Archers thread #115: Johnny's in the gym, Josh is in a jam, Rex is riled, Kate's with child - 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 to share a camomile tea with Kate, 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 @LillianGish for the excellent Bert Fry tribute title!

I don't think this thread will get us to Easter, but we should be well into Lent before we need a new title. I wonder if St Stephen's will have a new oh-so-interesting Lent initiative this year. When did we last hear from Alan?

I didn’t realise Ed was there. Did he just turn up because of the noise?Or was he stalking Emmur? (not a serious suggestion)

I expect there’ll be elf and safety concerns. Will Philip have to explain how he gave the job to someone less experienced who’d never done this task before?? Whether it’s his son or not.

Welcome to the delurkers from me too.

I don't think Ed was there, or if he was nobody else knew.

The 🔮 thinks he might have been doing some work for Gav, but is not sure on this

Gah must have missed it SurpriseSparDay.

I'm furiously trying to catch up with all the threads since the shock of last night's episode.

I've been out of the loop for a while, who's Gavin?

Kirsty's on the point of marrying Philip Moss, who's a relatively recent arrival. He works as a builder with his son Gavin. They're both Welsh. Looks like Gavin might have caused the explosion.

I think either it is Gavin... or it isn’t. (Deep thoughts.) Either way, Philip will be in a state: if it is then he’ll be feeling terrible about sending him in to do the work and if it isn’t then he’ll be incandescent with Gav for delegating unnecessarily whilst also being relieved he wasn’t killed.

And surely that difficult guest will be deaded, otherwise what will have been The Point of him?

Schroedinger's Gavin?

I wondered if the annoying guest was Mr Macleod who’s a regular and Lynda and Tracy were moaning about his unreasonableness. I’m going only by his accent and his irritating behaviour after the blast. I suppose he was in shock too.

I thought Ed was there because someone upthread mentioned him. It was probably a mistype and the person (I refuse to look back - knackered and need my bed) meant Roy.

Well I didn’t see that coming. I thought the Lynda/Freddy/Lilian exchanges were just the usual Ambridge daily dramas.

I looked up Carol Boyd’s (Lynda) age to see if that would give any clues about what she might want. She’s 73 which means she might want to retire from the programme but of course there are many older cast members. June Spencer (Peggy) wanted to record an episode on her 100th birthday and there were some nice photographs of her doing exactly this on The Archers website.

A boop for Freddy who did very well and I was also pleased Roy and Tracy were good in a crisis.

Hello Raera. Look forward to tomorrow’s discussions, although we will all still be on Sunday, Ambridge time.

• Lynda and Tracy were moaning a few weeks ago, I think.

I think Gavin was supposed to be supervising the generic workman. But he wasn't.

This is going to result in a massive payout from Phil's firm's insurer to GG, the late workman's family and the Snell(s). Which will have dire implications for Moss & Co.

Phil's star will wane, as Ed and Emmur's pick up. Eventually E&E will take over a / the new house, when Phil is forced to sell up and give it up, with his top range kitchen worktops and all.

The pub will be renamed The Bull and Lynda's ashes will be scattered where she sat her vigil outside, plus a little pot on the bar, next to the community notice board.

D'you know I'm just up to here with worrying stuff in real life (Brexit, coronavirus etc etc) and just feel like this is the last thing I need to listen to at the moment.

Gosh that was hard to listen to - very well acted, but poor Freddie and Lynda! He did very well, but it was all very traumatic listening. I do hope she's all right - she can be irritating and frustrating but she means so well, and I really like her as a character.

Well I shed more than one tear at Freddie saying ‘I accept your apology’ to an unconscious Lynda! Crikey

DH and I may be heading for a falling out. He's suggesting that Lynda makes him turn the radio off if he "accidentally" is still listening when The Archers comes on and that her dying would improve his listening experience!

Freddie worked in the kitchens; wouldn't he have known where their fire escape was

Ah, but Freddie has Nigel's brains (they scraped them up for him specially and he keeps them in a little silver thimble left him by a never-heard-of-before-or-since multiple-great aunt).

Why he should have given a second thought to Lynda, goodness knows. Hero malgré lui is a bit of a cliché. Damn; answered my own non-question there.
I hope in the circumstances I would have had the presence of mind to stuff a bit more brick-dust up her nose, just in case, or stand lightly on her windpipe while 'trying to dig my way out'.

If she recovers, I shall be seriously annoyed. Bring on the eau de nil, yards of it.
And if her perma-chuckling 'heartbroken widower' follows her down into the grave or gas main shortly, so much the better. The man is an enabler: worse, an encourager and egger-on. The only reason he 'indulged' her foibles (personality defects and social crimes, in other words) was that he couldn't stand having the dreadful besom about the house. Well who could blame him? But on the other hand he did marry her and therefore is due a come-uppance too.

Alistair or Jakob would ensure that the llamas and dog were taken care of or humanely destroyed, wouldn't they?

I thought Freddie was brilliant last night, which is not a phrase I've ever uttered before. Ditto Roy and Tracey. If Lynda has a 7 chucked at her then I hope Tracey and Roy get more coverage.

Ps. I hope Lynda has survived and will thrive after this. And I felt for Oliver too.

Freddie worked in the kitchens; wouldn't he have known where their fire escape was

the kitchen looked slightly different than usual plus he seemed to have some trauma. and a tinnitus.

is it the ever wandering sinkhole?

Top episode. Freddie was so good. Everyone was now I come to think of it, but Freddie's anguish was so well-conveyed.

I still can’t bring myself to believe that the SWs have killed Lynda. Why? If the actress needed time off/wanted to leave then why not just silence her - she could have become the new Freda Fry or Mrs P - no voice, but still very much a presence. An explosion or disaster of this nature was surely the perfect opportunity to get rid of Pip and the Fairbrethren. I’m still hoping against hope that Lynda may yet live - in that respect last night’s episode made compelling listening. Even DH listened with me - great acting from Freddie, edge of the seat stuff.

Perhaps the actress had expressed a wish to go out with a bang.

I don’t think she’s dead.

There would have been no point to her being dragged out by Freddie if she’s dead - it’s hardly a glorious ending.

Coma?

@theThreeofWeevils,