💀 Archers thread #132: The Grim Reaper joined the cast; The Bard of Ambridge breathed his last. 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 think Shula will make an excellent vicar, 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.)

Thanks to many of you for title suggestions. @JanglyBeads said that this thread had to be a Bert tribute so needed a rhyming title. From an excellent field, I chose the suggestion from @BorsetshireBanality (who also has a cracking username).

Check out the last thread for the other suggestions and various poetic offerings inspired by Bert Fry's passing. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/4349822--Archers-thread-131-A-time-to-plant-a-time-to-reap-Discuss-The-Archers-here

So, who'll get the bungalow? Rex, Stella, Pip? If Rex has to move, will he doss down beside his pigs at Lower Loxley? Or will Rex be a resident at Her Majesty's pleasure, having bumped off Trevor for being the world's most boring man? Now Freddie's on the case, are Russ's days at LL numbered? Will we ever hear Jill again, or was Bert just the first of many older cast members to be dedded?

Over to you!

If she's got any sense, Stella will be very definitely asexual than hook-up with any long-term resident of Ambridge. Even if she normally has a busy social life composed of dates every other night.

@Tulipomania

Do we know what Stella's sexual preferences are?

Does it matter? Whatever they are, she will end up Stepforded in some way.

There is no way on earth that the slightly hard-nosed and relatively dynamic Stella would find Shula attractive.

Surely Stella is much younger than Shula.

I've lost track of Lower Loxley's accommodation, but there isbound to be a spare flat/gatehouse/cottage that would do for Rex.

Where does Stella live at the moment? She's implausibly pally with Ruth, so maybe she could rent the bungalow and hire a gardener.

If she and Toby are of a similar age (+/- a decade seems perfectly acceptable in Ambridge), I am happy for her to forgo a relationship with Shula in favour of Fairbrother Jnr.

I would love Toby to get together with Stella @Madcats if only because it would completely piss off Pip.

There must be loads of accommodation at LL - where did Lewis live? (Before the SWs forgot about him). Or Rex could move in with Lily as previously suggested - I’m sure CMR would find his nose severely out of joint being replaced by a pig man

👏🏽 23minutesfromTulseHill

🧙🏼‍♀️

So this speculation about Stella-Shula sapphic relationship is completely unfounded ...?

Disappointed. Sounds marginally more interesting than the fucking mystery plays.

I thought Stella had been in a past relationship with Justin ?

I think she & Rex renting the bungalow would be good

@Tulipomania, I would much rather hear Shula but not in a sapphic relationship.

Sorry yes it’s unfounded

What a load of rubbish.

Why would Lynda ever consider asking Lighthouse to the Honours ceremony?

Because they’re faaaaamly.

(Though the SWs don’t make much effort to capitalise on this wonderful connection.)

They can go out for a celebratory lunch with James, Leonie and Mungo after she picks up her bit of colonialist glitter.

I thought Stella had been in a past relationship with Justin ?

Definitely a past work relationship, but I don't think there was a sexual relationship. Unless my brain blanked it out to protect me.

I think we speculated here that it might have been sexual, but I somehow doubt it.

There was no feel of a past relationship of that sort at that secret lunch, no.

I have just switched off after 48 seconds. All it took was the Snell to say ‘I am relaunching the mysteries’. It’s a zero-tolerance policy nowadays on the Snell. Not wasting any more time on her.

Kirsty's right though. Who would want to spend their Boxing Day being in a mystery play?

Please let this be the year that Lynda gets a resounding "NO!" from everyone.

@TheSilveryPussycat

Kirsty's right though. Who would want to spend their Boxing Day being in a mystery play?

Please let this be the year that Lynda gets a resounding "NO!" from everyone.

Not sure if this counts as a spoiler or not but see my post on the spoilers thread.

I think the speculation about Shula and Stella started in the last thread when Brian appointed Stella against his own wishes - it started off as speculation about Stella and Brian, then moved to Shula as an alternative.

The Mystery Plays - I thought they'd been canned. That's one storyline I would have been happy to see forgotten (swallowed by the sink hole). Tedious beyond belief and now destined to drag on into the new year. Maybe Bert Fry died of boredom at the prospect of them being revived.

I didn't get to hear it last night but on the basis of these comments I won't bother. I will also do my best to filter out all talk of the Mystery plays from now on.

@Madcats

I've lost track of Lower Loxley's accommodation, but there isbound to be a spare flat/gatehouse/cottage that would do for Rex.

Where does Stella live at the moment? She's implausibly pally with Ruth, so maybe she could rent the bungalow and hire a gardener.

If she and Toby are of a similar age (+/- a decade seems perfectly acceptable in Ambridge), I am happy for her to forgo a relationship with Shula in favour of Fairbrother Jnr.

Are hannah & Johnny still in the house they used to share with tom? I assume that has a spare room for rex when pip decided she wants berts/rexs house

Stella & Rex as housemates? Maybe

I can’t see Rex finding cohabitation with the preternaturally rough Hannah attractive, not while he’s friends with the fragrant Lily …