Archers thread #116: Pandemic fears, markets crash but it's BOOM 💥 time for Ambridge. 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 employ Philip Moss & Son to fix your soil pipe, 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! (New thread likely to be replacing that one very soon, in the current circumstances.)

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 thread title idea, which I tweaked, and @springydaff for the 💥 emoticon, which I hope is in the title! (Can't preview the title). Welcome, lurkers and lapsed listeners, drawn out of the shadows by the current crisis in Ambridge. In the OP of the last thread I said I didn't think we'd get to Easter on that thread. We certainly didn't!

I am very worried indeed about Lynda and concerned about Oliver too. Don't care about Gavin unless it means Kirsty is cheated out of yet another wedding. Freddie's redemption is now assured, though, surely? Roll on the return of the Lower Loxley crew.

ed is not getting any work from phil because he talks to his family a lot...

Ambridge is a front for Phil's enterprises. It often happens in relation to organised crime. The chap leaving at 7.30am to catch the 7.47 may not necessarily be going to his corporate job in London and his family may not know the full truth.

There's more to Phil than meets the eye and in retrospect like Rob, where are his mates and why does nobody know somebody he knows. Now here's a thought, might Rochelle's mother (can't remeber her name in a senior moment) be part of it. And where is Blake's mum?

Joy as Criminal Mastermind?

That’ll keep me happy for the rest of the weekend.

I do see your point C8H10N4O2 - but they have such chemistry. Can’t ever remember Ed as happy as he was watching Susan’s video with Emma.

I like the way you think, @OhTheRoses! We could perhaps also tie in the Gills and Vince Casey to the vast criminal underworld of Borsetshire.

Oh certainly, Vince and co. There have always been dodgy abattoirs and - never fancied the meat van personally or the sort of chaps in the City who knew a man who works in Smithfields - top quality for supermarket prices. The sort of chap who would roll his eyes when you said "oh what a lovely offer, but we only eat a little meat and I prefer not to freeze it" Used to amaze me how many Oxbridge types bought lbs of the stuff from him but their gp's were perhaps not farmers.

Off topic but is Bert still around? I've not seen her here for a while.

but they have such chemistry.

Oh I dont' disagree. But long term them being together is just a life of poverty and hard work for Emma and nothing very romantic about that.

Off topic but is Bert still around? I've not seen her here for a while

I was wondering too. BertrandRussell won't recognise me under this name but if she is reading this I hope she is well.

Joy as Criminal Mastermind?

I would love Joy to have observed the vital piece of evidence that exposes Phil n Gav. I would be ecstatically happy if it also emerged all that driving did for Tim was actually part of Phillip’s business.

Like LaureBerthaud, I tried to tell myself Phillip was ok, just because I want Kirsty to be happy. I really want Kirsty to be with Roy who suits her much more and I think is actually less sexist than many of the Ambridge men. I also want Emma to get back with Ed - she is independent enough to withstand the Grundy pressures to be a doormat.

Just adding a hello to BertrandRussell if she is around. Never really interacted with her but I liked her posts and laughed at her username.

I rather thought she must have name changed - (though hadn’t identified her posting style under any new name).

Would be great if everyone stayed and everyone could keep their original names. Almost no one still has the name they used on Thread #1. And I can probably only trace about 3 name changers back to FFS Lilian, he’s just a bit on the side!

OMG - I did not see that plot twist coming but really liked it. I think the idea of someone who seems decent and turns out not to be so interesting. I wonder if he is keeping his workers passports and they are working illegally.

Alont with other I would be happy to keep the Archers as a CV free zone - I need some escapism right now.

Bert seems to have been missing for a while.

Bert was experimenting with name changes at one point fairly recently - there was a thread where she had a name change fail - so maybe she's done that finally.

@BertrandRussell are you still amongst us? Knock three times...

I have sometimes wondered why Philip was planted in TA, being so dull and one dimensional. And now this!

Why are all the serious wrong 'uns always male and nearly always outsiders? I know Freddie transgressed rather, but he's now achieved redemption of sorts. The Grundys are just chancers and not very bright.

Kirsty's only purpose seems to be as the innocent recipient of very bad luck, repeatedly. Oh,and Helen's friend - which is also quite bad luck.

You called @LaureBerthaud ?

BOOP for Brian from me. I think Phil’s slaves are vulnerable Brits. It’s a common misconception that modern slavery only happens abroad or with trafficked foreigners.

I couldn't understand why Philip's excuse for not taking Ed on was so ridiculously flimsy. Makes sense now.

I think Kirsty will end up back with Tom (sadly). That whole Natasha disappearing debacle at the start of his marriage must have happened for a reason. The sheer panic & fear in his voice when he lost his wedding ring recently shows there is something seriously wrong in that relationship.

There have been prosecutions for modern day slavery involving vulnerable British people. The victims were homeless/had learning difficulties/ mental health issues/ ex- prisoners/ ex- care system.

That's clearly what Philip has been doing. Philip's self- justification, whether he truly believes it or not, will be that these men are otherwise unemployable and sleeping in a shed/barn/caravan/slum property and getting food, beer and cigarettes is better than sleeping rough and being hungry.

It's an interesting story line.

Like others I'm pretty annoyed that I defended Philip by conceding he is dull but at least he was decent.

be with Roy who suits her much more and I think is actually less sexist than many of the Ambridge men

The long ago Usha incident and the frankly silly Elizabeth incident aside Roy, and possibly Rex and Jakob, is as good as it gets.

It's a fairly low bar then

Do Philip’s slaves perhaps sleep in any empty property he’s doing up?

Apologies if someone has already said this but I imagine Kirsty is pregnant. She did turn down a cup of tea twice last week ...

Agree about Rex, Yakult and Rotaboy. Brian has to be my favourite character.

Why can't TA just be about sheep. pigs, cows and ferrets and sheepdogs?
Why are the baddies Welsh? Eh? Eh?

I heard The Patch today but wasn't really listening - I usually switch it off. It did remind me of 'R Kairsty' mum and her wrong accent.

Poor Kairsty - she has no luck.

(Sorry just putting on a fake scouse accent there. Being welsh, I obviously have a singsong Valleys lilt. Not.)

Ambridge self-isolates
twitter.com/shambridges/status/1241454528320413696?s=21

Oh, Pat's welsh.

Did I mention that I don't like Pip?