💥 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.

LillianGish
Why am I finding it so hard to follow when so little is happening ?

I think it's because it is like a story being told by a slightly drunk and rambling aunt at a funeral tea, about something not terribly consequential which happened before you were born and involved at least two people you have never heard of but whose life histories she will give you if you admit as much: you really don't want to admit that she has stopped making any sense, but your eyes glaze over...

I was really hoping that Kirsty's prank call dare would lead to progress on the horses story. Obviously not.

Hmm, just musing, I think the editors took the decision to not properly progress any serious stories (eg the "horses" and also whether Kirsty will be legally tied to the Toerag Philip by the time it all hits the fan) during lockdown. Partly because of the production difficulties and because they set a different tone for these recordings. They'll be aiming to wait until things are relatively back to normal and then I press Pause.

I can see that that makes sense in terms of resources and tone.

So nothing is actually going to "happen" for st least a few more weeks. I imagine the Beeb is waiting for greater clarity about whether limited recordings might be able to resume. Must go and read the (apparently quite vague) "roadmap" for the Arts that was announced a couple of days ago!

*unpress Pause

Yep, they are still writing in advance and don't know how things might have changed by the time the episodes go out. I quite liked the first few new episodes as they had characters voicing their thanks to various key workers.

Especially liked the mention of all the tabard wearing workers.

Surely they could be moving to having three of four socially distanced actors recording together around now?

I didn't listen last week, but have just heard the omnibus, which seems to me to be the better way.

I agree TheSparklyPussycat. I have just done the same. I am sure that I read we won't hear any more on the 'big' stories until they are able to broadcast 'normal episodes'.

I know I moan about Helen but it's sad her experience with Rob doesn't seem to have taught her anything about controlling behaviour. I understand Kirsty making excuses for Phillip but Helen should be concerned. Ironoically, this would be the ideal format for Helen to talk about how she feels compelled to arrange a virtual hen night for Kirsty but personally wishes Kirsty was not planning to marry Phillip.

Not. Even. Gerti.

Stupid sort of evening ...

Would have been Gdansk too. Bah!

Yes, I also wondered why Kirsty was having a hen night when her wedding was secret.

Re Chloe, I can imagine if you are a junior doctor stressed out by Covid that a bit of sexting with a hot young farmer would be just the ticket. No need to make excuses about not actually seeing him, work and lockdown take care of that. She’ll ghost him as soon as they are actually able to meet.

I noticed Kathy in the singalong too! Was surprised as I thought that Hedli Nicklaus has been treated badly and was quite vocal about being disgruntled.

Surely Ifti is married by now?

Hedi said on a Dumteedum podcast that they had been about to get closure on Kathy, so I think the latest editor had realised how unsatisfactory the whole thing had been.

Another key aspect of the monologues is that Keri Davies has said the scriptwriters have less freedom than usual, and are given a pretty prescriptive brief. Two writers are working on each week and are given a scene by scene roadmap for the episodes. I'm not sure who is plotting the episodes and how much writing experience they have ... after all Keri Davies started asa producer before moving into writing.

The present Archers editor, Jeremy Howe, worked for some years as BBC Radio 4’s Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction; he has a fair amount of experience in deciding what the listening public want to hear.

Chloe isn't sexting with a hot young farmer, though. Ben is a hot young Sixth Former.

Good to hear from Freddie and Elizabeth. I hope very much we don't hear from Russ. Good actor, intolerable character in that undiluted form.

Ben is 18 though, isn't he? Not illegal, although it is odd and, I think, unlikely that she would be interested.

Yes, he's 18 and may be off to university in the autumn. It's nothing like as bad as Lily and Russ because Russ was far older than Chloe and that started as a teacher/pupil relationship. Still think it's a bit odd, if not outright icky, though.

Hearing Lizzie talk about Russ just made my head explode. What the hell is he doing there? Nigel would have run him out of Lower Loxley with a conveniently rediscovered blunderbuss.

Also so disappointed that Freddie gets the interesting storylines and is part of village life, while the potentially high-achieving girl gets landed living with mum and Druss.

My favourite line in a long time was Lizzie's 'I'm better on my left leg, I wonder why that it', because that IS something you'd think to yourself, unlike most of the rest of the script. In fact, I thought the Lizzie actress did very well. I did a little inward yay at the mention of Ifti, also Lizzie realising that was 7 years ago so she probably is ready to 'move on' now.

I hope Ifty moves in, Lizzie wakes up and Druss gets the boot.

Have I missed something? Was Ifti in the Yoga for the Menopausal class?

Russ would hate Ifti moving in - a man in the house that he can't patronise. So if that's the planned storyline, I'm in favour.

Who is Ifti?

Who is Ifti? This is he. !Photo!

I got all excited when I found this page, thinking it meant he's here for the long term. But it doesn't seem to exist on the website, just as an archive. But who knows?

Well, that's an interesting turn of events - though I have scant hope of its being developed when things get back to normal.

Has Emma finally found her completely un-obvious vocation? 😂 She'll face plenty of male Grundy opposition if so ...