💥 Archers thread #118: Back in time for The Archers - catch up with the catch up until the scriptwriters catch up! 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 Philip Moss is in line for Employer of the Year, or other unusual views.

Spoilers: OK, there aren't likely to be many for the foreseeable future, but when we do have some, 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.)

Thanks to @LillianGish for the title! This thread starts at a very odd time for The Archers, longest-running soap opera in the world. No new episodes expected till late May , and when we do get them they're not going to sound like normal, as the actors are recording separately at home and the BBC is attempting to cobble it all together. Tough times for the sound effects team!

The BBC is filling the gap by repeating key episodes from the last 20 years. Some of us here will have heard them before, but not all, by any means, so if you want background on what you hear this is the place to ask.

Over to you! I must try to catch up with the repeats at some point today.

I thought they weren't introducing any big stories? Attempted usurpation of cricket captain role is pretty big!

Tracey was better than last night's tedium. I found it pretty tedious. But it did have DH and I googling for bowling machines. There's lots of good videos. I know much more about them than I used to, which is not saying much. I used to know that they existed, which put me as an expert compared with DH.

It was not too bad. At least it was something even if it was crap.

I'd prefer more historical episodes.

I think Chemenger should write the scripts about The Intern and we hear those.

Tracey's episode is a million times better than David's dreary monologue.

Love Tracey!

is it just one character's monologue each episode?

I do think that sounds dull!!

So far it has been two different people's monologues per episode.

None has been of the slightest interest as far as I am concerned, and all have been people being either stupid or nasty, or both -- though Josh was less of either than any of the other three.

Tracey's a great character from a writing point of view, and also I think the actress is excellent, always convincing. I agree that tonight's episode was an improvement. They left ansaphone messages - we'll have actual phone conversations soon!

Please please make the silver lining of all this that Kirstie sees the light and escapes marrying Philip. I really think she needs a break!

Can’t wait for a Kate monologue though

Like UntamedWisteria ^ I forgot to listen so caught up with 2 episodes in a row. I only listened intermittently to the old ('classic') episodes.

Almost excruciating, this format really shows up the poor actors. They're all coping with bizarre scripts but David Archer was so bad/ unbelievable.

What a wasted opportunity by the scriptwriters

Coincidentally I was watching Ep1 of The Thick of It a few days ago - and thought Tim Bentinck was perfectly brilliant in it, a wonderful, dim foil to Peter Capaldi's Malcolm Tucker. (Albeit only for a few brief minutes.)

It's just a pity that the Brookfield Archers (possibly excepting Ben) are completely lacking in charisma. Even as a small child I remember Phil Archer as a puzzlingly disruptive character, unarguably the centre of the community. Brookfield now always seems peripheral to village life.

These episodes seem at least twice as long as normal.

@Chemenger

These episodes seem at least twice as long as normal.

Yes!

I kept looking at the clock 😄

Oh, Chemenger, there was a wonderful reference to an eager intern facilitating a Skype call in yesterday's afternoon drama on R4! (The Deletion Committee by Mark Lawson, originally broadcast in 2018.) I thought fondly of this thread.

I will have to listen to that for inspiration, when I have finished my 16 day marking marathon (day 8 today, weekends are a fond memory). If you read certain higher education threads you will know I’m doing this because I’m an idle academic who should have her pay cut because I do nothing . Look, I’m on Mumsnet, proving that.

Last night's was a considerable improvement on Monday's. I gather from Twitter that Keri Davies wrote last night's, which probably helped, as I felt it worked better to have Tracy recording something for YouTube and Harrison making phone calls or talking to himself while trying to type (I do that, I'm afraid ) but acting ability comes into it too.

I don't share Tracy's optimism that there will be any cricket season this year.

How many silent characters are there in Ambridge these days? They could probably kill off one or more of them if they felt they had to lose somebody for the sake of realism. Here's my list:

Mr Pullen - Bob, I think, of the dodgy bladder (surely he must be dead by now? I may well have forgotten his demise)
Hilary Noakes (sp) - owner of cockatoo
Sabrina and Richard Thwaite
The Button family - Mr Button is the country Fungus Recorder (something like that) and he has two wild daughters, Molly and Tilly, plus possibly a son - I can recall no mention of their mother
Neville Booth - there were two Booths at one point, uncle and nephew, can't remember what the other one was called
Fat Paul (probably doesn't live in Ambridge)
Pat and Derek Fletcher
Denise, the veterinary nurse at Alistair's practice

Has Gary Horrobin ever spoken? Bert (his Dad) may have spoken at some point, but I can't remember.

Who have I forgotten?

Formerly not-silent

Maurice 😍😍😍

Anthea

But I suspect they'll want to reflect the biggest scandal and we'll get one hurried conversation between Jill and Alan about how busy he is with Laurels residents' funerals.

I wonder if we'll ever hear, from Pat or anyone, how the Borchester food bank is faring through this time. The place must be extra busy. And her poor, car-living former friend. I'm worried about her. She has self-isolation, but it can't be much fun when so many public buildings and facilities are closed. And not a good time to call on friends or relatives for help if she gets ill.

Mr Pullen died all over Ambridge Extra.

The Booths were Neville and Nathan.

Gary Horrobin has not spoken, but Bert Horrobin has; he was played by William Eedle.

I remember Phil Archer as a puzzlingly disruptive character, unarguably the centre of the community. Brookfield now always seems peripheral to village life. Yes, you're right, I hadn't thought about it, but Brookfield does seem peripheral.

In terms of interactions outside their own little family bubble, the people more involved in village life are people like Jolene, Fallon, the Grundies, Neil and Susan, Lynda

I preferred Tracy and Harrison to the previous one.

These two episodes were both better than Monday. Better actors and script. Another silent one is the Rafferty woman Alistair had his ONS with. I’m not suggesting they bump her off, just trying to remember her first name. I imagine she’s in her late 40s, so not old, and is fit (all meanings of the word!), so not candidate for covid death. But of course it can and does happen to anyone, sadly.

Lavinia Rafferty, wasn't it?

I knew someone would know. Thanks, Asking.

This one was much better. I don’t know what possessed them to start with that one with David; no story to speak of, just droning on about lasagna. They must think he is a popular character.

I don't really understand why they need to do these monologues. Surely there is technology to enable the actors to stay at home but record their parts almost as normal? Springwatch seems to be doing that... I wold've thought there were some really good Covid derived storylines to be developed.

@Silvercatowner

I don't really understand why they need to do these monologues. Surely there is technology to enable the actors to stay at home but record their parts almost as normal? Springwatch seems to be doing that... I wold've thought there were some really good Covid derived storylines to be developed.

I suppose it's a 'bridge' between pre-covid Ambridge and post-covid Ambridge when they will be able to have proper stories again (and free those slave workers, goodness knows what is happening to them). Early on the BBC said they didn't have the technology for it to sounds natural. I have no knowledge in that area so I can't argue with that.