💀 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!

The vicar (Gerry Buckle?) allowed Sharon and Kylie to live in the vicarage for a bit too, IIRC.

Yes, they were these for a while with Clive when Sharon was still pregnant (having been so insufferable that they were thrown out first by Ivy Horrobin and then by Susan Carter) but then after Clive walked out on them there was some nasty gossip and innuendo about Jerry Buckle's motives, so he wanted to find them somewhere else. It was ok while Clive was there too, but once he wasn't around any more the situation was seen as dodgy.

I have a feeling that Marjorie Antrobus was very much on his side about it and defended him against the slanders.

I feel like I remember a chat with John being all lovey dovey (whether they were together or he was just trying it on I don't know) and she saying something like look I'm stuck here in this shit caravan surrounded by nappies and I don't have time for this.

But I was probably about 6 at the time so possibly not.

there for a while, not these

John resumed his affair with Sharon while living with Hayley - in Keeper's Cottage? Hayley found out about Sharon. Ructions. Shortlly afterwards John proposed to her over dinner. I think he thought she would be so pleased she would forgive him, but she didn't, and it was shortly after that that he had his fatal accident.

Poor Hayley! Truly the Kirsty of yesteryear.

Oh gosh yes, it all comes flooding back now, thanks everyone!

Kylie’s name popped into my head this afternoon but I couldn’t remember who she was!

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

John resumed his affair with Sharon while living with Hayley - in Keeper's Cottage? Hayley found out about Sharon. Ructions. Shortlly afterwards John proposed to her over dinner. I think he thought she would be so pleased she would forgive him, but she didn't, and it was shortly after that that he had his fatal accident.

That was years and years later. He had also resumed it after he left school, but by that time Sharon had had enough of him and got a job in Leeds and moved away. Then she came back after he had started to live with Hayley and made a series of most determined passes at him and he, who had always tended to think with his dick, quite failed to resist the temptation she proffered. They were screwing on the sofa in the house he was sharing with Hayley when Hayley came home early from babysitting and walked in on them.

He drove the tractor badly enou8gh to get himself killed the day after Hayley understandably told him that she didn't want to marry him after he tried to bribe her with a meal and rock,

Johnny was named after his father; not particularly funny, therefore

Particularly given the circumstances of John's death.

I can't remember did Sharon turning up just after John's death with the intention of telling Pat about being pregnant but being turfed off by Pat happen on air or was it only referred to by Pat years later?.

Oo, WHAT is Hazel up to??

Putting Peggy's nose out of joint?

I think the Donkey Sanctuary must have invalidated its insurance.

And Eddie, FGS say NO!

@KimikosNightmare

Johnny was named after his father; not particularly funny, therefore

Particularly given the circumstances of John's death.

I can't remember did Sharon turning up just after John's death with the intention of telling Pat about being pregnant but being turfed off by Pat happen on air or was it only referred to by Pat years later?.

It happened on air. Lowfield, 26th March, 1998: "Sharon is back and she knows - although she's miffed that she had to find out from her friend Donna who read about it in the Echo. She seems sad and is scathing of the family's attitude to her, but wants to visit the grave of the only man she says that she ever truly loved. She visits Bridge Farm too and Pat is furious. She and Tony treat her cordially but bearly cover up their anger. When she leaves Pat just lets it all out, explicitly blaming her for the trouble - and herself for bringing Sharon in and being the cause for their meeting. She cannot stand the fact that Sharon, the woman she blames for the loss of her son, stands there alive, with a child and with a future." and 27th March, 1998

Sharon wasn't actually pregnant at that point; her having had John's child was invented in 2011.

@JanglyBeads

Oo, WHAT is Hazel up to??

Being a pantomime villain; it's that time of year.

Particularly given the circumstances of John's death
'the johnny burst'? I suppose one would, if a tractor landed on one . He seems to have been no particular loss; just a pity he spawned, however retrospectively

complete with twirling moustache

I heart Peggy

What is all this about?

I usually blank out the Christmas am dram, but am very much enjoying the search for a donkey with style and charisma, more than nice pair of hocks.

Agree about Hazel. Possible der, der, DERRRRRR fanfare needed for her entrance.

@Footle I am hoping Hazel will be trampled by a Longhorn while she is attempting to estimate the value of the rewinding project.

These old SLs sound FAR more interesting than what is happening at the moment. No wonder long-term listeners feel so short-changed!

A while ago I thought the SWs had seen sense when they said Lynda was stepping down and not doing any more Christmas shows. Now, we find we are exactly where we find ourselves every December - having to switch off early each night to avoid listening to the tired old Snell trope. Life is too short to listen to Lynda and Eddie limping through their predictable lines…

I suppose we should be grateful it’s a Nativity and not Mother Goose…

Somebody ought to take Eddie to one side and explain to him that "No" is a sentence.

Also that he is not obliged to the Snell person in any way; she is not even courteous to him.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime

Somebody ought to take Eddie to one side and explain to him that "No" is a sentence.

Also that he is not obliged to the Snell person in any way; she is not even courteous to him.

I haven't quite got over her trying to stop a Police officer from working instead of rehearsing her play.

Yes, that was extraordinary behaviour.

Hazel said she would be staying for a while. Does Hazel own any other property in Ambridge or is Peggy not going to get rid for of her?

Hazel owns the Village Shop and the flat above it, and she owns Keeper's Cottage, both of which were left to her in Jack Woolley's will.