🎄Archers thread #122: Deck the Hall with Eddie, Freddie 🎵 'Tis the Season to be jolly (but orange juice for you, Alice)

[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 love Bert Fry’s poetry (as I do), or other unusual views.

Spoilers: 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 @C8H10N4O2 for requesting an annoyingly cheerful thread title which might take us up to Christmas and to @Prestissimo for the title suggestion. I was strongly tempted by @LillianGish’s suggestion: Eddie’s turkeys, Freddie’s show, village green with lights aglow, Stir Up Sunday, Deck the Hall, Merry Christmas one and all - with apologies to Bert Fry and @R4’s suggestion Wassail to the Ambridge Not-A-Panto where Freddie gets nine LESSONS in directing from CAROLe Lynda. Top work, all!

Three days to go until we can return to Ambridge.

My list for Father Christmas

In the next few weeks I’d like:

• Freddie’s show to be a huge success

• Philip and Gavin to be driven out of the village with pitchforks into the waiting arms of the police, and the three ‘horses’ rescued and taken in by kind people who will help them turn their lives around

• Pip to take a perpetual vow of silence and leave for a nunnery

• a terrific Grundy Christmas (although the travails of Alice and Chris will overshadow things)

• Alice to lose the baby, as this seems the least grim option for us listeners; she leaves Chris and makes a fresh start of some kind

What do you all want for Christmas from The Archers?

Well yes, that's why I'm wondering what they have planned for her - as it must be something more significant than captaining the cricket team.

And of course it would be entertainingly ironic to see her achieve long held aspirations just as her sister's life as an Aldridge in-law implodes. (Though it's nice that Susan and Tracy do seem to be genuinely supportive of each other despite the disparity in their living conditions.)

I thought Susan was genuinely kind to Tracey in the last couple of episodes.

My understanding was that Blake was only worth £20 but the others were worth more.
I found that episode difficult to listen to and was glad that it was interspersed with Tracy coming to her senses to lighten the mood.

With a bit of luck the story will be resolved this week.

Mmm ... Think that would be somewhat ambitious. Discovery, arrest, trial, aftermath - all in four days before Christmas?

Surely not?

FWIW, I'd assumed, since even Victoria and Philip viewed £20 as an extreme position, that Jordan and Kenzie were 'sold' for considerably more and Blake for a relatively low price - but not so low as to be shocking to hardened gang masters.

they could surely find some other kind of work for him to do.
Prostitution perhaps

Mmm ... Think that would be somewhat ambitious. Discovery, arrest, trial, aftermath - all in four days before Christmas? well, not entirely resolved but maybe Gavin could come to his senses and say something.

Though it's nice that Susan and Tracy do seem to be genuinely supportive of each other despite the disparity in their living conditions

The Horrobins have always supported each other when the chips were down. They may fall out and bicker and argue between themselves but they stand together where outsiders are involved.

@StillWeRise

they could surely find some other kind of work for him to do. Prostitution perhaps

Good lord - and so many people have asked how Philip intends to fund his already heavily mortgaged retirement. Imagine if he starts 'rescuing' girls he happens upon in the street?

No. He must be stopped.

I open the Archers have an uplifting denouement up their sleeves. I can’t bear any more misery.

Hope! Argh autocorrect.

I’m so sorry but it’s equally bad to exploit boys like that as girls. Trials can take many months but arrest and charges are immediate. Sorry again.

Wasn't intending to describe any hierarchy of exploitation - simply an expansion of activity. Philip's exploitation of young men for physical labour on building sites has already happened, and we know he's keen to escape detection over that. But he's a scumbag so it's in his nature to start looking for new opportunities. (Of course he could use men or women if he took up a new business.)

But I'm mainly thinking of what might propel the story into the New Year, now that Philip's essentially on the run.

But he's not on the run. He's got rid of the lads to Victoria - he thinks it's all sorted and behind him and he's in the clear to start his new life with Kirsty as the man she thinks he is.

I reckon he’s got rid of the boys because there is more to come on GG and he knows it. He mentioned a report. If the ‘horses’ can’t be found they can’t be interviewed. He needs them to disappear. Especially Blake.

God, it’s all so so sordid isn’t it? There was a discussion on academic archers comparing Helen and Rob and this story and this isn’t comparable given the vulnerability and origins of the young men mentioned IMO. Imagine Blake being sold for twenty pounds ffs. I hope whatever the denouement is he gets reached and rescued and put in at least a hospital for a while where they will be lovely to him for a bit. I personally identified with H and R because some of the exact same phrases and tricks were used but this is more horrifying to me because I can’t imagine what it must take to run away or be in the horses’ situation. Sorry this was a bit just personal! I just can’t help but ache for people in that situation.

I wonder what they have in store for the rest of 2020.

I think the 'horses' story will dominate TA for a few months.

If Philip is no longer working as a builder, what will Gavin do? When Phil&Cursedy move to their dream location, location, location, where will Gavin go?

I’m hoping that something happens to Blake that involves him being identified as a victim and that the police find an unsent Christmas card about his person addressed to Mr Moss, leading to a swift arrest.

The trouble with Blake being put hospital is that he will probably contract Covid at that point and Philip's problem will disappear for lack of witnesses.

Of course there is the possibility that Phillip is already being investigated off screen (so to speak) by the authorities.

Not by Harrison obviously. He couldn't investigate his way out of the proverbial paper bag.

Exactly. There has been a certain haste to all this - but could be plot-driven

Got a feeling that it will end in court with the horses testifying how good Philip had been to them, saving them from the streets etc. Him getting off.

And then catching it in the neck for no NI contributions for the lads, etc.

Yes, I don't see how he will get round having no records of wages or tax or NI or anything like that for them, if it becomes noticed by the authorities. And I can't believe they've done this whole storyline for it not to.

Well Rob got away with not being charged for anything.