🐴 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?

Pip has shamelessly used Rex's tendre for him whenever it suited her for work, babysitting or someone to back her up in an argument. Rex's anger was in large part due to Pip lying to him (or at least misleading him) his sense of betrayal.

Yep. Can't quite see Pip managing this level of self-reflection, though.

Is Vince a good guy, who has clicked with Widderbreath, or is he a sleazeball who set up a blind date, then rescued her from being stood up, and is really trying to get his talons on Lower Poxley?

The name Vince doesn't really conjure up a good guy, although I remember Just Good Friends.

Whatever he is, he's not Nigel.

Why did I LA when Pip was on it. Such strange intonation.

I think he genuinely likes her and it's good to hear her giggling like that. He was open about wanting a good deal on the wine and he has his own money. Elizabeth hasn't actually got a great deal of her own because Lower Loxley is Freddie's.

I think he genuinely likes her and it's good to hear her giggling like that. He was open about wanting a good deal on the wine and he has his own money

Yes I could see that working and Vince becoming a regular along the lines of Brian with a Brummie accent. Brian has never been a stranger to sharp practice and has still become "beloved member of the community". Or possibly the new Jack replacement. Abridge hasn't had a token "working man made good" since Jack diied.

I hope that we do hear Shula angsting to somebody about Philip. And that whoever-it-is has sharp words when Shula gets to the bit where Philip was saying, "I'm so distraught that you won't come to visit. I'm going to commit suicide and it will all be your fault". Nasty, manipulative piece of work.

I enjoyed hearing Elizabeth getting giggly with Vince.

I am really pleased that Elizabeth has remembered that she has a vineyard.

I hope she remains friends with Vince for at least a few more months. Together, the two of them have such potential to give us some cracking scripts.

I know English and Welsh wine is terribly fashionable at the moment but I really don’t rate it. And it gives monster hangovers. I would steer clear of the LL wine if I was Stephanie and wanted my guests to remember my wedding fondly...

I’ve really enjoyed a few weeks with no Pip voice...

They’re all back, Shula, Pip, CMR. All good things have to come to an end.

:( quite!

@Madcats

I am really pleased that Elizabeth has remembered that she has a vineyard.

I hope she remains friends with Vince for at least a few more months. Together, the two of them have such potential to give us some cracking scripts.

When will she remember she has a wedding venue as well?

@C8H10N4O2

I think he genuinely likes her and it's good to hear her giggling like that. He was open about wanting a good deal on the wine and he has his own money

Yes I could see that working and Vince becoming a regular along the lines of Brian with a Brummie accent. Brian has never been a stranger to sharp practice and has still become "beloved member of the community". Or possibly the new Jack replacement. Abridge hasn't had a token "working man made good" since Jack diied.

I think he's more Tiger's replacement than Jack's.

I Officially Love Vince!

BOOP already!

Go Vince! Beating CMR at his own game.

Wonder how impressed Elizabeth will be with Russ battening on her new squeeze.

Is Russ really desperate - or just someone who makes a habit of leeching off the next rich person who wanders into view? His MO seems horribly recognisable.

Has Vince been on Mumsnet? Loved Philip kicking Smugula (can’t believe I found myself agreeing with him). I feel like the SW want us to like her but she’s ghastly on every level.

Could I get away with reporting BeardieWeirdie 's post?

Vince is the new Tiger. CMR is dreadful isn't he.

Of all the unrealistic events and situations on the Archers, Lily and CMR’s relationship surviving lockdown is the wildest. Mind you i expect living in a stately pile helps, if they were in a 3 bed terrace he’d have been patio fodder by May.

I think we’re still allowed to make nasty, personal comments about whisper “fictional characters” on here 😀

Fictional? Fictional. How very dare you?

[clutches cream cardigan lapels in horror]

Agree Vince is Tiger replacement. Tiger was an excellent character who SOC should never have got rid of.

I'm hoping that Smugula will realise that Philip is right about her being totally unsuited to ministry but feel it is unlikely. Far more likely that she will wail to Alistair and Alan and make it all about her, as per usual.

If Vince is necessary to fill a Tiger-shaped hole in the dramatis personae then it does seem even more of a shame that the latter was jettisoned. Lilian loved him far more than she loves Justin.

Tiger was horrible. A nasty person with no redeeming features. And not particularly believable.