👩‍🌾 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

Philip has three "horses" - Blake (the one that blew up Grey Gables, making himself a bacon sarnie, and is now supposed to be taking things easy), Jordan and Kenzie. The horses live in a flat some way from Ambridge, and are nowadays overseen by Gavin. [ Dick Van Dyke would have made a better stab at "downtrodden/modern slave" accents].

For reasons unknown they keep straying close to Ambridge. This is causing Philip tremendous anxiety. Gavin was overhead talking about his "problems with the horses" by Radio Carter(?). This led to a very tedious storyline about him having to pretend to be a gambling addict, being "helped" by Alistair and Kirsty. It did, however, prompt Gavin to have a bit of an epiphany (leaving him to resent his upbringing). This is a festering wound in the background.

Philip has suddenly remembered that he was on the verge of a heart attack last year and/or work has frozen up due to pandemic or their reputation for liberal use of petrol as a cleaning fluid. Kirsty also decided that she is bored with her job(s) what with one being too dull (running a spa on a building site is unlikely to pull in the punters) or too busy (former punters now dropping rubbish all over the country park).

Philip tells Kirsty he wants to retire and has found a lovely shack in deepest Wales that they can restore together. This is entirely plausible coming from a man that bought an executive home that his own firm didn't build. Philip tells Gavin he is dissolving the failing business and selling the horses. The horses are going to be bought by "Victoria", whose reputation precedes her.

Then the SWs realised that it had to be more complicated in time for Christmas, so Philip and Kirsty were duly wed.

Since we are well into panto season, the magic money fairy has bestowed unimaginable wealth on their favourite (single parent with no maintenance) cheesemaker. Helen is now getting ready to buy Philip's home.

There will be tears before New Year, but then it will all end Happily Ever After (unless you are called Philip, and possibly Gavin).

😳😳😳😳😳

Thank you. I did catch bits of the gambling nonsense but thought maybe there was a bit of a twist in the tail and it was all down to Gavin after all and Phillip (aka the bastard) was really protecting him. I though Kirsty would be snatched from the jaws of the evil Phillip before now, if he had been a real baddie, which he is. Lots of twists and turns, and I see the modern slavery angle, even though it’s really not credible as the lads are brits and modern slaves tend to be Eastern European, or from elsewhere in the world. Shall continue in tier 3 and know what’s going on at last. Helen clearly churns golden cheese.

even though it’s really not credible as the lads are brits and modern slaves tend to be Eastern European, or from elsewhere in the world. I think the point being made is that people think that, but it's not true. Other vulnerable people are drawn into it.

Yes, there's a sobering article on the BBC news website linking to this Archers storyline which makes that point. I've been vaguely aware of criminal trials in the UK where the abused workers were British people with learning difficulties.

There are so any children that go into care and aren't fostered. What are their options at (16?) 18? All local authority statutory support ends at 25 (and we know how strapped for cash the LA's are). That's before you start including the teen runaways....

It must be tough for lots of them in lockdown, but I think it is a more of a coincidence that the BBC chose to highlight it now.

Yes, this storyline started, or at least was recorded, before lockdown.

Yay! Ok, not Hollywood - but I was right! Roman's off! Though I hadn't reckoned on his asking Tracy ++ to go with him!

Did anyone read the long article in the Guardian?

The most interesting piece of information was that SOC did intend for Lower Loxley to burn down. Which leads back to that overheard conversation that started these threads.

Indeed.

I think they've been talking about it on the main Archers thread?

Found it, after a certain amount of scrabbling around. There was a link at the bottom of page 27, and discussion on page 28.

All the kafuffle going on around me has delayed this. No Radio Times available yet, or at least, nobody has sent it to me. That probably contributed to my forgetting to post the rest.

##########################################

BBC one-liners
21 Dec Tracy struggles to pick up the pieces and Freddie finds himself with more on his plate than he anticipated.
22 Dec David’s evening takes a surprising turn and Eddie is very much in demand.
23 Dec Gavin reaches the end of his tether and Jazzer calls a truce.
24 Dec Kirsty demands answers and there’s a festive surprise for Clarrie.

