❓ Archers thread #126: It’s a mystery why we’re all still listening.

[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 on the Parish Council, 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/4197199--The-Archers-spoilers-thread-6-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 @LillianGish and @Taswama for thread title ideas, but I felt most in sympathy with @R4's suggestion. Is it me, or is the programme in the doldrums at the moment?

Haven't heard the 31/3 episode yet. Perhaps it's a gem.

@LillianGish

I don't understand why they don't put in a proper paywall like The Times and The Telegraph. they want readers to be able to have access to the news for free wherever they live in the world. Is that really such a terrible thing? Actually a substantial number of people do make a contribution because they support this aim which is why people who can't afford to pay can continue to read for free and is says a lot about the sort of people who read the Guardian. No-one would expect philanthropy from Telegraph readers.

If they want to make some of their content available free of charge, that could be paid for with premium membership maybe. If I worked for TG, though, I'd prefer my employment to be secure, and a paid for model would probably be more reliable. Depends on how much they generate from adverts, I suppose.

I thought it was 8, @MereDintofPandiculation. Might have heard wrongly.
How long before Cursedy and Rotaboy are an item?

I thought Philip was 8, Gavin 5.

Alish, the first woman ever to have a newborn, is getting on my nerves.

Alish could never get on my nerves.

I don't know whether they will follow the nail bar story through, maybe they are just putting it out there that you can report if you have concerns. I'd expect Emma to report it off air and we'll hear no more about it.

but it did make me think nostalgically of Evangeline Blahnik coaxing me into the sharpest, highest, most spectacular black suede stilettos at the start of my professional training in London

Oh come on ! You can't just drop that into the slough of tedium of the current Archers and sail on with no explanation !

I want details.

@CaptainMyCaptain

I don't know whether they will follow the nail bar story through, maybe they are just putting it out there that you can report if you have concerns. I'd expect Emma to report it off air and we'll hear no more about it.

Oh, I bet they bloody will follow it up in their own inept fashion. All part of the rehabilitation of Emmur, former grubby little serial shagger of brothers, deposit beggar and all-round envious, spiteful member of the peasantry, into pillar of the commewnity and chair of the Parish Council, saviour of nail-bar slaves, Mrs Edward Grundy Jr. (address: an illegal caravan on Oliver 'Idiot' Sterling's land, but never mind, never mind...)

You're in good form tonight, Three

If they want to make some of their content available free of charge, that could be paid for with premium membership maybe. Well, it is, really. Membership - free, premium membership -PAYF

Thank you, @MereDintofPandiculation, but someone has to be, and the scripties certainly aren't...

@R4

I thought Philip was 8, Gavin 5.

Alish, the first woman ever to have a newborn, is getting on my nerves.

Oddly, although it is getting on my nerves, I'm quite liking the 'first woman to have a newborn' writing because it is at least realistic! I don't know anyone who hasn't had a similar experience (i.e. 'new baby is crying for what seems like forever, should we call the doctor' and 'everything seems too much, I really need you to come home right now' even if not acted upon)...

I should clarify... when I wrote about the writing seeming realistic... I was glowering at the writers who decided the farcical mystery production was a good idea. My disbelief is currently no longer suspended when it comes to listening to that aspect of the program. It's as though The Archers has forgotten it's supposed to be a reflection of a real life farming community and has switched to 'badly written comedy' territory...

@ILoveShula

or Myson

Or The Roarer. Also The Unspellable One.

I stopped listening maybe 6-9 months ago, ironically just after they got back into the studio recording. I have no idea if Phillip and Gav have been found out to be people traffickers, or if Alice is still a secret alcoholic. Can't remember any other storylines I cared about.

By the title of this thread it doesn't sound as if I have missed anything much?!

Place marking. Not caught up with the gavin and Philip thing.

@BillyTodd

I stopped listening maybe 6-9 months ago, ironically just after they got back into the studio recording. I have no idea if Phillip and Gav have been found out to be people traffickers, or if Alice is still a secret alcoholic. Can't remember any other storylines I cared about.

By the title of this thread it doesn't sound as if I have missed anything much?!

Sadly, I can confirm that you haven't missed much... I'm actually wondering whether I should stop listening, too... but then I keep hanging on "just in case".

I miss the pre-covid writing and schedule. But I can't help but think 6 days a week would be far too often with the current quality of writing!

Oh dear. I'm feeling rather scathing this evening! I just want the old Archers program back!

Agree with posters upthread who noted that the trial of Philip and Gavin would seem to be rather quickly brought about, but glad that Philip showed his true colours in denouncing the judge.

Though now I think of it, he's done this allthe time since he was sussed, switching from nice to nasty so often it's a wonder anyone could fall for his line. I'd expect more self control as he's evidently played the long game very well in controlling the horses. Still I expect it's all in the SL where Jim, Shula, etc. have seen his demonic transformation so a more public element of his nastiness has been shown.

Anyhoo, it's Good Friday where I am and I forgot to make the pace eggs so I must crack on. See what I did there?

I don't know anyone who hasn't had a similar experience (i.e. 'new baby is crying for what seems like forever, should we call the doctor' and 'everything seems too much, I really need you to come home right now' even if not acted upon)...
The poor thing. If only she had a mother to call on. Oh, wait ...

I'm actually wondering whether I should stop listening, too... but then I keep hanging on "just in case" That's me too. Actually I feel like I could give up The Archers - but I'd miss everyone on this thread.

@R4

I don't know anyone who hasn't had a similar experience (i.e. 'new baby is crying for what seems like forever, should we call the doctor' and 'everything seems too much, I really need you to come home right now' even if not acted upon)... The poor thing. If only she had a mother to call on. Oh, wait ...

That is a very good point...

Glad to see the intern is back, Chemenger. Also laughing at Emmur's transformation, TheThreeofWeevils.

I think it was Ben, not Ruari, who wanted the caravan because of the reference to Evie (archaeology student). The young men all have the same voice. I'm sure part of the reason I like Johnny is that at least his voice is recognisable.

Waiting patiently for the suede stilettos story. It will make a nice change from the mystery play, she commented hopefully.

The Guardian's technique (despite hearing from an exec at another top rank newspaper that it wouldn't work) actually seems to work quite well - and they are more financially viable than most. But that could be because sandal wearing lefties are more likely to give voluntarily than the capitalists who read the Telegraph for example.

Keri wrote Monday and Wednesday this week.

If I worked for TG, though, I'd prefer my employment to be secure, and a paid for model would probably be more reliable.
It is doing better apparently than my friend's paper (think of the most reputable one you can and you probably have the right one).

Oh dear! Re-reading what I wrote, MissBarbary, it does slightly read as if I was training for something that either required high heels or was directly related to shoes. I wasn't. But I'd spent my Bar school year in Ferragamo Vara shoes and, when I wandered into the Blahnik shop and mentioned that I'd just started pupillage, Ms B. suggested I needed something with a little more ...

So I've been imagining Evangeline of Darrington with white hair elegantly clasped in a black velvet bow. Poor Lynda!

(Fairly sure the shoes outlived my brief and un-brilliant career.)

Does anyone else watch Sarah and Duck ? The Lynda / Evangeline spat sounded exactly like a discussion on balloon-racing between Scarf-Lady and Hattie and equally as plausible.

I'd thoroughly recommend S&D. Where character-driven whimsy knows what to do with itself.