❓ 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.

@CaptainMyCaptain

Thanks *@Asking* His parents might have taken it themselves, I suppose. I still can't understand why it matters, though.

I don't think Justin needs to worry about a sixty-year-old negative that has been being kept in a box; I expect getting a print off it would be a great deal more difficult even than playing a sixty-year-old C120 cassette tape, if it hadn't simply become to friable to be handled. (Not that sixty-year-old cassettes exist yet, but given how unintelligible the fifty-year-old one I found the other day was I wouldn't bet on understanding one even older.)

Or more prosaically, he's plotting something and knows that everyone in the village will hate him in 10 years' time.

You mean they don't already hate him, if they can be bothered to be more heated about it than merely despising him?

Somehow they'll really, actively hate him and seek every opportunity to mock and humiliate him (and no I don't quite get how, unless he is an imposter, or he murdered his twin or something).

Sounds like I didn't miss much tonight then :o I was busy having a face to face conversation, and it ended up like we were just trying out our voices. I was surprised mine even worked.

We'll be needing a new thread soon. We're on page 40 and over 980 posts.

Who has caught Mia's eye?

I hope its a Button girl.

he murdered his twin
That would prejudice me in his favour, tbh.
Were he to murder Lilian, I'd actually stand him a pint.

Astonishing pearls of wisdom from Ed on dating - ‘just be yourself and talk about plastics’ - is that really the best he can do? The writing is so tired at the moment. I think that’s the first we have heard from him since last summer. May be he is exploring other career options too? There would be lots of disappointed ladies on this thread if he did go, though I can NEVER understand the appeal of Ed ‘chip off the old block’ Grundy Junior.

I only had half an ear listening last night as any SL involving Lilian is challenging. Surely the actress must object to such terrible lines? May be she is just grateful to be in work given limited roles for older women.

'Good grief' isn't adequate for last night's heap of steaming ordure. Bloody Hell! I felt sorry for the actors. Sometimes I assume they can only get through the recordings by thinking of their bank accounts. That was one such time.

I have a new thread ready to go when this one has a few final posts on it.

In the old days (fields, etc) when we enjoyed MNHQ patronage, we used to send up collective demands requests for some member of the TA creative team to present themselves here for interrogation. I don't remember these requests ever bearing fruit - but we could always try again ...

Good idea. I might head over to Site Stuff now. I'm appalled by how bad it is currently.

We're back to Carry On Ambridge with Lee's inadvertent nude modelling assignment (he still doesn't realise what he's let himself in for - Ooo I say - more hilarious japes to come) and David's misapprehension about the exactly what was on Justin's compromising photo (plenty of opportunity for nudging and winking long into the future) and the comedy capers of Justin and Lillian's metal detecting antics culminating in a mud fight. Laugh? I thought I'd never start.
I see we're nearly due a new thread so would like to propose a new title:
What a carry on - Nurse (Ben), Sergeant (Harrison), Camping (Kate), Jack (either one of them), Regardless (all of us for continuing to tune tune in)

Done. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/4231475-Webchat-idea-The-Editor-of-The-Archers-Or-another-Archers-production-team-representative?watched=1

Forgot to add Cabbie (Rex)

Oh.

Thanks, Gasp0!

I don't understand why Elizabeth would assume Rex would be a difficult tenant? Surely if he was we'd have heard David moaning about it, God knows it doesn't take much to start him off.

Rex clearly wouldn't be a problem tenant but Elizabeth is entrenchedly anti-Fairbrother. Particularly Rex, given that her affair with Robin F ended when he discovered his wife was pregnant, with Rex.

Also, we know that Lily has a taste for older men and gets on well with Rex, who is solid, sensible but somewhat spiritually homeless in Ambridge. I think Lizzie's idea that Rex would be 'high maintenance' might refer more to an inkling she may have about the emotional status of the household, than to his pig-keeping endeavours.

Or it may just have been a made up excuse.

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g! I see you as our thread’s Head Girl!

@MissBarbary

When was the last time we said "that was the worst episode ever"?

Because whenever and whatever it was tonight's has exceeded it. What a pile of dross.

Can they not add Lillian to the time capsule and never dig her up? She is truly horrible.

I totally agree, @MissBarbary. Utter dross. Lillian's cackle at the unfunny humiliation of her husband just capped it all, after the totally unbelievable story. How exactly did they not notice David walking across whatever field they were in? And the mud fight at the end. Ugh.

More than I ever achieved in my schooldays, @Roysnewshirt!

New thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/4231565--Archers-thread-127-Discuss-the-boars-and-sows-of-Ambridge-here-or-should-that-be-bores-and-soused-You-decide?watched=1

@lottiegarbanzo

Rex clearly wouldn't be a problem tenant but Elizabeth is entrenchedly anti-Fairbrother. Particularly Rex, given that her affair with Robin F ended when he discovered his wife was pregnant, with Rex.

What baffles me is why anyone in the village would be pro Fairbrother, given that their grandfather (there for about eight years sixty years ago and more) was regarded as a bad farmer and a nasty person by most who lived there at the time, their father was a philandering shit who only appeared to betray someone sexually, and neither of the current crop is worth a light, one being a chancer and the other a whinger.

Oops. I'll take that to the new thread!