🐴 Archers thread 124: And they're off! Pip on a high horse, Kirsty champing at the bit to find the lost ‘horses’, Alice on the wagon (or is she riding for a fall?). 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 Shula would make a brilliant vicar, 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 @PoulePouletteEternellement for the equine theme to the new thread title. I wanted to work in Rex being a dark horse and lots of others too, but (you may feel fortunately) there's a character limit for the title.

I wonder if this thread will see us through to the end of February. The last one filled up in under a month, which was like old times. All depends on what delights are in store for us in the coming weeks, I suppose. I'm hoping that Gavin has spilled the beans on Victoria, she's also arrested, and the lads are found. Having said that, I'm not confident that in the real world they would get the support and care they need to turn their lives around and get proper jobs. It was good to hear on the last thread from @Trickyboy, who has professional experience of investigating this vile crime. Any comments on how things turn out in the long run for those rescued?

Has anyone seen the active thread about a teacher dating an ex-student, barely 18 (“Teacher dating student”)? It reminded me of the vile CMR. How is it he hasn’t been struck off? Or did I miss that? As for him being cosily ensconced at LL. How unlikely a scenario?

There was an investigation and a big meeting with College but it seemed to peter out - did he just get his wrists slapped? Had he resigned by then or did they sack him, can't remember?

He resigned at about the same time, I think, and we weren't told whether it had been voluntary or "or we will have to take Steps" resignation.

The investigation happened because Kenton shopped him, afair.

Oh yes, go Kenton!

Ah yes I remember he had to attend. I think that’s when his wife was still in the picture. But I don’t recall it being resolved either, @JanuaryChill. The thread seemed to suggest this is, rightly, a safeguarding issue which surely would mean the creep wouldn’t have been able to be involved with the various open days etc. What I don’t get is that it all seems to be forgotten, not just by Elizabeth, but by the wider community.

And we never hear CMR and Lizzy have a conversation with each other.

I think we've heard CMR and Elizabeth conversing more often than we have heard him speak to Lily. The most recent conversations were on two days last week.

I really warmed up to Natasha. She has a lot of emotional intelligence when the SWs aren’t making her be a human plot device.

She has emotional intelligence only when it is given to her by a scriptwriter, similarly.

I meant to put Lily, not Lizzy

Well in that case you were absolutely right!

I think CMR is either banned from teaching or has had it made clear to him he would be getting a "bad" reference if he went for another school teaching job. I do wonder about his DBS check - surely he needs one to work or volunteer at LL - such as the Easter Bunny.

I can't see that his relationship with Lily, or with a previous student, would come up on a DBS check.

CMR was never arrested, so his DBS should be fine, and he hasn't been for another teaching job to need a reference.

Is what CMR did to Freddie illegal? He blackmailed him to keep quiet about lily and promised he would not report the drug use, or that's how I remember it anyway.

Buried, Langsdestiny, completely and inexplicably buried.

I'm not sure even the 97 Editors can be blamed for it. And no witnesses, so no one else around to raise it now. Such a waste of energy to set it up and then have no repercussions ... For CMR, anyway.

Just another dangling plot thread, like so much bunting caught in a tree.

I wonder whether someone is suddenly going to remember when it comes to finding a reason for getting rid of Russ? Though I suspect they're actually going to do it by introducing some nubile 17 year old to distract him.

Lily could mention to Russ, "you'll never believe what happened with Stephanie... Steph. How ew!" And Russ, instead of saying, "gosh yes, awful,
how funny," will say, "we shouldn't dismiss it too quickly, darling. If they would be up for a foursome, that could help keep things fresh. You mother mentioned Liam is well fit, too." He might add something about his artistic sensibilities and not being too tied to convention, and in any case, it's not even that unusual these days.

I couldn't see Lily taking it too well.

@EBearhug 🤮!

On LA this morning, I got Gnasher's second 👏🏻 line to Tom:

"You can be sensitive, if you try really, really hard, Tom!"

The Guardian have caught up with the modern slavery storyline
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jan/31/modern-slavery-archers-credible-shocking-plotline-gangmaster

Sorry, January.

Yes, I laughed at that line from Natasha. I'm not sure I agree with her, I'm not sure Tom would ever quite get as far as sensitivity.

When did Philip Moss renovate the pub?

(Sorry, that's what they say in the Guardian article and I can't remember it.)

I don’t remember Philip being involved either @AskingQuestionsAllTheTime. The renovation to TheB@Ambridge was done by some poncy towny guy wasn’t it, at Justin’s behest. Can’t remember his name. Tarquin maybe, or some such.