🍾 Archers thread 123: Goodbye & good riddance to 2020 – to Philip too? The Archers is 70 on New Year’s Day – celebrate or vent about it 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 wish we heard more from Shula, 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.)

So! 2021 beckons. Big anniversary next Friday, 1.1.21 (and to mark that we have episodes Tuesday-Friday next week). What would we like to see happen? I may be in a minority of one, but I'd like a nice gentle character-driven episode. I don't think we'll get that, but I really, really hope they don't kill someone else off, just for the headlines.

[Title edited by MNHQ at OP'S request]

So not Jim's sofa then

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime

Can anyone explain to me what possible reason Tracy and Jazzer have (or think they have) for trying to cover up the fact they are having a fling? Who are they trying to conceal it from? It seems utterly pointless: they are both single, both over thirty, neither has a long term partner of any sort, so what is wrong with them being together that they have to manufacture public quarrels to ... do what exactly?

Tracey said she didn't want Susan to find out (can't blame her for that)!

But Susan already knows! She caught them together in the cricket pavilion and clearly did not believe for a moment that the love-nest there was not theirs.

Just realised my comment was based on the last episode (waking up at Jim's) rather than the fake quarrel... "If this reaches Susan, can you imagine?!"

As for the rest of the world... to borrow Jim's phrase, I guess the fake quarrel signals that the pair of them "doth protest too much"!

I'm rather looking forward to seeing how this pans out.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime

But Susan already knows! She caught them together in the cricket pavilion and clearly did not believe for a moment that the love-nest there was not theirs.

When did that happen? I completely missed that.

New Year's Eve

@ILoveShula

New Year's Eve

I must have got distracted, I wasn't aware of Susan catching them there.

Pleased to hear the existence of the pandemic acknowledged in Ambridge with reference to social distancing.

I missed Susan catching them as well @CaptainMyCaptain
I have to say I quite like Jazzer and Tracy together, and think they’re each a good mix of loud/brash with an underlying softer side. I can see them suiting each other once we’ve got past this ridiculous soap-imposed tradition of protesting too much.

Felt sad for Neil last night, but pleased to hear Brian say he’d stand by him.

I like the Trazzer story, it's a bit of light relief and is reasonably believable.

Trazzer is completely unbelievable, boring and hackneyed.

CaptainMyCaptain
"But Susan already knows! She caught them together in the cricket pavilion and clearly did not believe for a moment that the love-nest there was not theirs."
When did that happen? I completely missed that.

29th December, 2020.

"The new arrival at the pavilion was Susan. She makes fun of Tracy for having what she assumes was a liaison with Jazzer, which infuriates Tracy. Susan reckons Jazzer has a crush on Tracy, who denies the possibility indignantly and manages to shut her up by mentioning that her fans might find out what a terrible sister she is if she doesn't keep quiet."

ambridgereporter.org.uk/synopses/2020.html

Oh my.

Scared now.

What's Jim up to? ...

Knew Jim gearing up to deliver a speech as soon as he suggested putting the kettle on and began his seemingly affable questioning.

*was gearing up to

Go Jim!

Good Old Jim.

Typical Helen though.

Jim was marvellous

@ILoveShula

Good Old Jim.

Typical Helen though.

I think Helen had a point. I completely understand why Kirsty would want to help the homeless and find the lads but she has too much of a connection to Philip, she could be accused of looking for young people to groom.

Wasn't Tracey's love nest for her and Roman? Jazzer only got involved on NYE.

@Darker

Wasn't Tracey's love nest for her and Roman? Jazzer only got involved on NYE.

Yes it was.

Nice one Jim

she has too much of a connection to Philip, she could be accused of looking for young people to groom

Quite. If DC Stereotype hears she's looking for the horses... let's just say I would like her to be arrested again. And charged.

Big old BOOP for Jim

@ILoveShula

Good Old Jim.

Typical Helen though.

Helen sounded like a sensible grown-up. Kirsty sounded demented. Helen might also have pointed out that Kirsty is potentially still under suspicion- tracking down the boys could well count against her.