🎭 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!

She knew and she wanted to terminate. She was so clearly unhappy and wanting to discuss a problem. That's why I think Chris shares responsibility. He let his fantasy overtake his marriage and ignored his wife when she needed him.

Once he'd gone into elated mode, it was much harder for Alice to tell him. I think she should have done but there would have been a reasonable expectation that he'd have insisted on looking on the bright side. I don't think she'd fully accepted or knew how addicted she was and how hard it would be to stop, at that time.

Lexilooo
I think Alice was too far gone for an abortion by the time Chris understood the seriousness of her alcoholism. She considered an abortion when she discovered she was pregnant, but when she told Chris about the pregnancy she was pretending she was stopping drinking.

At that point she'd been claiming that she hadn't been drinking at all, and being unpleasant and blamey about him having had half a can of lager with Ed.

She must have been less than twelve weeks pregnant when she told Chris, because at the first meeting with the midwife she and the midwife agree she was "bang on twelve weeks" and he knew then.

Whyyyyy are stupid Lynda & Kirsty trying to keep this show a secret when EVERYONE is either in it or lending a venue etc? Poor bloody Clarrie just wants some fun.

The idea of keeping the show secret with a cast that big and outdoor rehearsals is utterly illogical. Ditto the idea of sacking any cast member who opens their mouth, given the trouble they always have persuading people to be in the cast anyway. If they have scriptwriters' meetings, how come not one opens their mouths about not treating listeners as idiots? That poor intern must have had her eyes rolling like marbles.

It's the idea that Kirsty, with all she has going on, would be spending her time visiting, persuading, strong-arming innocent villagers, that I find offensive to my intelligence.

One week, Philip, the next, Clarrie. Truly, the SWs treat Kirsty with scant respect.

The interchange between Clarrie and Kirsty was very odd...’I’m begging you’, Clarrie wailed. Really? WTF is going on? Kirsty should stop throwing her weight around like a primary school mistress.

Huge Boop for Susan, btw. Lovely scene between her and Alice

First comment (longtime lurker) to say Susan was amazing last night. Far more use to Alice than anyone else has been. Far more use than Jenny would have been. I love Susan, she's so real - the good and the bad, just like normal people! And last night she was great.

I think I predicted that Susan would be helpful to Alice at this stage. (Can’t remember if I posted but I certainly thought it). The problem of course is that Susan was not ‘to blame’ for Chris’ cleft lip, whereas it’s entirely possible that Martha’s difficulties are directly related to Alice’s alcoholism (whether or not that is her fault is another discussion).

Of course, Susan doesn’t know about the drinking and she was lovely. I hope this will be the start of a better relationship between the two of them - Alice has always rather tolerated Susan in the past instead of there being any warmth between them.

Having said that on last night’s evidence the Chris and Alice marriage looks to be in real peril, so Susan may not be her MIL for much longer (although will have a lasting link through Martha).

The idea of keeping the show secret with a cast that big and outdoor rehearsals is utterly illogical.
Agreed. Will the sacking of Clarrie have the logical result: a mass walk-out by other Grundys?

I've just realised that the part will be offered to Susan, won't it. Oh hang on, that's illogical, too - you can't sack Clarrie for blabbing then offer the part to Radio Carter. So it must be on the cards then!

@R4

The idea of keeping the show secret with a cast that big and outdoor rehearsals is utterly illogical. Agreed. Will the sacking of Clarrie have the logical result: a mass walk-out by other Grundys?

I've just realised that the part will be offered to Susan, won't it. Oh hang on, that's illogical, too - you can't sack Clarrie for blabbing then offer the part to Radio Carter. So it must be on the cards then!

I suspect (or would like to see) it will end with an “I’m Spartacus/Clarrie” moment as it turns out everyone has spoken about the massive public event taking place outdoors with a cast of thousands.

Couldn’t help feeling they’re taking the name “mysteries” a bit literally

Susan doesn’t know about the drinking and she was lovely. I hope this will be the start of a better relationship between the two of them

Not for long, I shouldn't think. Susan's contempt for alcoholics was established for a reason: and I can't believe that Alice's drinking won't become common knowledge. It will be fun watching the (mostly) dreadful Susan recalibrate her thoughts on the Aldridge connection. What Alice was thinking of to shackle herself to a man whose mother she had known all her life to be a malicious gossip and a pitifully aspirational snob and to whom she would be living in close proximity beats me. Enough to drive one to dri... oh.

It's typical TA.

FAS baby - mother's drinking
DS baby - mother's age
IVF baby - mother's infertility
Fertility issues (Roy and Hayley) - mother's body
Kate's non baby - mother's fault

The only male infertility discussed was Ian's.

Sometimes I feel I've spent half my life waiting for the Susan-as-Aldridge-in-law thing to implode.

Its a relationship that deserves endless BOOPS - and probably its own series.

IVF baby - mother's infertility
Who was that? Genuine question, can't remember one.
Missing from the list:
AID baby - mother's batshittery and selfishness.

Be fair, though. A father can drink with Stakhanovite dedication and it still won't cause FAS: biology doesn't do equal opportunities

FAS baby - mother's drinking

Is there any other cause of FAS?

IVF baby - mother's infertility
Who was that? Genuine question, can't remember one.
Shula

Is there any other cause of FAS?
I don't think so.

AID baby - mother's batshittery and selfishness.
TSWAMA

Thanks Kirsten: I had quite forgot Fat Dan.(wasn't actually listening while Shula was upduffed.

@MissBarbary

FAS baby - mother's drinking

Is there any other cause of FAS?

No, but there could be a storyline related to risk to baby from father's alcoholism I guess

Not for long, I shouldn't think. Susan's contempt for alcoholics was established for a reason: and I can't believe that Alice's drinking won't become common knowledge.

Yes @theThreeofWeevils I suppose I meant Alice re-calibrating her previous intolerant and superior attitude towards Susan whereas you’re right, Susan is likely to take a very dim view of Alice’s drinking and particularly if it turns out to have harmed Martha.

The Aldridge-in-law relationship is indeed a great [to listen to] and complex one.

Susan was quite good with Alice at the dinner with both sets of parents, where she was saying to Alice it's quite reasonable to focus on a career rather than babies, if that what she wants.

I've very successfully managed to tune out all the bits about the show or whatever it is currently being planned.

@WitchWife

Whyyyyy are stupid Lynda & Kirsty trying to keep this show a secret when EVERYONE is either in it or lending a venue etc? Poor bloody Clarrie just wants some fun.

Kirsty sounded demented. Maybe she's having a breakdown. Did we hear Linda saying this?

I don’t think treating a very well loved person like Clarrie badly is a good move for someone who is rehabilitating into village life. She does sound demented.