💥 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.

No TA tonight. My addiction is not over, not by a long chalk.

Listening to the suggestion on Feedback I wondered how I'd feel if they simply abandoned broadcasting until September.

First thought was - what would become of this thread!

They could have put on old episodes. That would have been better.
Some of the Lower Lockdown has been ok but the last two have been awful.

Some of the lockdown episodes haven't been too bad. When they are talking to someone - for example one side of a phone conversation or broadcasting to the shire - it's been OK. It's the internal musing that don't work.

I didn't hear Feedback. I've lost my Radio4 habit.

I think in all fairness they are making the best of a bad lot - they’ve been caught on the hop with not much time to turn the tanker which is TA. It’s never been a programme of monologues or two-handers - that’s just not it’s style and they’ve had to forget all their forward planning and cobble something together on a lockdown that has virtually finished before they’ve even started. I think TherapistInATabard summed it up best - the new format really distils the essence of whichever character you’re listening so you are bound to either love it or hate it. Some actors are also much better than others and this is really highlighted when they are on their own. The format has made me really dislike Lillian who I’ve been finding increasingly irritating, but seems to have plumbed new depths. I think we should all be grateful for the small mercy which is the fact we’ve not yet had to listen to Pip. I’m not gripped, but it quite suits me that this is happening over the summer when my listening tends to go awry anyway. Can I just say again how much I love this thread - because who else could I express these thoughts to otherwise? Who needs Feedback? DH has just asked me if I’m talking to my imaginary friends. to you all.

This is such an excellent time for a good old clear-out!

Characters I would like to become a CV-19 statistic:
Lilian
Joelene
Eddie
Pip
Tobee
Shula

Anyone else like to share their list?

Anyone else like to share their list?

Normally, Pip would be top of my hit list but (overinfested) I can't bear to think of Rosie being left motherless!

Lillian
Justin
Ed
Philip & Gavin - so Kirstie never has to learn of his betrayal
Jill

I can't bear to think of Rosie being left motherless!

No, no! Far better for her to be brought up by FairFamily. Toby could immediately change her name to Juniper - a grander and more appropriate name for an Archer heiress. She could grow up lighthearted, nimble and adventurous, rather than dull, unimaginative and lightly to cause depression in all who converse with her.

I like Toby. I like his impulsiveness, the way he speaks first and thinks later, his upbeat humour, his relationship with Bert and that he is basically good at heart. I love how he balances Pip’s predictably po-faced parenting style. They also did quite well portraying that he is properly troubled by his relationship with his awful father and I like the subtle difference between the way that he and Rex relate to Robin. I also like Rex, but only as part of the Rex/Toby pair.

I also think that young posh-ish boys doing hobby farming/rural production of something as a second career is socially very accurate, you’re always reading about their type in Sunday supplements (Natasha is another one in that mould) and interesting that Rex has ended up doing less romanticised jobs like taxi driving to make ends meet.

Obviously Shula. I could also live without Ruth, who seems to contribute nothing but a vague aura of angst, the pig woman (I’m having a bad name day), who contributes nothing but unnecessary and pointless venom and Alice, who is always on the point of having a plot line that never develops.

Woman’s Hour had a feature the other day on female farmers. I was disappointed that none of them mentioned Ruth Archer as a role model! One did say, interestingly, that even in the last decade or so the main route into farming for women (even ones who have gone to agricultural college) has been to marry a man with a farm to inherit, so the Archers has that spot on. Unsurprisingly they were keen to highlight how ridiculous it was that career and romantic life should be so closely linked. (that said, perhaps it’s uNsurprising that women interested in agriculture marry men in farming, as that is their social circle and few other men would understand the demands of the job).

Meant 'likely', not lightly.

Pig woman = Hannah. (Crosses fingers for her sadly unlikely demise.)

I have a pathway to Hannah’s (thanks for the name reminder) demise. I had a friend who was notoriously bad tempered and unpredictable, it turned out to be undiagnosed diabetes, the mood swings were related to blood sugar levels. Diabetes is a bad thing in COVID hence Hannah’s unexpected death.

If only we didn't have diabetes in the family I would be all for that, Chemenger!

I'd prefer something grisly and pig-related ...

I think in all fairness they are making the best of a bad lot

Yes I don't think they had many options but the problem with monologues and two handers is that they really do seperate the good actors from the bad.

My CV-19 stats would definitely include Pip, Ruth and Deeeeeeaaavid. Also Shula, Hannah, Tom and Eddie.

Only fair to add Phillip to that list along with his ghastly son. I'm still annoyed at the LSWs for inflicting yet another waster on Kirsty.

I can't bear to think of Rosie being left motherless!

Rex could have Rosie. I think he and Jill (in spite of her age!) would make a good fist at parenting the protégée.

You’re all absolutely right about Hannah, of course. How could I have let her slip through the net? I also can’t believe I let Ian survive the cull - that was a definite oversight...

I also can’t believe I let Ian survive the cull - that was a definite oversight...

The utter forgettability of some characters is probably an automatic qualifier.

Ooh! Ooh!

Are we going to get Xander's monologue???

Maybe interspersed with Rosie and Jack's observations on lockdown life in Ambridge?

I like Ruth and Shula, and David.

Marrying a farmer, from the people I know, involves marrying the farm.
The wives either are farmers or have a job away from the farm, possibly part time.
Sometimes, it involves living with the in-laws or MIL.

AFAIK, some have no interest in farming, but will have been brought up in a rural environment.

I can think of some where the marriage hasn't worked out, this has usually because the farmer has married a girl from a town/suburb.

I would get rid of David and Eddie, I am not sure what purpose Alice serves, and I would like Kenton to run off somewhere so Jolene can run the pub on her own.
That's a lovely thing to say LillianGish. This thread is my soothing place on the internet.

If the Archers got rid of all of the characters suggested it would be extremely dull - some boring, unpleasant, unsympathetic characters are necessary to add reality.
I'm quite happy with the monologues, and would much much prefer them to no Archers for months.

And I totally distrust the "view of the majority" nowadays - the majority are so easily manipulated.

Long time lurker on the thread here, wondering if anyone had spotted this in today's Times?

Have been intermittently listening, and also reading this thread. Has there been anything on the Philip Moss/ modern slavery SL since the monologues started? That’s the only thing I don’t want to miss!

Nothing yet.