💥 Archers thread #117: Welcome to the only C19-free area in the world! 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 think Phoebe is a genius, 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/3853783--The-Archers-spoilers-thread-5-Cant-wait-for-7-02pm-Join-us-here, 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.)

I put the BOOM! emoticon in the title as I thought it could transition into a vague likeness of a virus if we're still going by early May, when we expect some wild contortions from the production team to get Ambridge back in synch with the rest of the world. I think I would have preferred them to ignore it altogether but I suppose they couldn't.

I thought Roy said it was a week night and he had to get up for work in the morning. Although I suppose he would do weekend shifts too.

Is it just me or is Robert's Lindy as grating now as Matt's Pusscat became through overuse?

Unholy I checked and tonight's was Monday 20th in Ambridge, so the last episode on Thursday [sob] will be the usual Friday slightly more dramatic one. If it's a cliff-hanger then I will lose the last of my marbles.

WeWantSweet Yes it is grating, but I suppose it makes it more convincing that he's driving Linda up the wall as well as the listener.

I thougt the ep was shortened too, hear it as a podcast there was easily a minute to go.

Will Roy end up in a ditch? It's hard to see how this will pan out. If Gavin puts the heavy hand on Roy, Roy will certainly be scared but he won't back off on the Blake business.

@CaptainMyCaptain, yes, Roy did say that.
@FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue, thanks for checking back so I didn’t have to..
Yes @WeWantSweet, it’s very irritating now.

@echt, I think that too. I wonder if they did shorten it so we didn’t hear an assault or words of abuse bc they don’t have any more material now for the next bit. No, I’m on sure that’s right either. But surely, in normal circumstances which these certainly are not, they’d have Gavin getting angry with Roy in his naice shirt and that would make Roy more concerned and suspicious.

I've been wondering if they have been removing the beginning of SLs that would have been no good for the coming weeks, and thus are focusing on the horses, Lynda, and cricket.

After more than a year of lurking, I thought it was time to take the plunge and finally post...

So many points to raise after tonight’s visit to Ambridge - starting with Roy’s new phone. Tonight was the second time it has been mentioned (I think Phoeble asked Roy about it a few days ago). It must have a larger role to play...I wonder if Gav is going to beat Roy up down the side street and then pretend it was a mugger after the new phone. Or perhaps some crazy technical mix-up (may be pocket-dialling) will result in Roy finding out the truth about Philip and Gav...

I also thought it was very odd that Kirsty should ask Roy how much the phone cost. She is generally unmaterialistic (caring for the natural world more than possessions etc) so this was v uncharacteristic...And she was strangely cruel teasing Roy about his new mauve shirt....

Yes, so many things to think about last night...

Woke up this morning thinking about last night's episode.

Why was there so much discussion about Roy's new phone, I wonder? Seemed like signposting to me

And what happened to silent and unsociable Alistair when Gavin and Roy went clubbing?

Where was he when Gav was taking Roy up the dark alley?

So many questions......

Alistair had left earlier with Philip.

The continuity announcer's confusion and extended Barwick Green at the end was strange, wasn't it? I momentarily wondered if someone had died and I'd missed it.

Welcome Roysnewshirt! I was rather hoping Roy's new phone might prove its worth by still being usable after lying battered and bruised with its owner in a ditch, post brutal assault by Gav's cronies. But who knows ...?

Where was he when Gav was taking Roy up the dark alley?

I beg your pardon?!

I’m guessing Gavin will either threaten Roy or beat him up and Roy will have accidentally called Kirsty on the new phone and she will hear everything.

It did sound as if that episode was cut short. It sounded as if Gav had arranged to have Roy beaten up - I can’t believe he would do it himself as that would make no sense after Roy had apologised again to Philip and seemed genuinely sorry to have misjudged him. Indeed I can’t think for the life of me what Gav is playing at - having him beaten up is only going to arouse further suspicion and confirm Roy’s original doubts. I agree his new phone is significant otherwise why keep mentioning it?

There's always one who lowers the tone! Mind in the gutter, MrsGrindah, like poor Roy, I suspect.

Yes, great emphasis on the new phone. Also agree they probably had to cut out something they can't proceed with now. Lovely to hear more of Barwick Green, but it's so rare now that I too thought this might signal Roy's demise. Hope not.

Gavin is a very loose cannon. Philip has said as much more than once.

Doubly so, I imagine, with a few drinks inside him.

De-lurking to post my theory!

Roy still seems to be suffering some forgetfulness and confusion, Phoebe reminded him this week he could go back to the dr.

I think a scuffle and punch from Gav ends up dedding Roy who has an undiagnosed brain injury. Gav panics and manages to dispose of Roy with some help from Philip who will come back out. The distinctive lilac/mauve shirt will become important in descriptions to the police and spotting him on CCTV. His new phone may or may not have somehow switched to video/camera and caught some evidence and/or have find my phone set up which will help trace its movements.

But this cannot be achieved in 4 episodes. 😭😭

I’m so sorry. And on a Monday morning too!

Can someone remind me when the wedding is please? Must be close if it was the stag do last night. I’m just hoping it’s not another wedding Kirsty has to call off on the day? Or surely they won’t get married and she finds out too late so it’s straight to divorce like Helen? Either way we are all going to be frustrated in one way or another come Thursday.

I agree that the phone and the shirt have significance. Please God not another miscarriage of justice plot line involving Roy.

I've not been paying attention sufficiently to know when the wedding's supposed to be happening. We're so far adrift of when the stuff we're hearing now was supposed to be happening that I can't keep track of that at all, and the knowledge that we're about to drop off a cliff into an Archers-free abyss isn't helping.

If anyone sees a grip lying around, please could you pass it to me? Thanks.

Well they said “this time next week you’ll be Mr Kirsty Miller” so it must be within this week?

MrsGrindah, your interpretation of my innocent words has given me the best laugh I've had for ages!!

I keep remembering, and it sets me off again!

Thankyou so much.

If Gavin puts the heavy hand on Roy ... it'll be further proof that he's as thick as two short planks.

Ooh chemenger I like your phone dialling Kathy idea! I hope they go with that. Not so sure about "Mrsemcgregor*'s ideas.

shirt have significance well, it'll show up in the ditch. Pale mauve is the colour flowers use if they want to attract moths and therefore be visible in the short wavelengths of evening light.

What did the continuity announcer say? (I listened on catch up.)

The continuity announcer said, "Yep! That sounds safe!", in a surprised tone of voice.

(I know, because I recorded it, and have just played it back again)