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.

No, it was busy because of cheap, happy hour drinks.

It'll be The Bull and Bailliff if they can't sort themselves out.

I'm really not listening properly these days - happy hour completely passed me by. Not a great sign, is it?

It's the BAA isn't it?

I thought that the regulars suggestions were much better than the real reason for the special announcement. After all the Pet Shop Boys were available at short notice to play at Lower Loxley a few years ago, so why shouldn’t Dolly Parton be?

Is he about to propose?

I can't see Helen, Lee and the boys travelling out to Bali for a wedding.... so it will just be Joy and Roy on the guest list.

Gosh, nobody saw that coming.
Kelly will go ballistic (or balistic)

Gosh, what a surprise! No one saw that coming.

Oh congrats to Kitchenfloor Gasp0de SurpriseSparday and all the other posters suspecting what Phillip was planning.

Don't encourage her, nettie434

Sorry R4

(whispers) but MUM is right

Snap R4

She doesn't know he's planning a double wedding in Bali yet.

If Philip has a heart attack in the intervening months he won't be able to afford the travel insurance?

How is Shula getting on with her trainee vicaring? There is no possible chance that they are lining her up to officiate at St Stephens, is there?

Actually, I don't really care.

Well I thought that was lovely tonight.

Must admit, MissB, I like Phirsty as a couple.

It's just that the proposal was sooo unexpected!

I quite liked the proposal, though I'm guessing they were alone in the hide as other twitchers would be signalling them to STFU.

In a related matterI had a quibble from an earlier birdwatching ep where Philip spoke about using the app. to identify the bird, i.e. taking his phone with him. Unless times have changed this is twitching heresy; you identify markers for the bird and hope you can remember them for when you get back to the car.:o

It's very good for getting you to notice the salient features.

I still do this after years with my one-time twitcher and lifetime birder late DH. :o

How is Shula getting on with her trainee vicaring? There is no possible chance that they are lining her up to officiate at St Stephens, is there?

Not unless it's an incredibly long engagement. She'll probably train for around three years before ordination, althouough the CofE are famously flexible. But she hasn't even got through the selection process and begun training yet, she couldn't have done in the time elapsed so far even if it had happened off-air.

I'm still thinking Philip will be deaded well before a long engagement pans out. I've been holding out for it ever since his frequent Casulty moments began as the house move neared. I hope for Kirsty's sake that he clings on to life until they're married, but I doubt it - for the sake of the drama of a confrontation between Gavin and Kirsty over the non-existent rights of a non-married partner.

though I'm guessing they were alone in the hide

Although it would have been funny if Philip and Kirsty arrived to find Jim and Lloyd all cosy with his 'rugs, cushions, and fairy lights' having quaffed all his mulled wine!

Sorry - Jim and Robert, not Lloyd

I hope for Kirsty's sake that he clings on to life until they're married, but I doubt it - for the sake of the drama of a confrontation between Gavin and Kirsty over the non-existent rights of a non-married partner. If he'd had any sense, he'd be writing his will now to protect Kirsty - a Will is revoked on marriage except where it is written "in expectation of matrimony".

Yes, MereDint, but as we know, Archers characters currently tend to do what would make for more drama rather than what an average sensible person would do in their shoes.

I mean, he may not be doomed to die at all, but if he is then it will doubtless be in the cause of needless conflict between Gavin and Kirsty.

All by the by, but I caught up with Jim's ghost story readings yesterday. Very well done indeed, he has a lovely voice and got me looking for Michael Hordern's readings of MR James's "Casting the Runes" and "Room 13", also a superb reading voice.

I'm on a roll now and will re-watch my boxed set of the BBC adaptations of James's ghost stories. The Australian summer is not the most atmospheric for this.:o

@echt sending you down some cold weather and rain to help get the fires under control.

Daft Qn, but how do you listen to the Archers? Can you get "Sounds"/listen from the website.

We have expat family in US and Oz who miss their R4 comedies. We currently download into iTunes (or whatever it is on a Mac these days) and make them binge-listen when they are over.

Back to the Archers, I hope they do some more actors' reading* (an Ambridge Festival perhaps?). A few* have lovely voices. Sadly Tim Bentinck just sounded like he was reading aloud in the audiobook of his I listened to last year.

Madcats I think your family ought to be able to listen to Radio 4 live or via BBC Sounds. I know when I have been abroad, I have listened via the internet:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/listening-outside-the-uk/listen-outside-uk

Daft Qn, but how do you listen to the Archers? Can you get "Sounds"/listen from the website

I google "The Archers" and click on "Catch Up" shortly after it's been archived in the UK, which is about 6.30.a.m. AEST. I could listen live, but this coincides with my getting brekkers, walking the dog, getting ready for work so I like to be able to pause it. The time difference between the UK and Melbourne means I hear it within minutes of the UK broadcast, so can join in the TA chat, a happy circumstance.