Archers thread #114: Bull banished, Bali beaches beckon, bickering bullshitters burgeon

[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 Gavin 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 for all thread title suggestions! I've gone with a B theme which with a bit of luck will seem odd and irrelevant by the end of this thread. Here's hoping, anyway.

Haven't caught up with tonight's episode yet, so off to do that shortly.

And Lexi, of course!

(Agreed pregnancies.)

If Kate has twins Jenny will actually expire from excitement. And Jakob will need a full time nanny when their mother eventually tires of them and wanders off for some new adventure.

Oh BoreofWhabylon, I was cheering your amazing powers when I listened tonight. and for you. In my naive way, I thought Kate was happy with the 3 children she has (even though she neglects then dreadfully), but of course she did offer to be a surrogate for Ian and Adam before they found Lexi and she has been very involved in the whole pregnancy and birth.

Can’t wait to hear Jakob’s response (and Brian’s). Where does Jakob live? Has he got an Ambridge address?

BOOP for Alice wanting a foot massage and Kate to shut up.

More involved than with her own children.

I’m pretty sure Jakob resides in Borchester. Poor Jakob doesn’t realise just how much his tidy existence is going to be messed up by Kate. He thought it was just a bit of fun but .....

Why didn't "poor Jakob" wear a condom?

I absolutely loathe Kate. Tonight's revelation just confirmed my view.

I don't buy Kate's offer of surrogacy as in any way altruistic, it's all egotism with her, as is her latest bulldozing of the naming day and moving on Jakob for whom I haven't detected any tender feelings on her part. Her connection with her other three children is tenuous to nil.

I hope the revelation of the pregnancy does bring contraception to the fore.

Why didn't "poor Jakob" wear a condom?

Good question, as they haven't been together long. I wonder if they've both been for STI testing. It's the sort of thing I'd expect Jakob to ask for.

I wouldn't put it past her to deliberately have sabotaged any contraception.

Is she telling the truth?

I wouldn't put it past her to deliberately have sabotaged any contraception

My thoughts too. And probably lied about being on the pill.

She has been loathsome in the last few days. Alice is awful too.

I can imagine her capable of engineering a pregnancy - I can’t see any reason why she would lie to Alice about being pregnant.

From what you’re all saying I’m clearly in a minority, but I really love episodes involving Aldridge sisters talking to each other. They are, and sound, so alike (in a good way) - and the constant combination of friction and shorthand seems wonderfully familial and familiar. Will and Ed always manage to portray a simmering tension but most Ambridge siblings give no impression at all of having grown up together, no matter how heavily peppered with ‘big sis’ and ‘little bro’ their scripts are.

They are, and sound, so alike (in a good way)

I take your point about their sounding like sisters- they do. They are both spoilt, shallow, selfish brats.

I wonder if the pregnancy is going to turn out to be wishful thinking on Kate's part. She's at an age when her cycle may well vary a bit, and she probably feels she's above peeing on a stick.

Poor Jakob. I can't see Phoebe taking this well either. I hope we hear Brian's and Peggy's reactions at some length.

Good thinking, Oulu. Phantom pregnancy?

I've really enjoyed the last couple of episodes, except for the unnecessary "Trim Three Go to the Gym" scenes, and I absolutely laughed out loud at the last scene between Kate and Alice, it had all been so well set up all week, excellent climax!

Absolutely spot-on, AskingQuestions!!

Emma was vile to Ed, and I cheered when he left her. She deserved everything she got.

BTW, I reckon Kate planned this. She has used and deceived Jakob - just as she does to everyone else (except maybe Peggy, who sees right through her)

She's thoroughly unpleasant - just like whingy old Emmur.

Good thinking, Oulu. Phantom pregnancy?

Early menopause?

I just wish Jacob would dump her for being the shallow narcissist she is. Narcs don't deserve loving partners, the only partners they deserve are other narcs. I can't stand her.

I agree, I think she will have a feeling she is pregnant but won't have actually done a test. She'll move in with Jakob and get her feet well under the table before it's revealed that's she's not pregnant.

Oh, and she definitely planned this. That's why she's so happy about it. She said she's known a few weeks, but hasn't told the father yet, she obviously doesn't want him suggesting a termination.

There is no way Kate has done a pregnancy test. Someone who is as in tune with their body as her doesn’t need a test to confirm what she already knows, surely? Only people whose chakra enlightenment has been distorted by modern life need tests.

I wouldn't put it past Kate to have nobbled the boiler, just to engineer an excuse to move in with poor unsuspecting Jakob.

And if it finished Peggy off aswell, that would be a bonus - lots of lovely money to spend on her new plaything child.

Well done to whoever predicted Kate’s pregnancy. What was the clue (that I totally missed).