Archers thread #113: Who’ll find some Magic Time this Christmas in Ambridge? Share the glad tidings (and bad writing) in The Archers! Election-free zone so far ...

[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 Hannah 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 @SurpriseSparDay for the title. I haven't heard 12/12 yet so must catch up now, seeking relief from the outside world.

Great to see the delurkers - welcome, @funnelfanjo and @Legoroses and any others. There must be lurkers reading this who have something to say - join us....

As we enter a new year, what are your predictions for the next Ambridge character:

1. to get married
2. to die
3. to leave Ambridge?

I don't think it can be Bridge Farm land that Phoebe has cozened out of someone, if it is next to the other land they have already got; according to the map in The Ambridge Years by "Dan Archer" (1984 and copyright William Smethwick and Anthony Parkin), the field Brookfield has let Pip rent, Oakey Bank, is at the north of the Brookfield land and on the opposite side of the Am from Bridge Farm, which is to Brookfield's south.

Woke up too early today and put radio on to help me get back to sleep, so heard bits of "farming today"

Same happened to me and I took away the same impression. It was all a bit "try hard".

It might work better if the food/farming types I know didn't disparage some of the storylines even more than I do.

Thanks @DadDadDad - I’m usually several weeks behind listening, which I do via the podcasts. I read the threads up to the date of my most recent episode. It’s rare that I’ve caught up and can discuss in real time as the conversations have usually moved on.

I’m useless with predictions, but if I may, I will share that my frustrations are the same as the rest of you with the current plots and characterisations. My biggest bugbear is JennyDear and Brine’s living situation. My understanding of their situation was that Home Farm house was sold to keep the rest of the business afloat and intact. It didn’t impact their personal finances, so why on earth are they still renting a small cottage which was for expedience only? I could get that there would be a limited number of suitable naice properties to buy in the right area that would suit a wealthy retired couple looking to downsize, but surely Lilian would be setting Jenny up with all her property contacts in the area to hunt one down? We should be hearing Jenny boring the rocks off Brian with agent listings and property viewings and plans for renovations and decorations.

I am perversely actually enjoying the Josh and the Misused Tractor storyline, as it is consistent with what a selfish little git Josh can be. Plus, Dayviid and Ruthpet can be far too smug at times and this helps bring them to earth. I love Jill and Leonard, anything Harrison-related, Jim, and Linda and Robert.

I hope to hear lots of Jim and Robert and their competitive bird watching, those two have such great chemistry together. Should (heaven forbid) Lynda either leaves Ambridge or SOTMC I would love to see the pair of them share a house like Ambridge's version of The Odd Couple.

Are The Cambridges listeners?! The announcement about the Earthshot Prize today reminded me of Peggys scheme. Please God don’t let Pip, Rex and Phoebe ( all great names for rats I think!) anyway near it your Highnesses!

Welcome, lurkers! Good to see you. Happy New Year to one and all.

I like a challenge, DDD!

Next Ambridge character:

1. to get married
Not sure if they will marry this year, or at all, but I predict that Helen and Lee will remain an established couple and may possibly move in together at some point, perhaps building a home on Bridge Farm land.

2. to die
Logically, it should be Peggy, but I can't bring myself to wish for June Spencer's demise, or that of any of the older actors. I'll go for Peggy's awful cat - Hilda?

3. to leave Ambridge
This could turn into a wish list, but trying to keep it to a prediction - Russ? I can't see how that relationship can last much longer.

Hannah! How could I have forgotten. I want Hannah to leave, and Rex to replace her. I don't care how improbable that is.

Married ... Kirsty
Die...Robert
Leave Ambridge ....Josh

(1) To marry
I have a big list of people I'd like to see married/one of those new fangled partnership things that became legal today:
Tracey & Oliver?
Kathy and ...anybody ?
Jamie Perks and a Button girl (he must be a millionaire by now with all the trees that need caring for)?
Lizzie and.... (anybody who can give Russ his marching orders)?

(2) To die
Am I a bad person to suggest Peggy - then we can put an end to her re-wilding scheme because of all the tax liabilities?
Justin?
So many of the cast are getting on a bit I can't help thinking that some will ask to be written out soon.

I have omitted Philip because he seems a completely pointless character - I have been expecting him to die for ages, so he probably won't.

(3) to leave Ambridge
Russ?
Hannah?
Justin?
The Gills?
Most of the SW's?

