💥 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.

A hundred BOOPS for Jenny and Susan.
Indeed. And Brine with his "starter marriage" comment.
It's their 10th anniversary this year!

Talking of accents, we heard a bit of Ruairi when he still had his Irish accent.

Not Shirley Hughes, no. Much more obscure.

Shame. I love Shirley Hughes.

So do I. I follow her on Twitter. It's not Ms Hughes herself operating the account. Someone else tweets pictures from her books week by week. She says she reads all replies to Ms H. Alfie Gets In First was a favourite here because my daughter did something similar when she was 2.

The complete contrast between Jenny and Susan's reaction was brilliant! I imagine the happy couple had guessed it would be like that so got telling Jenny and Brian out of the way first.

Alfie Gets In First was a favourite here because my daughter did something similar when she was 2. So did my grandson although he was already inside and slammed the door when his mum was putting his brother in the car.

I used to use Dogger as a story in infant school assembly all the time, it covers nearly every theme (precious things, kindness, sharing, families and so on).

'I'm related to a Horrobin!'

Ha ha ha ha! Best laugh I've had in days.

I must say I'm enjoying the catch ups much more than i thought I would.

Perhaps once the world returns to normal we could have "archive Saturdays" broadcast on radio 4?

A friend of mine’s niece got pregnant when she was 19 & the same thing happened; his family delighted & hers horrified. They didn’t get married though & the relationship didn’t last long at all.

R4 I’m a newbie, only started listening this year and I’m still getting to grips with the people and stories so I’m loving the old episodes. Very happy to read more on here and won’t consider any comments to be spoilers.

Oh now just listening to Chris & Alice episode - Chris' accent is so different, as said by PP.

It's ruining it for me - how would producers let that happen?

Irritating as the indistinguishable accents among the young male characters are, I can forgive anything for the ‘now I’m related to a Horrobin’ line [Grin

Chris Carter had been played by that actor since February 2004, and all the soundalike young male actors were introduced in the year he was suddenly got rid of, 2014. Until then he had not sounded like anyone else; after that they all sounded the same, such that unless someone in the scene said who it was or the context was really obvious you couldn't easily tell if it was Toby or Charlie or Tom or Patrick or Rex or Daniel or Josh who was speaking.

Helen’s friend in prison was Kaz

Does anyone do Kate Crichton’s Archers Quiz on Twitter on Friday at 7pm?

twitter.com/kate_crichton/status/1258819226778902529?s=21

If you want to do it, don’t read the next bit!

Thanks Taswama. Very handy to have read that info so recently.

Going back to the indistinguishable young men of Ambridge, because so many people listen while preparing/clearing up weekday supper or Sunday brunch, they can’t give it 100% attention. Characters need very identifiable voices - nobody would ever mistake Jill or Peggy. That’s my theory about why it is so irritating anyway!

Moan over, I did enjoy the repeat episodes this week. I think it will actually be a good coda before the new episodes.

I think it's a bit simpler than that nettie

They need identifiable voices because we can't see their faces.

Way back when in Mustardland, the complaints were that Kenton, Alistair and Adam sounded the same.

I thought Andrew Wincott was asked by the editor to change the voice he used for Adam because he sounded too much like another member of the cast, and did so?

That's what I recall, Asking. Wincott is unrecognisable in Clare in the Community where he plays Clare's husband's friend, whose name I forget.

They need identifiable voices because we can't see their faces.

That too!

Wincott is unrecognisable in Clare in the Community

He certainly is - I had no idea he was in that. I think Brian’s friend is called Simon.

TA has been moved to 8pm tonight, to make room for a PM Special ...

Bloody hell. We really are in the end times, aren't we!

Thanks, PPE.

I did enjoy Brian's first reaction to Alice's marriage being gratitude that he hadn't had to fork out for the wedding.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

They’re just playing with us now.

According to the Spoiler thread there are some good episodes coming up this week

Just joining this thread. The Archers is my get me through the ironing fix. Save up episodes and listen retrospectively. Got me through flights too. Anyway just ironing my duvet cover and wham bam it's over! I'm up to date Hie am I going to carry on with ironing? Have listened to a couple of old episodes, the weddings , but don't think it's going to cut it. How's everyone coping?