🎭 Archers thread 125: Ambridge Mysteries! The Case Of The Missing Pandemic. Where Is Pat? What Is Lynda Snell's Kompromat? Follow the clues and 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’d love to be in the Mysteries, 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 for thread title ideas to @Roysnewshirt and @Witchwife. Apologies if I’ve forgotten anyone else.

Do we think the Mysteries replace the usual fun storylines around giving things up for Lent? Light relief while we wait to see if the SWs go for realism and tragedy when Alice’s baby is born, or bottle out (as it were) and go for everything being fine? Will Jazzer and Tracy get back together again? (No bookie in the land would take money for that, of course they will.)

Over to you!

It was said that she was named after Dorothy Dandridge - which seemed to strongly imply it.

Wasn't there some kid Alan was trying to save from drugs who was black? Might have been called Lake (not to be confused with Lukas.) And there was a whole series of Am Ex with Phoebe in South Africa meeting Lukas's side of the family.

Luke, the heroin addict, was never said to be black.

I don't think Lucas's family in South Africa in Ambridge Extra count; that was a different programme. They kept on telling us that Ambridge Extra was nothing to do with The Archers.

Yes, it was Keri's vanity project. Couldn't bear it. Especially Alistair's inner monologue.

It was appalling. Alistair's 'so fresh' line is the worst thing I've ever heard on the radio

Think I missed that, do tell....

Ambridge Extra went in for "thoughtstream" being sounded as well as speech. In series three-I-think (I could check but it doesn't matter all that much) Daniel's girlfriend made a dead set at Alistair, who was briefly keen on the idea and then backed off in a hurry. When he was still thinking with his gonads, he made a regrettable thought-comment on the young woman.

I do wish they'd pop Ambridge Extra on Sounds or something. They were so dreadful I quite liked them (and I seem to remember the SWs sometimes forgot they shouldn't include bits from "Extra" in the main shows).

I would remind me to be grateful for our current offering.

I have them all from a server, but unfortunately I can't share because that would be illegal -- breach of copyright, and the BBC are very tough about that.

I haven't actually listened to them all the way through; I am just a bit of a completist, and it can be useful to have them available to check facts about what Clive actually claimed in the carpark before Amy drove into him, and other such details.

I don't think they were particularly Keri's vanity project: quite a few of the later ones seem to have been written by Stimpson, which explains the quality somewhat. Also Sarah Bradshaw, who has not written for TA proper.

They could put them on Sounds? Maybe we should start a campaign

@Taswama

They could put them on Sounds? Maybe we should start a campaign

Be careful what you wish for. The SWs may take that as a sign we want Ambridge Extra resuscitated. [horror icon goes here]

In series three-I-think (I could check but it doesn't matter all that much)

I think it was series 2, but the important thing is it only happened in one series, which admittedly was one series too many. The thing is with TA is that we don't get to hear characters' thoughts unless they tell them to someone else. This is partly why the monologues were problematic, though at least they had the excuse of, "WTF can we do if we can't meet in person to record?"

The was entirely deliberate @JoeGrundyWasMyRoleModel !

If it can happen in Cumbria ....

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-56290236

Farmer on quad bike swallowed by sinkhole. He was thankfully rescued alive, albeit with nasty injuries, but Pip might be less lucky. Is there any history of mining on Lakey Hill, I wonder?

There was a spring.
Can it be Pip on the quad please?

Would get my vote. If Auntie Shula wants to have many more conversations about her vocation, I'll tie her to the back of Pip's quad bike myself.

I did wonder if the SWs were getting muddled between the Parochial Church Council and the Parish Council there. Is Shula a Parish councillor? I thought she and Neil were churchwardens, and therefore part of the PCC (if I understand correctly, not a given, as I grew up in the Church of Scotland and am now an atheist) and he was also a councillor, part of the Parish Council, and elected by the other Councillors as Chair. I have no memory of Shula ever seeking election as a councillor.

There is possible hope that once ordained Shula gets given a parish far, far away...

@cameocat

There is possible hope that once ordained Shula gets given a parish far, far away...

If she can prevaricate for England, as she claimed, it is to be hoped that she is found out and not ordained.

(Yes, I looked it up at www.dictionary.com/browse/prevaricate?s=t to make sure. I think she may have meant procrastinate.)

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime good point, and I love the privacy notice for that website!

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

Would get my vote. If Auntie Shula wants to have many more conversations about her vocation, I'll tie her to the back of Pip's quad bike myself.

I did wonder if the SWs were getting muddled between the Parochial Church Council and the Parish Council there. Is Shula a Parish councillor? I thought she and Neil were churchwardens, and therefore part of the PCC (if I understand correctly, not a given, as I grew up in the Church of Scotland and am now an atheist) and he was also a councillor, part of the Parish Council, and elected by the other Councillors as Chair. I have no memory of Shula ever seeking election as a councillor.

I wondered about that as well. I am surprised she is back to being a churchwarden, after having been kicked off during the Usha row for gossiping to the press about things she had learnt from Alan in the course of her churchwardening. Neil wanted her to tell Alan he was resigning as a churchwarden, recently: was that because she is the other one again? And if so, why didn't she mention needing him as backup then too?

The editorial inability to recognise the difference between the PC and the PCC has been going on for yonks, though.

What a load of rubbish. I want Kirsty arrested and locked up to spare us all this mystery play nonsense. Shula is risking arthritis in her hands with all that wringing. Is she coming to the realisation that someone as judgmental and selfish as she is might not be suited to being a vicar? All together too much religion in TA at the moment.
Thank goodness for Brian.

Somewhat tactless Shula basically telling Neil he was the only person on the Parish Council with any sense given Emma's presence there. I don't really see why Emma is the natural person to take over as Chair either, there must be more experienced members.

It doesn't sound like a play where they all have to flog up Lakey Hill is very disability friendly. Or are they planning to put Piggoi onto a quad bike?

I want Kirsty arrested and locked up to spare us all this mystery play nonsense
You are not alone, believe me. Why has she assumed the role of henchwoman to Lynda Snell? Does she imagine it will enhance her reputation? Frankly I'd be more inclined to overlook a bit of human trafficking on the part of my neighbours than forced amateur dramatics.