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?

It was wrong of Elizabeth, WheresThatCatGoneNow, but making it all about herself is consistent with her usual behaviour.

Hatingthe Ruarhi used to go and stay with his Irish relatives every summer, I'm not sure if he does now. I suppose that's why Brian thought he didn't need to speak to his son about his bio. mum.

I think that Jenny does love him btw.

Yes! ppeatfruit, the relief in Clarrie's voice when Susan turned up was palpable, wasn't it? Beautifully touching scene.

The clarrie/Susan scene was the best thing I have heard on TA in ages. I wasn't keen in the scene in the bull with Jolene and Toby talking about Joe, it seemed forced .

To be fair to Brian, Siobhan went all out to get him. Not that that's an excuse. I like Ruairi, he's the most well-balanced of the 5. I liked Debbie enormously but she's not much of a character now.

Mike, she did, but she was pushing at an open door!

Debbie would have remained a major character if Tamsin Grieg's career hadn't taken off. I'm glad for her but sorry for us.

Siobhan made a play for Greg first didn't she. I can't remember if he was with Hellin at the time, I think not.
I liked Debbie apart from her awful husband.
They usually get a new actor (Hayley, Emmur) but with Debbie they kept the actor and minimised the part.
I wish they hadn't replaced Tom. I loved Tom.

The real Tom... Sigh!

Who do you mean Uncle Tom? I don't remember the older Tom actor being very different from this one actually.

Tom Archer. Sausage Boy. Son of Tony and Pat. Married to Natasha.
He was completely different.
Had a personality change after jilting Kirsty at the altar.
His voice changed too.

Oh I just remember that he was complained about on here before the jilting and after

I really hope Ed and Emmur don't get back together. They aren't right for each other, and never were.

Just my humble opinion.....

If I was Ruairi, and found out that Elizabeth had betrayed my trust, I would be a bit miffed.

Brian (being Brian) is bound to let it slip in his clumsy way.

Why couldn't Elizabeth have just kept quiet?

I would be more than a bit miffed! At sixteen I would have felt I had been kicked in the teeth by someone I had thought I could trust, and I'd feel that I never dared say anything again about how I actually felt to anyone at all.

Now I would simply want to smack the wretched woman upsides the head with a two-bi-two, or possibly tip purple gloss paint over her head, before never speaking to her again; but at that age I would have found it devastating and taken it to heart.

OK, askingquestions! Maybe I underplayed how angry and let-down I would be feeling!

I agree with everything you said.

God of all the characters being quiet recently they had to bring Elizabeth back!

I really like Elizabeth. I think we're about the same age.

But are you as earnest as her?! She always sounds so....earnest.

I don't live in a stately home.

Poor Jenny.

Oh dear. I can't help it, that gave me an earworm:

Oh Asking. You mean mean person.

Very irritating episode. We are to believe that Brian has said nothing about Roooarri's mother in 16 years? And as for Jenny's meaningful emphasis on words in front of the boy. But never mind, a life-long hole in Ruaridh's life has been patched up by a belated conversation.

and he now knows for certain that he never wants to raise the subject with Brian or Jennifer ever again, and can no longer speak to Elizabeth with any safety.

Honestly, I do feel for him.

(Sorry about the earworm, MUM. Just not very, because why should I suffer alone?)

It's ok Asking, all I need to do is think about Letter From America by the Proclaimers.

I surrender! I give up!