The Archers #110: Game(keeping)'s up for Will. Game on for Lillian & Vince, Tracy & Oliver? Game over for Joe? Stay ahead of the game with all things Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

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 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3439443-keep-it-to-yourself-the-archers-spoilers-thread-4, 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 to LillianGish for the title idea. Very tempted to go with MrsGrindah's suggestion of It’s all a bit crap and boring at the moment but let's be positive, maybe things will look up in the coming days ... Also very taken with Lexi's Midnight Runners - Burpers, maybe? - from Madcats.

Not at all happy about Lily not going to university. Yet another bright Ambridge woman not fulfilling her potential. Why do they do this?

There’s just too much horribleness and misery. Ed and Will, Susan and Clarrie, vince Casey. Pip and Ruth...and more. I know humans are drawn to the negative but even the new baby storyline which could have been bittersweet has turned into a JD histrionic show. Can anyone point out a decent SL right now.

No, it's completely dire, Still - I haven't even bothered listening to the last two episodes.

I think the not-very-interesting mystery of Jolene's protracted 'tour' may have been solved, though - she, or rather her actor, Buffy Davis, plays the school secretary in the new series of 'Doc Martin' - it was on TV the other night as I happened to be passing through the room and I recognised her voice.

According to IMDb she's also in two films released this year.

No doubt we are about to enter the annual pantomime story line, which is usually my least favourite of the year. I found last year’s particularly tedious.

I wonder if this thread could morph into a support thread, where most of us are bravely resisting listening to TA. Obviously some people will weaken but we treat them with kindness and support, and then give them a firm talking to.
I so want to stop.

I wonder if this thread could morph into a support thread
Didn't we have a thread a while back called "we listen so you don't have to".
I feel the need for a therapist in a tabard.

Via Archers Academics' Twitter, there was a link to a useful piece about UK surrogacy law/scope for Xander to continue to be a horrid storyline:
www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed203434

I wouldn't put it past the scriptwriters to send him to hospital before Adam and Ian have parental responsibility. What was that fundraiser Lexi, Adam and Ian went to just after she came back from Bulgaria?

[We rarely had a phone signal on holiday this summer and stood no chance of streaming on wifi - these threads were a lot better than the broadcasts!]

@chemenger - one of the characters earlier this week said there is to be no Christmas play this year - they were reminiscing about last year's Canterbury's Tales in the barn.

What was that fundraiser Lexi, Adam and Ian went to just after she came back from Bulgaria?
Save us from another consciousness-raising issoo.

No doubt we are about to enter the annual pantomime story line, which is usually my least favourite of the year

Same here. But this year I find myself actually looking forward to it on the basis that reusing SLs from previous years might at least bring us a competently written story reflecting the actual characters rather than characters contorted to fit into a bad SL.

MysticBore™️ predicts that there will be a play/theatrical-type event at Christmas and it will be held at Lower Loxley.

Or panto. The 🔮 is rather vague on this point at the moment.

A Nativity Play- with Zander as Jesus?

Far be it for me to counter the crystal ball but I wonder if this year's entertainment will be connected with Tracey and her murder-mystery thingy. It would be a bit heavy-handed, though: Tracey taking over from Lynda at the reception desk and the director's chair.

I add always thought that illness the fund raising was mentioned for a reason. I can't remember what it was though.

@DadDadDad doesn't the whole saga start every year with them saying there will be no Christmas play?

R4 That's why there will be a Christmas Thing at LL - Lizard was v interested in Tracey's Murder Mystery. Lynda will be involved in some way in the LL event.

A Nativity Play- with Zander as Jesus?

And two Josephs? I wouldn't put it past them.

BTW - @WheresThatCatGoneNow* I love the Ambridge Police twitter

Ooooh, you mean rival Christmas entertainments? Instead of "will there be one" we shall have two to choose from. That could be fun.

Yes R4!

SW1 - What shall we do for Christmas at Ambridge? One more panto for Lynda?

SW2 - Yes, that's what we always do. The Intern can write it, great experience.

Intern - you do remember I'm leaving next Friday, I'm already late back to university.

SW1 - Well if you think university is more important...

Intern - I get a loan to cover my living expenses there, more than I get here.

SW2 - so common to talk about money, think of the experience.

Intern - mmmm

SW1 - anyway there's a gap year person coming from that nice school in Berkshire, they start next week, if they have A-level Eng Lit they can write it, that's what we did last year.

SW2 - that's settled then.

Intern - Lynda said no more pantos.

SW1 - No, I don't think so...I don't remember that and there's no way to find out.

Intern - why don't you have a professionally presented Christmas play at Lower Loxley, you could get some well known guest actors in to do it, have them mingling with the locals, fun in the pub, little crushes for the likes of Tracey and Susan, potential for actual fun. They can stay in the spare rooms in the mansion which may or may not exist.

SW2 - this is a drama serial, why would we want fun?

And what about Phoebe’s bloody results???

that nice school in Berkshire

The John Madejski Academy in Reading?

I predict the rival Christmas do will have involvement from Kirsty''s new neighbour. (Joy Horville?)

Brilliant Chemenger

Dumdidum 2 almost ok storylines; Tracey as helpmeet\new receptionist at GG to Oliver and teller of the truth to CMR. Ermmm oh and Lynda learning to be an umpire for the cricket.

@DadDadDad doesn't the whole saga start every year with them saying there will be no Christmas play?

Yes, it's like the Monty Python sketch were no-one mentions the Spanish Inquisition.

That I don't mind, a bit of continuity, those right on SW's obviously find that type of thing a bit for them. We were allowed the Flower and Produce Show because they made the birth of Xander coincide with it oh and a bit of nonsense about Jill's scrap cakes.