🤐 The Archers spoilers thread #6: Can't wait for 7.02pm? Join us here!

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Spoiler thread for The Archers. Please keep all spoiler-related discussion in this thread and do not spill the beans on the main Archers Thread (hence the zipped mouth on the emoji!). Last thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3853783--The-Archers-spoilers-thread-5-Cant-wait-for-7-02pm-Join-us-here

Sorry, ignore that- data isn't recent but I don't think it's wholly unbelievable there have been no deaths in Ambridge. I haven't heard of any deaths in my own village. I personally don't know anyone who has died of Covid other than a German business acquaintance.

My parents live on a Scottish island, permanent population around 5000. I don't know what percentage of them are over 70, but I'd guess it can't be too far off half. Obviously some people have died in the last year, as you'd expect, but they've managed to keep the island from having an outbreak, thank goodness. I have little time for Nicola Sturgeon but she and her government did one very sensible thing early on when they restricted travel to the islands to those who live there and those who had essential business there.

Not quite so easy with a commuter village, but if the hospitality trade is closed and commuters are all working from home, I suppose there's not much traffic in and out to spread the disease.

So, I was right as far as Lily inviting Rex's pigs to LL! I wonder what will happen to change Elizabeth's mind. Vince, probably.

Lizard is surely right about the smell though?

@BoreOfWhabylon

Lizard is surely right about the smell though?

She is. Lower Loxley is a mere 400 acres, and pigs can be clearly detected for a considerable distance even if they don;t escape.

(Quick question: have we ever heard of Rex's pigs escaping, or David blowing a gasket about it as he certainly would? I don't remember it if so. The escapist pigs have always been Tom's.)

Quick question: have we ever heard of Rex's pigs escaping, or David blowing a gasket about it as he certainly would?

Good grief Asking, if you can't recall what chance do the rest of us have?

Why can't Rex use some of the rewilding land for his pigs?

You know, I'm still struggling to see exactly why Phoebe wanted Rex involved with the rewilding at all. One could have understood if they were romantically involved, but they never have been. He's completely unqualified, except as willing dogsbody. (And he's not even willing, most of the time he just whines.) Really hard to see where they're going with this.

(Because obviously the person to invite his pigs onto the rewilding land would be Phoebe. She hasn't offered - she's bored when he he's not 100% focused on her interests. It's confusing - the story isn't joined up ...)

@Madcats

Why can't Rex use some of the rewilding land for his pigs?

Because pigs take ground down to the bare earth and eat everything in it to a depth of about eight inches, so it wouldn't be very wild once the pigs were on it.

As we heard him telling Lily, they eat brambles. Even goats are not as thoroughly destructive as pigs.

Where I live there are a lot of animals who roam "wild". But pigs are only allowed to roam wild for a couple of months in the Autumn - the rest of the time they have to be constrained as they are far too destructive.

I don't know when I may get today's Mail piece sent to me, but here is what I have so far for this coming week, tied together:

BBC One-Liners
26 Apr Ben makes a surprising confession and Justin finds himself with a new nemesis.
27 Apr Joy turns the tables and debate rages at Lower Loxley.
28 Apr Lilian gets her hands dirty and Eddie springs a surprise.
29 Apr The walls close in on Alice, and Rex looks to the future.

Credits
Mon 26/4/2021, Tue 27/4/2021, Wed 28/4/2021, Thu 29/4/2021
Writers: Sarah Mcdonald-Hughes and Daniel Thurman
Director: Peter Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe
Ben Archer: Ben Norris
David Archer: Timothy Bentinck
Ruth Archer: Felicity Finch
Lilian Bellamy: Sunny Ormonde
Lee Bryce: Ryan Early
Alice Carter: Hollie Chapman
Vince Casey: Tony Turner
Ruairi Donovan: Arthur Hughes
Justin Elliott: Simon Williams
Rex Fairbrother: Nick Barber
Ed Grundy: Barry Farrimond
Eddie Grundy: Trevor Harrison
Mia Grundy: Molly Pipe
Jakob Hakansson: Paul Venables
Joy Horville: Jackie Lye
Kate Madikane: Perdita Avery
Kirsty Miller: Annabelle Dowler
Elizabeth Pargetter: Alison Dowling
Freddie Pargetter: Toby Laurence

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 26th - 29th April 2021
Ben and Ruairi are burying some secrets, but will Justin allow the past to rest in peace? Life at Brookfield, meanwhile, is thrown off course when one family member makes a surprising announcement and David has to confront some unlikely trespassers.
Elsewhere, Ed tries to help Mia navigate her way through some delicate matters of the heart, Eddie loses his head, Kate goes on the warpath, and Lilian gets to engage in some serious mudslinging.
And it's all change at Beechwood, as Helen and Lee move in and someone takes a definite shine to their new neighbours. My money's on Joy Horville.

#####################################################################

No Chris.
Why is Mia in the village? the play that was her pretext is not happening. Shouldn't she be at school or something?

And I wish nobody had taught whoever writes these things the word "nemesis", because they clearly have no idea what it actually means.

Thanks Asking.

I've noticed the misuse of nemesis in day-to-day life. People tend to use it to mean rival or enemy.

Yes, well, a little learning is a dangerous thing. People end up saying what they don't at all mean when they show off by using long words!

