😱 Archers thread #130: The Fall of the House of Aldridge. 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 look forward to Shula's first sermon, or other unusual things.

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.)

I went for the obvious thread title this time. Poor Ruairi! We've had a good go on the last thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/a4289334--Archers-thread-129-Casey-Macy-Lily-Alice-Decent-types-or-full-of-malice-Discuss-The-Archers-here?msgid=109858475#109858475 at trying to work out where he's going and what he might be studying, as the SWs have not seen fit to tell us.

Whither now for Alice? Will Jennifer talk to Peggy soon? Good hint from Lilian the other day that at Peggy's age it's not wise to leave feuds bubbling on.

It's been a long time since we last heard from a certain Archer whose name I am not going to mention in case it acts as a summoning charm. Long may she remain unheard in the dairy or out in the fields, or better still somewhere near a sinkhole. That was a storyline that looked promising years ago and wasn't exploited as it could have been. Pah.

Over to you!

Hmm wasn't Nelson Gabriel sexy and charming ?
And Debbie's Guardian reading tractor driver ?

We need a new young bit of rough Forester/ agri vehicle mechanic and a slightly older and suave but not creepy Land Agent or Auctioneer.

And I do know a very sexy agronomist who in real life lives not too far from Borsetshire.

In my extensive experience of rural life, once they are too old for Young Farmers most rural blokes are exhausted by work and have already married and fathered children so lost most of their sex drive. They also have no concept of how to dress smartly or in an attractive way and will probably be only excited by a new Viyella Shirt or a John Deer boiler suit.

Hmm … It’s true that shade of boiler suit green would not suit Maurice’s ruddy complexion.

The weird thing is that the male person who I always imagine to be the most aesthetically pleasing - the Pargetter heir - is seemingly invisible to all. (Other than that day a rogue provocateur took over the BBC computers and had Steph née Casey assessing him for bedroom fitness.)

I dunno, my cousin’s rural town has mystery plays on at the moment and the Tour of Britain going through it today. My friend’s village in another part of the country has a scarecrow competition. They’re not totally barmy ideas in the Archers although they miss out on the highly organised, no nonsense, mostly really nice people who get big projects (like plays) going. Always amazed in TA that there are so few efforts to stimulate the local economy. I’d expect a lot more farmers’ markets, craft fairs, art studios in sheds, apprenticeships etc. Actually is Johnny on an apprenticeship? But there never seems to be any drive to improve the economy of Ambridge except each person for themselves.

If Johnny is still doing his apprenticeship he's been at it a while: he started in 2017. And I think he was offered full-time employment at another farm at one point.

In fact I am sure of it, because he nobly turned down the job so that Ed could have it. That went well...

Gosh Amy sounded like a celebrity guest, in that she seemed to be reading her lines from a cue card very slowly and with odd emphases. Is that her normal way of speaking? I can't remember her last appearance. She was mean about poor waddling Alan as well!

Well, she had to do her What it was Like During Covid Waves speech. (I'm not mocking, I liked it, but it was a speech, not dialogue.)

My heart sank at another Grundy scheme.

Loved the way they had her say she’s there for a nice long break. Aka “Don’t quite know where we’re going with this yet. Let’s just leave it open-ended, yah?”

The actor did sound nervous and stumble-y and very, very careful to enunciate. Let’s hope they’ll give her long enough to bed in. (I also can’t tell if it’s the same actor. Too long since she last appeared.)

Slightly grudging BOOP for the rather tardy acknowledgment of you know what. I guess it’s not entirely unrealistic that Amy might really need a break from her work.

Oo-er - Brexshit references AND Covid. Brave.

Same Amy-actor as ever.

On a different subject: Alice went into rehab on 16th August and is coming out next week. I do hope she didn't pay for a full course, because that is three weeks and a bit, which seems a very short time; I have heard six weeks as an absolute minimum.

My heart sank at another Grundy scheme

I hate the fact the Grundies are the Ambridge nod to the working classes. Eddie is just not typical. Ed and Emma are more realistic but Eddie is just a cardboard cut out.

Are they the nod to the working classes?
I'd have said that Mianed were, and Tracey.

Mianed are Grundys!

For a while, as Eddy stretched towards respectability, it looked as if they were moving the un-Cartered Horrobins from underclass to lovable scallywag rural working class - but clearly the SWs or producers lack commitment to that plan.

I can’t imagine anyone on Earth is not sick to death of Eddie being portrayed almost exclusively through cunning schemes. It’s a worrying blindspot in the creative team.

I can’t imagine anyone on Earth is not sick to death of Eddie being portrayed almost exclusively through cunning schemes. It’s a worrying blindspot in the creative team.

I agree. I also feel the same about the 'pantomine' attempts at humour. Can't believe that someone on the team hasn't put their foot down and said 'enough is enough' yet...

If Johnny is still doing his apprenticeship he's been at it a while: he started in 2017.

Pretty sure he finished. Wasn't there some family meal where Pat was going on about how proud of him she was?

Not agog for the F&P, then, Poppins? Me neither. But nice to be reminded that Joe Grundy is STILL DEAD

I did wonder if Brian had been reading the thread when he said “I enjoy a spot of drilling Jenny, you know I do.”

@FoxgloveSummers
[Grin]
I just Love Brian . He's the best character in TA by far.
And on the whole, consistent.

It felt as if Amy had been wheeled out for a set piece Covid slot. Usha, Pat and now Amy - will Kathy be getting her voice back next or Carol Tregorran (I can’t remember if she actually moved or was just silenced)? I could understand an avoidance of Covid storylines in the early days when no one was sure which way the wind was blowing, but it has felt slightly weird to have no other mentions. Has the Laurels been decimated or was that another shining miracle? How has The Bull been affected by the consecutive lockdowns? Surely Kate should be coming out as a rabid anti-vaxer. Similarly with Brexit - huge implications for the farming community. Now it’s a done deal why not explore some of the issues? Any of this would be preferable to Lilian and Justin’s tedious (and unbelievable) financial shenanigans and Eddie’s improbable schemes.

@Edmontine, yes, they are, but I took the Grundys to be Eddie and Clarrieluv. Emma's a Horrobin too.

I remember posting a couple of years ago about how bad The Archers was at that time.

I had no idea just how bad it could be. Have been listening for decades and so disappointed as to how much drivel they can pack into 12 minutes.

And yet, we're still all here listening...

BOOP for the cereal cupboard clearout despite the mixed success. Agree Amy sounded like a guest actor, very read aloud. I was expecting her to tell us to get our vaccinations. Is she going to neatly slot into the Mother of Martha slot to Alice’s chagrin?

I wonder if they spoke to any midwives, most of the job is not about cutesy new babies it’s about shepherding mothers through the pregnancy and birth.

@EBearhug

And yet, we're still all here listening...

I know, very sad.

Of course they researched thoroughly, they watched Call the Midwife.