🎭 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!

So boring!

I expect Mia's Dad doesn't want to eat vegan meals and listen to her preaching about it, so he is happy to pass her on for a while.

PursuingProxemicExactitude
Loving the gender-neutral casting and the confusion it's causing Clarrie!

I am finding the idea of casting someone two-and-a-half years old in a part at all just a tad outré. That it is Rosie who is being cast as God, on the other hand, is going to cause trouble, because Pip knows perfectly well that she is herself God, and won't take kindly to her daughter being offered the rôle.

pip is god, Rosie is sprog of god. which makes toby the Virgin Mary I think?

Rosie is going to appear like the Sun Baby in Teletubbies, isn't she?

@Chemenger was the pasta-snotting The Intern's idea?

Snot funny.

So dull...I would suggest after a pretty good November/December, TAs is going through a slow patch - and not in a good way...

@MadameButterface

the pasta scene really confused me. for ages, I was wondering why they were talking about pennies. and also: eww. and also: why? and also: 'buddy"???? it was a full body cringe experience.

I wasn't really paying attention and it really confused me- what was she actually doing?

she was snotrocketing a piece of penne over some biscuit tins and into Jim's Cicero mug. quite why, or why this required an audience, is beyond me. at least she wasn't firing ping pong balls out of her hoo ha I suppose.

It was table golf or something.

I rather enjoyed the whittering aspect of this episode, the ludicrous ambitions stunningly crushed, the memories of former thespian glories.

And Philip has pleaded guilty!!!

And Philip has pleaded guilty!!!

Oh dear! Was only half-listening to the tired arguments about lentil lasagne and tofu stir-fry. Did I miss this?

I am also v surprised at Kirsty’s preoccupation with this archaic play and digging Roy’s vegetable patch this week. She really has other things she could be doing - and I don’t mean chasing around the homeless hostels again.

The Mystery Play isn’t until well after Easter. I don’t think I can stand this. And a hilarious rivalry with Darlington! Are we not just being spoiled? Two tiny villages doing archaic, religious amateur dramatics at the same time? Perhaps the SWs will throw in the actual second coming to make this all seem a bit more realistic.

The Mystery Play isn’t until well after Easter

Oh, ffs - really?!?

@Roysnewshirt

The Mystery Play isn’t until well after Easter

Oh, ffs - really?!?

That’s right. The Darlington play is at Easter, well before the Ambridge one. It should be performed just before casting for the Panto begins I should think. Year round drivel.

A pedant writes: Darrington.

Easter is very early this year, if that helps anyone. Easter Sunday is 4th April. Maybe the Mysteries will take place the following week, she said hopefully.

I know what will cheer every one up after a global pandemic, let's put Lyndas performances on twice a year. Have they lost their minds.

I know it’s Darrington but my iPad refuses to believe me.

I assumed Darrington is just a ruse to get people involved.
Just like offering Ruth a large speaking role got the barn.

What is the script lead time? I suspect that I am overly optimistic to hope that the residents of Ambridge and Darrington have now seen Boris's roadmap and will be sneaking off to the nets instead of rehearsals.

I have a nasty feeling that Victoria will be popping down to the village for a "friendly chat" with Kirsty.

Charlotte Higgins on The Archers. Guardian link. And photo of 'Shula'.

Victoria will deffo be back, you don’t cast the mum from bridgerton for like one scene haggling over prices.

I can't even be bothered to post, but will do so for place marking reasons (love the thread bit bored with the programme - just to be clear)

I think I preferred the monologues to the current run of episodes.

I can’t imagine Shula wearing that sheepskin coat in the Guardian link. Surely she wears quilted jackets or a Barbour at all times. Probably a good woollen coat for church.