💥 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.

It's on the catch up page.
Definitely worth catching up with.

Wasn’t yesterday the Grundys being evicted? That isn’t on the catch up page.

I was looking for that one too, @Chemenger . My bedtime routine had to change, as no Archers available.

Sorry, Chemenger. I obviously have no idea what day it is/was.

That's how I remember it, Polyhymnia - just the one occasion but no doubt about it. I remember being a bit shocked

I only remembered the tights but I might have missed some bed rustling being the sweet innocent that I am

However I also only remember the one incident, not remotely comparable to Brian.

I remember the Jenny and Roger affair and there was a bed involved.

Roger did the pursuing.

With Siobhan, she threw herself at Greg.Poor Brian didn't stand a chance.

Wasn’t yesterday the Grundys being evicted?
They have put it on the catch up page now.

Poor Brian didn't stand a chance.
Your heart bleeds for him, doesn't it.

Which is particularly annoying because I almost heard it last night but turned it off so I could have my normal routine this morning (coffee, archers, Guardian crossword). I started to listen but couldn't be bothered to finish.

I haven't done a Guardian crossword since Araucaria.

Araucaria, wow that takes me back!

I lost the habit of doing the Guardian crossword when I stopped commuting to work by train. Lockdown has driven me back, but I'm having to get used to the styles of so many new setters now. I'd love to see one of Araucaria's alphabet jigsaws again.

I have to confess here that I do the quick crossword. I’ve never taken the time to learn how to do cryptic ones. I did think lockdown would be the ideal time to learn until I realised I’d be working more than usual.
The flood episode was interesting, I wasn’t listening all the time when that happened so I don’t think I heard that episode.

We were encouraged to do crosswords as part of my language studies, particularly translation. I restarted doing the Guardian easy one recently as you can do it online and check a little bit aa you go.

So far there haven't been very many episodes that I wanted to hear. I didn't want to here Joe's wake, the Grundys leaving Grange Farm, definitely not the flood nor Helen getting custody of the boys.

These evening's repeat made me feel as if I had been dipped into a bath full of warm dilute sugar-syrup.

that should be this evening...

I listened to the flood because it happened at a time I wasn't listening regularly. To be honest, on its own without context or build up, it didn't make much of an impact. I didn't want to listen to Joe's wake or today's offering.

I didn't want to listen to Joe's wake or today's offering.

I listened to Joe's wake but Rob/Helen still makes me feel quite sick. I thought so little attention was paid to helping women in Helen's position. All that seemed to matter was the drama. However, I enjoyed the weddings last week and look forward to future episodes featuring the Flower and Produce Show etc.

Had forgotten just how strange last night's episode was the first time. A whole hour's worth of story jumbled into 12 and a half minutes. Nothing of the family court hearing except the result. Not a sound of what must have been a tense doorstep meeting when Henry was finally recovered from Blossom Hill Cottage. Far too much time spent thanking Ms Tregorran (when we could have assumed that anyway). Then the Bridge Farm speechifying with not a squeak from Henry. And Tom and Kirsty on top of all that!

I accept that they wouldn't have wanted another court hearing so soon after the trial (even though this would have been entirely different). I can't see at all why they placed the Pat/Ursula confrontation anywhere other than at Blossom Hill Cottage.

All so unsatisfactory. And for once I feel sorry for the SW.

Yes - interesting to listen to points of high drama in isolation. Last night’s and the flood boil down to not much when listened to like that. Brian confessing to Jenny was in a different league however and also the eviction of the Grundys (I’d actually forgotten that Brian had a part to play in that). These are events that continue to resonate today while the flood and even the whole Knob business were never properly followed up. Helen got Henwee back which was great obviously, but the fact that he’d spent however long living with Knob’s dreadful parents having bonded with Knob as the father he had never had didn’t seem to affect him one jot. I’m sure I would feel the same listening to a dramatic high point from the Great Move North (though I wouldn’t mind hearing the death of Heatherpet again).

Nooooooooooooooo!

Far too much time spent thanking Ms Tregorran
That was so Ms T could demur and insist that the result was purely down to Helen being strong, independent, yadda yadda yadda. The SW like to remind us in case we forget.

I was surprised at my reaction to hearing some of the replays. My abiding memory of the Tom and Kirsty non-wedding was The Howl but in the replay I noticed more of her anger. My memory of The Flood was of lots of sound effects and actors having to verbalise what we couldn't see but the replay really showed people displaying their character - Harrison, David and Rob, not to mention Cardboard worrying she might dissolve in water.

My abiding memory of the Tom and Kirsty non-wedding was The Howl but in the replay I noticed more of her anger.

Mine too R4! I had forgotten her telling Tom that he had no right to cry - that was so powerful. I have enjoyed listening again to the old episodes. I was surprised how much I had forgotten and I think I had never heard a couple. When this is all over and we are back to normal episodes, it would be fun if they occasionally added an extra 'classic' episode to the website/podcast.

Apparently, Eastenders plan to start filming again at the end of June. I wonder when The Archers will be able to return to the recording studio.

not to mention Cardboard worrying she might dissolve in water 🤣🤣🤣