I still don't understand the point of Joy, but she is mostly harmless.

My New Year's Wish:
Pop a few people who know what they are talking about on the 'payroll' - I imagine a case of wine or a Christmas hamper and some signed Archers memorabilia would be accurate remuneration for most:
-Real estate lawyer/agent (agricultural)
-Welfare Benefits Advisor
-Early years consultant and parents of children that can "talk their age"
-Agricultural College lecturer or a proper farmer with a load of farming friends
-People with proper doors/windows/cupboards/children who would happily record the appropriate noises for the budget-constrained Foley man.

Ooh can I add some New Years wishes too?
Jazzer to fall in love and have a happy relationship.
Lots of drama for Tom and Natasha re her finances ( cos I hate a loose end)
Pip to have some bad luck too ( nothing nasty)
Emma and Ed to get back together ( I don’t care about them but we all know it’s going to happen )

I'll go for Peggy's awful cat - Hilda? NOOoooo! "awful" and "cat" don't belong in the same sentence. Hilda is a spirited cat who won't stand for any nonsense.

Marry- Philip and Kirsty. They are both dull but basically OK. Kirsty is vulnerable as she's now financially dependent on an older man who has made no commitment to her. If anything happens to Philip grasping toad Gavin will do his best to kick her out/challenge wills unless she is married.

Die- Peggy. I really don't like Peggy and her stupid re-wilding scheme.

Awful things short of death- Pip and Phoebe and Lily. Don't mind what.

Good luck- Oliver, Tracey and Johnny because they deserve it. Helen and Lee just to shut her up.

Leave- Lilian (and her ghastly fake trans-Atlantic accent) can bugger off to some expatriate criminal hidey-hole with Matt.

Elizabeth and Russ to have a ghastly liaison just because it would be so funny and it would really annoy Lily.

is anyone listening to the ghost story ?

Delurking as I love the idea of predictions!

1	To marry - well maybe not marry but a romance afoot between Elizabeth and Russ. She’s all gooey when they speak and Lily seems indifferent to him. The only other couple would be Kate and Jakob getting hitched in a yurt. 
2	To die - definitely Hilda. Or maybe Hannah in some freak guttering accident caused by Neil and covered up by Susan.
3	To Leave - definitely Hannah in aforementioned guttering incident. She is just awful now. She was always a bit barbed but her backstabbing with Neil is insufferable.

I'd like to see Kate and Jakob get married, but predict it will be Trolley
Leave Ambridge? - Russ and Hannah
Renewed SLs - Baby Dander, Natasha's credit card bills.

It's bad enough about poor Eccles without you wanting Hilda dead.

Poor Jim... I hope this isn't the start of something awful.

Die - Russ
That's all I want.

I think I dislike CMR too much to want him to die - everyone might start speaking well of him

I'd like him to leave Ambrose in disgrace, with Lily having seen the light and kicked him out in a very memorable way.

For a moment, I couldn't think who Russ was. Now I have remembered. Thanks for that...

Happy New Year to you all!

To marry - Rex and Pip
To die - maybe Christine now she’s semi-silent? I hope not though.
To leave - Russ (please!!)

Going to change my name for the New Year. Happy New Year all.

I have no time for Christine but don't want her deaded purely because she is the possessor of the Longest Serving Soap Actor in the World gong. 66 years and counting!
Leave Ambridge: definitely half (at least) of the SW.
If we are predicting Matches and Dispatches then shouldn't we also be doing Hatches?

Happy New Year all!

Sorry Ebearhug, how depressing to be thinking of russ whilst the year drew to a close.

I'm pissed off at the Josh/dodgy deals SL because it feeds into the Dopeys' perception that he's a waste of space in contrast to Pip's living saint/heroine status. I was quite enjoying the fact that he was quietly making a success of his business whilst Pip was off sabotaging her parents' bid for the Peggy prize, but we're obviously going to be subjected to several weeks of David huffing and moaning about Josh in between bouts of polishing Pip's halo..

Happy New Year, everyone!
I came on here to see what people thought of the NYE episode. Since no-one else has commented yet, I will stick my neck out to say I really did NOT like it at all. I thought it was an unnecessary ending to the Year in Ambridge. I presume the point will be that it's a nasty virus and the Ghost Stories will be cancelled for the rest of the week and Elizabeth will have a hissy fit about it.