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.

Is it B or Bee?

It was something more than the presumption of measuring up without being asked that irked Jim, because afterwards he said he wouldn't have Philip doing it "on principle", Maybe it was the differing views on the importance of history that someone mentioned up thread.

The Bee, I think.
Philip and Kirsty getting married and Philip deaded would be a good SL.
I like Kirsty.

So why is a Bee more trendy than a Bull? All the young people flocking in droves because its called the Bee? Daft.

I don't understand why Philip was so desperate to be helpful and phone "Pete from Loxley Norton" to get him back on the job.
I'd be sitting back, enjoying the schadenfreude and waiting for Jim to come crawling.

Pah, KitchenFloor hadn't even heard the episode at that stage! Lucky guesswork.

[bad loser emoticon goes HERE]

The B at Ambridge is such an awful name it went out of my head as soon as I stopped listening. Surely it must be that, not Bee, as even the airhead consultant must be aware that bees are animals, and he said animal names for pubs put young people off, or some such drivel. As already stated earlier today, there are a lot of us older people, and many of us have more money than the young. Surely they'd be better off turning the restaurant into a gastropub?

I had to pause and listen again, definitely "The B. at Ambridge" - B short for Bull.

Hey, maybe Jolene meant "The B@Ambridge" or "theb@ambridge"

By the way, Jolene was very unpleasant to Kenton. Almost as if the Personality Transplant Fairy had called.

I thought it was ‘B’ for Bull.

Why not go the whole hog and call it the B@A

I don't understand why Philip was so desperate to be helpful and phone "Pete from Loxley Norton" to get him back on the job
I'd be sitting back, enjoying the schadenfreude and waiting for Jim to come crawling

I think Phillip is just genuinely nice. I liked how sensible he sounded tonight.

Jolene sounded absolutely bonkers- what an utterly stupid idea this is.

And so say all of us. And all of them too, by the sound of it. Apart from Justin, for some reason completely unfathomable to anyone not a Business Mogul whose main talent seems to be losing money and employed wrong'uns like Rob and Hannah.

They should call it the beau de lollox

This storyline is stupid. Remember when lillian had a job and a life and a dog and an elderly mum and a grandchild and a load of extended family to keep her busy instead of hanging round being a pain in kenton’s arse all the livelong day? Because the scriptwriters sure don’t

I'm looking forward to the fallout from the team building event. :o There's a thread in Staffroom running about Wellness days that's amusing. And how snide was Kate about Roy's management style?

Are we having copper and contrast with how to handle the workers; Jim and the tradies, Neil and Hannah, Oliver and the GG kitchen staff

Compare, not copper.

Maybe Philip is going to suggest a double wedding with Gav & Kelly?

Two spectacular Bali beach weddings for the (twenty grand) price of one?

Can't see Kirsty being too thrilled though.....

Where exactly is Hannah living these days?

When she complained that the commute was 'killing her', she made it sound like she drives into work from the Outer Hebrides each morning.

She must use The Bypass. Wasn't that always the reason anyone was late to meet anyone else in Ambridge, for years and years? (Pretty useless bypass, I always thought. If I were going into Borchester from Ambridge I would go along the B-road via Lower Loxley and Lakey Green, and not use the bypass at all.)

Where exactly is Hannah living these days?

She sleeps upside down hanging from the rafters in Lower Loxley's attics.

She sleeps upside down hanging from the rafters in Lower Loxley's attics.

Everyone Expelled from the village is usually sent to live in a flat off the Borchester bypass.

Should really have started by saying ‘hello’ before posting. I am very excited to have found this thread and the spoiler one. I like Lilian for the entertainment value but agree 100% with the poster who said she would be a bad friend. I also like Eddie and (gasp) even have a slightly soft spot for Ruth and Roy. Hope you will all forgive me.

Welcome @nettie434.
I have a soft spot for Ruth, Roy and Kirsty. As you are new, I'll let you into a secret - I don't have a soft spot for Pip. Don't tell anyone.

Next they'll want to change the name of the programme ...

Interesting ... As I’ve said a million times, the whole point of TA has always been degrees of proximity (through blood or business) to the First Family. But perhaps that’s no longer the case - I mean, perhaps that’s not how the Editor and SWs understand it now.

Die? Seems to be a race between Philip and Neil at the moment.

Marry? Trolley. Please.

Leave? Josh. Again.

It’s true about all the leasing and renting being eternally extended. 57 Editors in a couple of years ...

Belated HNY to everyone! TA has been ridiculously dull listening without you.

Josh could take his sister with him.
I'd like Kirsty to marry Philip and he be deaded soon after.leaving her with the house and maybe a little Mossy.
I don't want Neyull deaded.

I predict the branding will be rubbish and everyone will start calling it something else:

If it’s “The B at Ambridge” they’ll call it “The Bat”

If it’s “The B@ Ambridge” they’ll call it “The Ba[r]”

And it’ll sound so shit they’ll eventually turn it back. Poor joe must be rolling over in his grave already. No one will be able to bring themselves to say “the b at ambridge as it’s RIDICULOUS”. It’s even ridiculous in the usual context of such names which AFAIK is expensive restaurants in big hotels eg “Galvin at Windows” where matey from First Dates worked. But in a local pub it’s just... clumsy and silly.

Gasp0de the 🔮 predicted way upthread that there would be a double wedding in Bali

It also thinks that Philip is seriously loaded but just hasn't let on to Kirsty yet.

Apparently there are petitions springing up to save The Bull. I might sign one if I thought the name change was actually going to happen.

Thanks for the welcome MikeUniformMike.

I'll let you into a secret - I don't have a soft spot for Pip.

She is charmless, isn’t she? Made worse because she always sounds the same, whether she is doing something to a sheep or remonstrating with Toby