Credits
Mon 21/12/2020, Tue 22/12/2020, Wed 23/12/2020, Thu 24/12/2020
Writers: Naylah Ahmed & Tim Stimpson
Director: Marina Caldarone
Editor: Jeremy Howe
David Archer: Timothy Bentinck
Ruth Archer: Felicity Finch
Vince Casey: Tony Turner
Clarrie Grundy: Heather Bell
Eddie Grundy: Trevor Harrison
Tracy Horrobin: Susie Riddell
Jazzer McCreary: Ryan Kelly
Kirsty Miller: Annabelle Dowler
Gavin Moss: Gareth Pierce
Philip Moss: Andy Hockley
Freddie Pargetter: Toby Laurence
Lily Pargetter: Katie Redford
Oliver Sterling: Michael Cochrane
DC Tanners: Jane Slavin
Roy Tucker: Ian Pepperell

Daily Mail Weekend Magazine Archers Update 21st - 24th December 2020
It all goes horribly wrong for those living under the brooding shadow of Lakey Hill.
Chaos reigns at Lower Loxley, where they’re short of a cast member and in urgent need of a replacement.
Kirsty receives the first of a series of shocks that will blight her Christmas, Gavin is overwhelmed, and Philip runs out of excuses.
David has also run out of excuses, and can no longer dodge his date with dodgy Vince Casey, but their lads’ night out takes an unexpected turn.
More chaos is unleashed post-Christmas when a treasure hunt gets out of hand, Kirsty struggles, Roy and Phoebe try to pick up the pieces, and some Ambridgers find themselves in a nightmare situation - with far-reaching consequences.

##########################################

Since the Mail mentions "post-Christmas" and this goes up to 24th, I think it might be a two-week spoiler.

And I thought they were short a director at LL; maybe it's an actor as well.

Yay! Detective Constable Tanners! Fun for all the family!

Are David and Vince going to happen upon the nighthawkers - and scare them off for good? Leaving David in awe and admiration of his sister's squeeze.

Please, please let the slurry pit come into play! Probably too much to hope for ...

Thanks, Asking! Sterling effort all year. 🏅

If DC Tanners isn't nosing about asking about the 'horses', I'll be sadly disappointed.

Thanks, Asking!

What do we think the huge soapy disaster might be???

🏅

Snazza frazza rashin' fashin' medal!

(Thank you)

Thanks @AskingQuestionsAllTheTime.
Looks like quite a fortnight. Hope so seeing as I'm in Tier 4.

I think that Eddie will be the replacement cast member, but who would he be replacing?

Cursedy's shocks will be from the flashing santa or the beechwood illuminations.

Trolley will be active in 2021, after Trazzer will not have become a thing.

Oh, and there are a different cast-list and writers for Tuesday 29th to Friday 1st January, so all those cast-members are in a single week, it's not a fortnight double-up.

Landslide on lakey hill? who lives underneath it

@ILoveShula

Trolley will be active in 2021, after Trazzer will not have become a thing.

The 🔮 is inclined to agree.

Thanks Asking

I wonder if the horses will turn up at Kirsty's door, having run away from Victoria?

And I do hope more misfortune is not visited on the Grundys. I want Eddie to strike gold with his detector.

I wonder if the horses will turn up at Kirsty's door, having run away from Victoria?

The conversation they had about sticking up for each other / staying together is surely significant. Maybe they'll be driven to recklessness when Victoria waves Blake off in the opposite direction to the other two?

Roy is finally back! And he seemed to be about to spot the holes in Philip and Gavin's story before (he would also recognise Blake).

So what has happened to Banjo? Are we to believe that Alice is sat at home busily reading guidebooks to Bath and photoshopping so holiday snaps?

I'm still not sure what they will do about Philip and Gavin. A fatal heart attack would save us another court drama.

The 'horses' don't know where Philip lives, although Blake knows Grey Gables. Cursedy works there. Roy works there.

Ooh yes, ILoveShula!