💥 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
the eviction of the Grundys (I’d actually forgotten that Brian had a part to play in that)

He didn't. He fought the board of BL to try to prevent it, and was out-voted. But Eddie is a graceless little git who needs to be nasty about someone, and Brian had taken over from "they Archers" as the villain he always blamed for the consequences of his own uselessness. Brian did not cause him to go bankrupt: that was all Eddie's own work. Well, apart from getting help from Joe in not doing anything about it.

Thanks AskingQuestions. So in fact I hadn't forgotten at all it was just never the case. It does illustrate that a single episode rarely gives an accurate snapshot. I wonder how they are deciding which ones to use?

I must say, I rather enjoyed the Helen/Rob episode. I spent so many weeks being really frustrated that Rob was constantly getting away with it and that people like Pat and Justin believed that the sun shone out of his arsehole, and I needed a culmination that saw him defeated and humiliated. So it was very satisfying hearing it again.

I enjoyed the Helen/Rob one too; I started listening sometime after the Helen/Rob saga, and it was good to hear some of the background.

What confused me was Kirsty and Tom - I knew they'd got back together to some extent as she lost their baby around the time I started listening but now that I've heard the episode about him leaving her at the altar, I can't work out why she was with him at all, after that? I know she says at the end of the Helen/Rob episode that she won't actually get back with him etc but how could she bear to have anything to do with him / sleep with him, after what he did? Was it the emotion after the whole Helen/Rob situation? Or had they managed to move on from the jilting bit and Kirsty was ok with Tom again?

It's good hearing these old episodes but then when they are out of context, you can end up more confused!

The real puzzle is why she ever set foot in Ambridge again after that jilting. She'd only ever lived there for a very short time, with Tom; she wasn't actually a local, and the only family she'd really had all that much to do with there had betrayed her horribly, both Helen by not telling her about Tom's doubts and then Tom himself. Why would she want ever to have anything to do with any of them, ever again?

Glutton for punishment?

how could she bear to have anything to do with him / sleep with him, after what he did? Was it the emotion after the whole Helen/Rob situation?
As the previous post from Judy says, it was a much-needed culmination. Or as PPE said, hysterical (literally!) bonding.
It made more sense after weeks'/years' of build-up. Not so much as part of a stand-alone episode.

Can I ask you experts something about a previous storyline in TA? It was someone having a baby that would have or might have a condition- maybe Downs Syndrome? I remember listening to a few episodes while waiting for I think my exH to arrive home on a train... so maybe going back 15 years or so?

The most recent relevant storyline would have been Mike and Vicky Tucker who have a daughter named Bethany. But that was 2013 so may not be what you're thinking of, Isadora?

That's the storyline I remember too Isadora2007. Following on from PPE's post, here is a link to one of Professor Katherine Runswick's Cole's articles about the way disability is used as a narrative prosthesis in The Archers. Please trust me, it is a terrible phrase (not hers) but a very useful concept.

theconversation.com/why-the-archers-needs-more-disabled-characters-55535

I haven't tested to see if the link to the recorded episode used as an example still works. You might like this too DarrellMakepeace.

Here is a bit about Katherine:

katherinerunswickcole.com/about-me/

Mike and Vicky moved to Birmingham (where Vickoi was from originally), supposedly so Bethany could have more support.

Post on another thread has reminded me to ask - what percentage of us are wildly excited about 19.15 on Sunday evening???

Maybe it was current husband 🙈 if it was 2013

what percentage of us are wildly excited about 19.15 on Sunday evening??? What's happening at 9.15 on Sunday evening?

@MereDintofPandiculation - I had to look up the R4 schedule but let's just say "the lemon is in play." If you know that what means then 7:15pm on Sunday is something to look forward to. If not, then I recommend it anyway.

Brilliant! If anyone struggles with the wait, this might help: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3858437-Anyone-want-to-know-how-Arthur-Shappey-is-getting-on-with-self-isolation 16 episodes now.

Of course! I've hear it advertised enough this last week

I have never tried CP but will based on the recommendation of such trusted friends.

CP - best programme EVER! I am so happy. Off to tell my kids who are now obsessed too.

Taswama, I hope you like it! Episode 1, Abu Dhabi, is good, but it gets steadily better.

Are you listening to the DIY Archers on Broadcasting House?

Yes, that was fun. :-)

Thry said the editor of TA will be on BH next week.

I'm just listening to the omnibus, I feel so sorry that it was Lynda who lost Scruff in the flood, and Lynda who has suffered life changing injuries in the explosion

It's true she's had a few hard things to endure. But - poor Bert lost his wife as a result of the flood.

And who's to say whether the long term impact of the explosion will be worse for Lynda than for Kirsty ...

Hello! Lost you all...
I'm sure it's already in the thread but does anyone know when it's likely to be back?