Archers thread #112: Quelle beau de lollox! And yet we stick with it. Discuss The 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 Alf to stay around, 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 @DoctorTwo for the thread title! I was strongly tempted by R4's suggestion of Wildlife on Four: Jonneh is wild at Lily, Phoebe rewilds by Occam, Joy is in the wilderness and David is bewildered by a marriage proposal.

So we did make it past Joe's funeral at last. Are we heading for a Christmas octogenarian wedding now?

[birdsdestiny]

Joy sounds like someone hamming up a Newcastle accent. But I thought she sounded like that in Brush Strokes as well.

[Taswama]

Thanks for the new thread Gasp0de
Not quite up to date, but good to hear that Phoebe’s 3 years at Oxford taught her the importance/ necessity of using your family connections! I imagine a lot of her cohort are now working in the city thanks to Daddy /Mummy /Godparent’s connections.

[HelloYouTwo]

If it turns out Jill doesn’t want to get married then we were all taken in as she definitely sounded like that’s where she was headed. New plot twist - gaslighting Jill in abusive relationship with kindly Leonard

[Fink]

I was quite bemused by the 'didn't they teach you ethics?' comment from Brian. It seemed like he imagines university to be some broad liberal arts programme where everyone receives a classical education, possibly a bit like public schools were when he was a pupil.

Granted, PPE is the subject where you're most likely to encouter ethics, but even then Phoebe needn't necessarily have done anything more than a general introduction to Moral Philosophy in her first year. I doubt it covered the ethics of nepotism/family business support.

Maybe he's confusing PPE with a social science subject, where you are likely to have frequent interaction with the ethics committee.

[EBearhug]

I was quite bemused by the 'didn't they teach you ethics?' comment from Brian.

Especially as she grew up in Ambridge where she will have experienced half the village getting on because of their connections. Including Brian.

[chemenger]

I couldn't resist a quick look at the Oxford PPE curriculum, Ethics is the first topic in the Philosophy course in 2nd year.

[Fink]

Yes, chemenger, but PPE students can drop any one of the three subjects in the second and third years (called 'bipartite' students, by far the most common path) so Phoebe might not have done any Philosophy at all after first year.

[chemenger]

Since Phoebe shows no knowledge of economics (as in needing money to live) or politics (hasn’t noticed Brexit or the election) I assumed she must have done philosophy, since she was familiar with Occam’s Razor.

[devoncreamtea]

I’ve always thought Lily and Jonny will get together.

[Pierrettelasanguinaire]

Did CMR bring coffee to Elizabeth in her bedroom?
No. It was made quite clear that the New Cured Elizabeth doesn't lie around in bed, fretting. She was up & emailing, presumably in her home 'office'.
How disappointing some will find that.

[SurpriseSparDay]

I’ve always thought Lily and Jonny will get together.

It would be immensely beautiful, both emotionally (bonding over their dead fathers, like Ruairi and Mia with their mothers) and structurally, binding the worlds of Bridge Farm and Lower Loxley. Such a heritage they would offer their children ...

Much too good to hope for!

[inkysplatter]

Thanks for the new thread
Loving the tin foil hat surprisespar
Really hope you're wrong about Joy.
Very surprised at Brian, I thought nepotism was right up his street.

[MissBarbary]

I’ve always thought Lily and Jonny will get together

It would be immensely beautiful, both emotionally (bonding over their dead fathers, like Ruairi and Mia with their mothers) and structurally, binding the worlds of Bridge Farm and Lower Loxley. Such a heritage they would offer their children ...

Much too good to hope for!

Why should Johnny be saddled with Lily? He is much nicer than her in every way possible.

[SurpriseSparDay]

I think she has the potential to mature into someone lovely - if the SWs will allow it.

[SurpriseSparDay]

How on earth could Elizabeth suggest CMR knows Jim better than she does?

[MollyButton]

And if Elizabeth wants advice on Jim why doesn't she speak to Shula who knows him very well (and is pretty unbiased on the subject).

[LillianGish]

Chemenger and Fink, may I thank you both for your PPE debate. That's what this thread is all about - revealing little pockets of expertise among contributors. I love the research and analysis carried out on our behalf. God help the SWs - what chance do they have?

[R4]

Very surprised at Brian, I thought nepotism was right up his street.
I took it that Brian thought the plan wouldn't fly and didn't want to be associated with it. Bringing up concerns about nepotism was a good way of saying 'no' without actually having to say 'no'.

[birdsdestiny]

Also does Brian have much influence on the board these days.

[inkysplatter]

That is a very good point R4
*
*

[BuckingFrolics]

No, Bird, his influence is limited to the fridge door, these days.

[MadameButterface]

I was glad to see the back of Alf. But the three little words thing did make me laugh the other day i’ll admit. I wouldn’t be too mad if he pops back for the odd visit from time to time. They used to be quite good at ‘small dose’ type characters like lillian’s lad james and whatever robert snell’s dd is called. The dynamic there with the warring mils and the godawful couple with the comedy posh name baby is a good example of a set of characters/plots that would have been teeth itchingly awful as part of the regular ensemble but which worked when they’d pop in and out of each other’s lives (like real families do when they live at a distance). Mind you that was back in the days before TA turned into a hot mess of loose ends, banished regulars, bedroom farce shenanigans and random personality transplants

[MikeUniformMike]

Robert Snell's daughters are called Coriander and Leonie. Leonie is the one who has a child with James Bellamy.

[NewName73]

I think we can rule out Elizabeth getting together with Russ as we now know he has a predilection for younger women.

[SurpriseSparDay]

James' and Leonie’s son is called Mungo.

How old is he now?

I long for him to come home to Ambridge.