvie, e.g. when CMR rallied round when Lizzie had a panic attack/ breakdown when they were out shopping. I guess they need him to have at least some non-knob qualities in order to make it credible that Lizzie and Lily drool over him.

I come on here to discuss TA but agree that MN is a timesuck.

Ohhh ... I’m too late to tell Jessie how wonderful Tom Forrest’s Sunday morning chat was. I loved the multi-dimensional element it brought to the show - something they’ve never seemed bothered to replicate since.

Ref. Art (sorry folks one last post!) I was trying to remember the toilet exhibitor's name thanks Dad Duchamp, now there was an artist!

Considering that farmers are ALWAYS talking about , or moaning about the weather, after all it affects their livliehood, TA doesn't do it much.

Jessie I know what you mean, I try to limit my time on MN to just after meals when I make myself stay still!!

I come on here to discuss TA but agree that MN is a timesuck.

Especially if you go via Pedants' Corner, Mike.

Ooh! DadDadDad, I hardly ever venture in there.

Talking of pedants, it irritates me that the lower orders in Ambridge say Me an' (Ed, usually) instead of (Ed, usually) and I.

Montypants

You are hereby issued with a Cease and Desist Order, preventing you from posting on this or any future TA thread.

President, The Real Freddie Fan Club

I am actually a fan of modern art, and liked CMR's exposition of the gaffer tape. But am wondering how setting the gallery on this new pathway will benefit LL financially.

I'm afraid I hated the Tom Forrest intros, because they spoiled my suspension of disbelief.

Just as bad is people talking about giving something to Ed and I, instead of to Ed and me.

Can't believe I missed saying goodbye to Jessie

But am wondering how setting the gallery on this new pathway will benefit LL financially.
I wondered that. I did think that for LL customers, insipid watercolours of local scenes are more likely to sell.

BuckingFrolics erm sorry I mean I love Freddie... he’s, erm, the best...
Better?

On TA it's usually Me an' Ed. It's less usual to hear "to ... and I". I can remember asking one of my parent why EIIR said "My husband and I..." and being told it was probably to avoid starting a speech with I, and because if you referred to you and someone else, you always put their name first.
So it would never cross my mind to say Me an' Ed. "Ed and me are.." just sounds wrong.