👩‍🌾 The Archers spoilers thread #5: Can't wait for 7.02pm? Join us here!

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Spoiler thread for The Archers. Please keep all spoiler-related discussion in this thread and do not spill the beans on the main Archers Thread. Last thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3439443-keep-it-to-yourself-the-archers-spoilers-thread-4

Apparently can be either but I'd say mantle piece.

Bet you say serviettes too
I didn't hear the programme.
The word baths rhymes with maths for me.

Good god, no! Napkins.

Re mantle pieces I live in a posh part of a posh city with lots of grand Georgian and Victorian houses. Professionally I have been involved in the past in the sale of these properties.

I've never come across one which had a chimney piece- I think mantle piece is the U expression.

I've been accused of being middle class. It was meant to offend me.

Do you live in Bath? Are you Kerstie Allsopp?

I've only heard of a mantlepiece, not chimneypiece. Working class ex Londoner here.

Chimney piece was what one of the unexpectedly-noble Mitfords colluded with the caddish Waugh to assert was "U".

Reminds me of How to Get On in Society, another excellent leg-pull at the expense of the aspiring, that one by Betjeman.

Interesting the history of the word serviette. The Normans bought it over and it was the normal word until the Mitfords et al got hold of it and decreed that it should be napkin.

The French still use the word serviette without embarrassment, which rationally (unusually for the French language !!!!) makes more sense because napkin is what the Americans call babies' nappies from the word diaper meaning triangular.\diagonal.

Ref. the Mitford family were totally off the wall, the Father refused to send the girls to school because they might return and use the words "Notepaper"

Kirsty Allsopp doesn't live in Bath. She is down in North Devon somewhere. One of "The Today Programme" presenters sometimes does, though, just up the hill from me.

In terms of pronunciation, I'd say 75% of us call the city "Bahrth", 10% of the older residents and rugby fans have an even longer "a".
You don't hear the short "a" very often.

I am listening to "The Pursuit of Love" - it is hilarious! I am quite pleased that we are busy social distancing because there's nobody around to spot when I burst out laughing.

Lucky you Madcats If I could choose one place to live in England it would be Bath.

I did also mean the large bit of plumbing in the room which most people wash In!!

Pursuit of Love is very funny and difficult to imagine anyone living like that esp. it being not SOOO long ago.

I loved TPOL too.

I was only joking about KA. Bath (short a) is rather lovely.

Anyone heard and understood the full gist of the Blake\Philip thing? Is Blake homeless or something? why is he so frightened of The now 'charming' boss?

Why do I give a shxx?????!!!!!

I don't think we know the background yet, ppeatfruit. From what we've heard, Blake is suggestible, anxious, probably of extremely limited educational attainment, possibly has a learning disability. Ex-care system, ex-prison, homeless, jobless, no family support? Frightened of Philip because if Philip doesn't look after him, he's on his own again, and that's even worse than living in Philip's stable where at least he has a roof over his head, food (when his minders remember/can be bothered) and company, plus something to do. It's horrible but it's an interesting storyline.

Thanks Gasp It does seem to involve a 360 degree change in 'good old Philip's ' personality though. Odd that Kirstie didn't notice before.

Justin's involvement at least seems within character.

Odd that Kirstie didn't notice before.

Never a truer word spoke.

Tbh, after living through two Tom-events and one Rob-event I would have been inclined to order a full year of police and psychological checks on any man I planned to have dinner with. That Kirsty could walk blindly into such extreme ill fortune does stretch credibility a touch.

Why didn’t she at least arrange a meet up with his ex wife?? (I know it’s not usual, but in her circumstances ...)

Yes Spar Let alone share a house with an unknown quantity of the male persuasion!

Philip’s going to be arrested at their wedding, isn’t he? Proper old skool soap style.

Oh FGS you're probably right Spar Funny that Gav didn't let on either.

The "Next on" one-liners retreats to "Contemporary drama in a rural setting" fo 6th April, so that's obviously the night to stay in for. Not that we're likely to have much choice about staying in.

I think I'd like the Editor and his team to pause and reflect for a couple of weeks and get some cheerier storylines.

We could have Neil phoning somebody to talk about his holiday, Ruth dealing with Casey Meats Jnr who wants a full refund on her wedding...

Then they could put all the ditched episodes onto R4 Extra and call them "The Lost Plots".

Not going to happen, Madcats. The episodes they have recorded are going to be treasured like the last bag of pasta in the corner shop as it's going to be a nightmare to make more. See the other thread for a link to a video put out by Tim Bentinck (David Archer) announcing that the actors are all going to attempt to record their scenes at home and an engineer will then have the tricky job of splicing them all together and adding sound effects. TB says they have enough episodes to get to the end of April (presumably that's taking into account dropping to five episodes a week from six) and it seems to have been decided that Ambridge is the only place in the world to remain free of the coronavirus.

Told you Chloe would be one of Ben’s harem!

And she is going to speak!

I know it's Thursday and I usually put up the spoilers for the next week, but the ones I have got won't exactly be for next week.

What I suggest I do is put up what I already have, and people can juggle the dates for themselves. So on Sunday we get the last day of this week as posted last Thursday, and on Monday the first of next week...

It's too complicated trying to work out who plays whom in any given week after this one, because it will all be mixed up with the week before.

ANYhow. As things were until tomorrow happened, the state of play was

BBC one-liners 29th March - 2nd April
29 Mar One resident makes a devastating confession and Brian is impressed.
30 Mar Roy faces an uncomfortable request and there’s a surprise for Ben.
31 Mar Justin finds himself challenged and Kirsty tries to do the right thing.
01 Apr Elizabeth uses the benefit of her experience and Fallon has a bright idea.
02 Apr Johnny attempts to support a friend and Kate puts her foot in it.

Credits
Sun 29/3/2020, Mon 30/3/2020, Tue 31/3/2020, Wed 1/4/2020, Thu 2/4/2020, Fri 3/4/2020
Writer: Keri Davies
Director: Rosemary Watts
Editor: Jeremy Howe
Brian Aldridge: Charles Collingwood
Jennifer Aldridge: Angela Piper
Phoebe Aldridge: Lucy Morris
Ben Archer: Ben Norris
Josh Archer: Angus Imrie
Pip Archer: Daisy Badger
Lee Bryce: Ryan Early
Chloe: Eva Feiler
Justin Elliott: Simon Williams
Rex Fairbrither: Nick Barber
Ed Grundy: Barry Farrimond
Emma Grundy: Emerald O’Hanrahan
Shula Hebden Lloyd: Judy Bennett
Alistair Lloyd: Michael Lumsden
Adam Macy: Andrew Wincott
Kirsty Miller: Annabelle Dowler
Gavin Moss: Gareth Pierce
Elizabeth Pargetter: Alison Dowling
Freddie Pargetter: Toby Laurence
Johnny Philips: Tom Gibbons
Fallon Rogers: Joanna Van Kampen
Robert Snell: Graham Blockey
Roy Tucker: Ian Pepperell

Radio Times Ambridge Diary March 29 - April 2
The village is in desperate need of a boost, so Shula and Kirsty organise a Fayre with a difference. Fallon, though, is struggling to gain interest in her Easter bonnet concept, but soon comes up with a twist that may just prove to be a winner. Kirsty, however, is left wondering whether her plans are appropriate in the wake of all that’s happened.
Good news at last comes to Brookfield and Ben is surprised to run into a young woman from his past. And there are celebrations for the Aldridges as Xander’s birth certificate comes through, but Brian has a controversial suggestion for Adam that succeeds in stirring up unpleasant memories …

Brian's suggestion will be that Xander will be registered as Alexander Aldridge.