Fast falls the eventide for Joe Grundy, the darkness deepens for Ed - will he be fenced in or is there still time for acts of pennants? Abide with us and discuss The Archers, thread #104!

[GabrielleNelson]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads and @DadDadDad for being our resident statistician and keeping the ball rolling when Pseudo stepped back a bit and more recently when someone forgot they had promised to start the next thread, ahem.

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 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!

For newer listeners, lurkers or those who just have no idea what we're talking about, DadDadDad has created this useful 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 BOOP point for him! (See thread for explanation.)

Thanks also to LillianGish for the splendid thread title. As actor Edward Kelsey died last month, we have probably heard Joe Grundy for the last time, or will do very shortly. RIP Mr Kelsey; many thanks for creating a wonderfully vivid character, gnarly toenails and all.

As pointed out on the last thread, we're getting very close now to the 100th birthday of June Spencer, who plays Peggy Woolley. What an achievement! I hope the team manage to squeeze Peggy into that day's episode, come what may.

D3 and ANutAsBig I have to say I’ve been completely astonished that that particular item of Cambridge news doesn’t seem to have provoked a single MN thread. Bit disappointed too - but I didn’t want to be the person who started it because I’m not sure I have anything entertaining to say.

Was Jesus College I think. I worked in the kitchens there once for a couple of weeks before the start of term.

(Can’t think of an Archers link, sorry!)

What's a Tab?

What's a Tab?

Cantab- a Cantabridgian. Went to Cambridge.

I'm sure all this Oxbridge talk is tedious to most posters.

Surely, there's a lurker out there who can rescue us with an interesting question about The Archers, or even a morsel of backstory about one of the characters that we've all forgotten...

You called?

If Shula persists in her quest for ordination, Peggy won't like it. She stopped attending St Stephen's when they had a woman vicar.

Flash car, flash holiday - what’s next?

Classic car day tickets for Tony.....at least £100, surely?

And running Open Farm Sunday ?? 😱😱

Is the Sausage King moniker lifted from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? The Sausage King of Chicago 😄🌭

Classic car day tickets for Tony.....at least £100, surely?

Yes, I was looking at tickets for Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier. It's not a cheap day out.

Oh god, Natasha, CHILL OUT! Pat doesn't sound too overjoyed though.

Open Farm Sunday is DOOMED, isn't it?

Now ... why have the SWs turned Jill into such a pearl-clutcher?

(And where’s the peanut butter emoji?)

And Natasha - WTF???

Is the house warming for the flat over the shop or did Tom give in and rent that executive house?

( I haven’t listened to the ep when Natasha came back as can’t face it)

I laughed at the Continuity Announcer suggesting Liberty organises Open Farm Sunday at Brookfield - "but she'll need to wear some wellies."

And then Kate's new project will have unexpected consequences tomorrow. But I already expected nothing but the worst, if we're talking pet therapy.

I thought that Liberty was appropriately named.

I am hoping that both Tom and Gnasher will come to a terrible end in a Cuban Hurricane. Just not sure I can bear to wait until August.

Pat doesn't sound too overjoyed though

They’re in a difficult position aren’t they. They can see how happy Tom is since she came back and can’t risk upsetting her and drive her away again.

Shame Tom doesn’t have a close mate to take him on one side and ask some pointed questions.

Ps. Natasha would exhaust me in real life.

can’t risk upsetting her and drive her away again.
But it's tosh, though, isn't it. OFS is June 9th. Haven't all these farmers planned already what they are doing? Most normal people would be able to say "thanks for the offer Natasha but it's all in hand, we've done all the risk assessments and insurance clearance. We could probably tack on something extra for AmFresh if you want. Give me the details and I'll see how it links in with what we are already doing". No way would you hand over the whole thing to your DIL!

It’s definitely bi polar or something, isn’t it?

So someone who knows bugger all about farming presents the farm to the public. As for Tony's whole-hearted support about handing it over to Gnasher, unconvincing as a responsible farmer, but explains his phone call to her, he can't do anything else. As for, I dreamt it all up last night!! Has she ever handled and animal? Someone will have to get all those beats in viewable places. And it won't be Gnasher.

Can't see Helen going for it.

The episode should have been Natasha buys her way in. Again, rather than Natasha attempts to build bridges.

Beasts, not beats.

Why on earth does Gnasher think she has to reach out to Kirsty?

It’s definitely bi polar or something, isn’t it?
Well it might be bi-polar if the SWs were capable of actually thinking seriously about mental health issues, but I don't think they are so, common or garden bonkers is more likely.
The pots of chilli or whatever for the Cuban themed house warming were quite bonkers too.

If last night's Hilda Ogden story was stupid, tonight's Gnasher takes over Farm Sunday is beyond words. She sounded absolutely demented.

And Bridge Fresh isn't remotely exciting.

Listening to Gnasher fairly makes my blood curdle