Anyhow, just in, hot off the, erm, lunch-picnic-table I think:

Daily Mail Weekend Magazine Archers Update 26th - 29th April 2021
Few of us have managed to secure an invitation to any of the homes on the Beechwood Estate, though none of us is crying into a pillow over that. It’s a bit of a Hinterland - and the scene of Kirsty’s latest tragedy. Now,cheese-maker Helen and her Karate King, having packed up their belongings and set up home there, quickly discover one of the many draw backs to the area.
Still, they are out of the way of Kate, who rarely ventures to Beechwood, but is otherwise roaming free and looking for trouble. They should also be safe from Lilian, who’s got her dander up and is slinging mud all over the place.
Meanwhile, Ben and Ruairi are engaged in more furtive activities, and, over at Brookfield one family member makes a surprising announcement.

Ooh, do you think that Pip might announce she's got a one-way ticket to NZ or even better, Mars?

As regards misuse of words, MN has been a revelation.

And again, thanks Asking.

Mind you, to be fair I think this one was reasonably accurate: "The stage is set for a showdown between Lynda and her nemesis, Evangeline" when Evangeline did indeed exact retribution for Lynda's hubris. But I don't think "we hear Elizabeth telling Jill that she’s now dating David’s arch nemesis" was right: Vince Casey is in no way exacting retribution for either evil deeds or undeserved good fortune of David's, and isn't in a position to do so anyway. David simply dislikes him.

I don't suppose that Justin is about to encounter someone who brings the edifice of his undeserved luck tumbling about his ears, on the whole, though it would be lovely if he did.

I agree with you Asking.

I would love Justin to meet his nemesis (in the real sense of the word). I wonder if Helen and Lee are going to find that Joy is the down side to life in Beechwood. I can't see Helen having much time for her.

@nettie434

I would love Justin to meet his nemesis (in the real sense of the word). I wonder if Helen and Lee are going to find that Joy is the down side to life in Beechwood. I can't see Helen having much time for her.

Free baby-sitting. Helen will love her.

That's true, Asking. Helen will need a replacement for Tony and Pat.

It will be easy for Joy to get close to Tony when he pops round to babysit.

i wonder what the announcement at Brookfield will be.

The past also delivers a blow to Fallon when a shocking secret emerges that sends aftershocks across the village.

This was from a couple of weeks ago. I'm struggling to think what the blow from the past was?

Wasn't that the whole Alice thing?

(Keep forgetting to congratulate you, Nith! Wonderful predicting re Ben's career aspirations.)

Once more I am putting up advance warning about what we can expect this week. It all looks a little grim, honestly.

BBC One-Liners
03 May Lee is confronted with the naked truth while Brian slams the door for Adam.
04 May Alan helps with a spiritual crisis and Susan’s ideas miss the mark.
05 May Fallon struggles to keep quiet while Mia discovers two’s company.
06 May It’s Christening day for Martha but with tensions brewing will the day go without a hitch?

Credits
Mon 3/5/2021, Tue 4/5/2021, Wed 5/5/2021, Thu 6/5/2021
Writers: Katie Hims & Helen Aitken
Directors: Dave Payne and Marina Caldarone
Editor: Jeremy Howe
Brian Aldridge: Charles Collingwood
Jennifer Aldridge: Angela Piper
Ben Archer: Ben Norris
Helen Archer: Louiza Patikas
Pip Archer: Daisy Badger
Lee Bryce: Ryan Early
Harrison Burns: James Cartwright
Alice Carter: Hollie Chapman
Chris Carter: Wilf Scolding
Susan Carter: Charlotte Martin
Ruairi Donovan: Arthur Hughes
Rex Fairbrother: Nick Barber
Alan Franks: John Telfer
Emma Grundy: Emerald O’Hanrahan
Mia Grundy: Molly Pipe
Joy Horville: Jackie Lye
Russ Jones: Andonis James Anthony
Adam Macy: Andrew Wincott
Elizabeth Pargetter: Alison Dowling
Fallon Rogers: Joanna Van Kampen

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 3rd - 6th May 2021
Is Martha’s christening destined to be remembered for all the wrong reasons? For starters, we have mum Alice’s alcoholism, which has created no end of tension with husband Chris. Then there’s the not-so-veiled tension between the two grannies, with Susan’s catering efforts not exactly passing muster with the martinet that is Jennifer. By the time the big day dawns, Fallon - who is officially supposed to be in charge of the nibbles - is struggling to keep quiet. All in all, plenty of potential pitfalls …
In other news, Lee’s second thoughts inspire panic at Lower Loxley, and Alan offers support to a troubled soul - will his advice lead to salvation?

Daily Mail Weekend Magazine Archers Update 3rd - 6th May 2021
The dark force currently controlling Ambridge stands atop St Stephen’s, luring ill wishing spirits to Martha’s christening. Uncomfortable villagers make their way up the church path, with feet forced into smart shoes, paunches stowed in strained waistcoats and waistbands stretched to the limits - lockdown has left its mark. The build-up to the big day does not bode well. Susan has been snubbed, Jennifer is at her worst, while Emma is frazzled from trying to keep the peace between the hapless babe’s parents.
Meanwhile, an event at Lower Loxley is under threat - but a good fairy flits by and offers to save the day.