🎲 Archers thread #134: Ambridge as human board game. We’ve had Pandemic. What now - Game of Life or Trivial Pursuit? Go! 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 warm to Hazel Woolley, 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 @LiterallyKnowsBest for the thread title idea. I also liked @LillianGish's suggestion which was Conversions abound and it’s not just Harrison - Lily’s kitchens, Hazel’s flat, Jazzer’s finances, Bert’s bungalow...come and discuss The Archers - are you a convert or could you be converted? and that seems like a good place to kick off this thread.

Who'll get the bungalow? Pip, Josh or A. N. Other?

Will Lily leave the cold calling behind and launch a bid to run LL when Elizabeth hangs up her clipboard?

Will Jazzer become a financial whiz after mastering Tracy's state of the art budgeting techniques, viz, writing it all down in a little notebook with a kitten on the front?

Over to you!

@BowerOfBramble

I can't see them sacking Tracey for a swift one in an empty room, good receptionists aren't that easy to find. I think this is surely setting them up to find their own place. Although I agree that Jazzer's job is in danger.

Surely with Tracey's dad's pension, Tracey's (full time?) earnings, Jazzer's earnings and anything Chelsea is paying in rent once she's earning (probably v soon) they can try to find a bigger place.

She was told off for personal calls recently too.

Oh yes I'm sure Roy would love to sack her but Oliver wouldn't have it.
They need a bloody houseboat!

Jazzer channelling Brine?!?! How confusing!

well, who knew the Jazzer actor was so versatile?

Silly storyline though, it was obvious they would get caught and they could have been a bit braver with a more dramatic (farcical?) conclusion ...

I agree it was all very silly, but loved Jazzer's accent.

I thought Jazzer was kind of horrible in this, pestering Tracy for sex in her workplace when she’s clearly not happy with it. Ugh.

Accent was good though, but a bit too much like Oliver for me

That was really horrible and unnecessary.

And I'm so fed up of Fallon.

@LovedayCL

I thought Jazzer was kind of horrible in this, pestering Tracy for sex in her workplace when she’s clearly not happy with it. Ugh.

Accent was good though, but a bit too much like Oliver for me

If I'd been Tracey, Jazzer's behaviour would have turned me right off. (I actually don't think she would have agreed in the first place.

And surely they would know that this was hardly a long time solution to their problem. Better the cricket pavillion!

Jazzer's accent creeped me right out. It didn't sound enough like a posh English accent done by a Scot IYSWIM.

I don’t think Jazzer would have behaved like that. He is immature but he is basically kind. I don’t think Tracey would have given in. I don’t like the undertones of “irresponsible lower classes”. And above all, Jazzer’s actor could do that accent, Jazzer certainly couldn’t.

But BOOP for angry Oliver.

None of that episode felt believable to me - Jazzer and Tracy’s tryst was beyond ridiculous and Fallon and Amy sounded as if they were reading a script (which I know they were, but that’s the point). Please, please, please can we get back to some farming - I tune in to hear birdsong and bleating in the English countryside not hammy acting and suggestive grunting.

Here's hoping Amy never comes back. Can't take much more of the monotone whining.

As for the rest of it. No words.

I want to hear about the pigs and Berrow, not this endless nonsense.

I was irritated that they were doing that thing with Tracy and Jazzer of trying to jack up the tension with Tracy trying to tell Jazzer to get out while he kept interrupting. Surely the reality is that she would have burst in saying "a guest's been given this room, get the hell out NOW" instead of going all round the houses before telling him.

@EthelTheAardvark

I was irritated that they were doing that thing with Tracy and Jazzer of trying to jack up the tension with Tracy trying to tell Jazzer to get out while he kept interrupting. Surely the reality is that she would have burst in saying "a guest's been given this room, get the hell out NOW" instead of going all round the houses before telling him.

This with bloody knobs on! Infuriating- and Tracey and Jazzer are both capable of acting quickly. It was supposed to be a comedy Grundy type thing I think

And right up against the Eastenders style Amy/Chris thing. Pathetic! Archers is good at the dynamics of family, farming, what it means to have your job, your home and your inheritance so closely aligned etc etc not this nonsense!

Archers is good at the dynamics of family, farming, what it means to have your job, your home and your inheritance so closely aligned etc etc not this nonsense! This with knobs on.

That episode was dreadful.

What annoyed me, apart from Tracy being coerced into sex she didn’t want in her workplace, was the inference that ultimately of course she’d put the job in jeopardy. Of course someone like her couldn’t keep up a job like that. Everyone else at Grey Gables seems to be able to hold onto their job. Funnily enough it’s only Tracy they’re choosing for a storyline like this. Why might that be?

I found it revolting. Jazzer was making my skin crawl.

If Oliver lets Tracey off with a final warning (and I think he will) she should ditch Jazzer.

Roy and the Grundy boys did some awful things when they were young but I can accept as plausible they have improved. Jazzer doesn't have the excuse of youth. and he's a creepy sex pest. I don't want to hear him again.

I agree. The SWs have been unfair to both of them. And made Jazzer look really sleazy which he isn’t.
I know Tracey does a lot of under-the-desk texting and quite a few cricket-related calls while on duty but she is really quite professional now - esp since she had Snell training her. She knows how important her job is for her family and just wouldn’t have risked it all for a quick bonk.

Just about the only good thing about the Tracey/Jazzer storyline is Angry Oliver. I rather like him, would love to hear him again.

Angry Oliver is great, and believable.

But he wasn’t going “by the book”, was he? What about the Right to be accompanied? And who was taking notes?

Jazzer continuing to be creepy.

Dreadful episode, and badly done. Jazzer has sounded out of character, too. I wonder if Amy will actually leave...

SWs should stay well away from "business" stuff, as they really aren't good at it. HR isn't a strong point either.

On the plus side, it sounds as if Phoebe is off to do something better with her life than managing a camping site and we're likely to have some respite from Amy.

When do we reckon the Grey Gables is going to be up for sale?

Is it Martha's party tomorrow? I have high hopes that the "oh so steep" staircase to Chris's flat will feature.

Boop for Susan’s party planning. The tea party sounds a lovely event in contrast to Alice’s party with the electronic, illuminated dance floor…

Rubbish Grey Gables storyline But one tiny ray of sunshine was that at least the continuity announcer was on the ball!
If you've been affected by the images in this episode...