🐠 Archers thread #135: An Everyday Story of Fishy Folk. 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 would be delighted to be given a goldfish named after your ex, 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.)

Apologies for ignoring the various title suggestions on the last thread. However, here they are, plus a couple of other pithy observations, to kickstart the new thread. I think it's fair to say nobody is looking on this as a Golden Era! Goldfish Era, though ...

@Roysnewshirt: Everyone wants more! Chris wants more Amy; Jazzer wants more Tracey; Alice wants more time with Martha and Amy wants more space… Very true. And now we know Kirsty wants more farming expertise in the rewilding project, but not Pip (thank the lord) so does that mean approaching Adam? Currently under-employed.

@LillianGish: I tune in to hear birdsong and bleating in the English countryside not hammy acting and suggestive grunting.

@stilldumdedumming: 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!

@DoctorTwo: Like fuck would Pheobe buy her parents a goldfish each. The Ambridge character transplant fairy has been working overtime this past few weeks, it's been absolutely fucking appalling bar a couple of exceptions.

Can't disagree with any of that. I want to hear more about the pigs and any other effects of Brexit. A topical insert about the war in Ukraine must surely be on the way.

Any happy listeners out there? Any disgruntled listeners with even more grumbles? Over to you!

Let's hope the Dopeys tell Pip that Vince reckons Josh is going places. She'll probably hate the whole idea just because it was his.

Bleating! At last 🥰 🥰 🥰

@TottersBlankly

Lambs!

Actual lambs!!

Now I’ve caught up I see you actually beat me to it!

I was pleased to hear lambs as well! Springy

Just caught up and wanted to recommend 'Hors de Prix' (Priceless) with Audrey Tatou. I think it's available on Prime.

I still concerned about the solar panel loan... who's responsible for repairs if they get broken/damaged/stolen and/or rates change and they can't pay back mince over 7 years surely the concern over having a large loan on the farm still stands and don't go away just cos Vincent likes them ....now (what if Ben cheats on "his princess" sometime in the next 7 years... how long have they been together?) Sounds like a really stupid idea

Also would Elizabeth really be offended by d&r turning it down, didn't she say at the start of seeing Vincent she didn't want him getting involved in LL business (or if shes ok with it, why isn't he he buy her solar panels for one of her far away outbuildings instead hor brother)

Who in their right mind cares about the stupid, creepy Easter Bunny?

I’ve guessed.

Let’s see if I’m right …

Hmmph!

Well, well, well. Kathy!

Back just in time to join the Staff Consortium to buy GG.

I wasn't expecting that

I don't think anyone was!

I was beginning to think it was Addled, whose delivery is becoming increasingly arch.

Wonder if Kaffee's back for good or just passing through?

"You know I'm good at keeping schtum!"

The Intern's little joke?

I certainly wasn't expecting that, not least because as an avid reader of spoilers I had looked at this week's cast list and Hedli Niklaus is not in it. Well, well, well. I appreciate them bringing her back, but Kathy Perks must be over 70. Roaming the highways and byways of Borsetshire in a rabbit suit? Really?

She's going to start trailing round the village in her nightie, rapping at windows and caterwauling:
"It's me, it's Kaffee
I've come ho-o-ome..."

Kathy Perks must be over 70

And we're supposed to believe Lily thought it was Russ.

What a ridiculous storyline.

As a pay out I have to say I enjoyed that conclusion, and I really wasn't expecting to.

@BoreOfWhabylon

She's going to start trailing round the village in her nightie, rapping at windows and caterwauling: "It's me, it's Kaffee I've come ho-o-ome..."

Was it even the same Kathy actress? Not sure I can remember her voice and the huffing and puffing and over acting made it difficult to tell.

I’m sure I remember (always a bad start) years ago we made a Kate Bush related Archers prediction here - and whatever it was happened exactly as we’d said it would …

I had lost track of Kathy’s likely age, and the character list doesn’t give her date of birth - but this, from the BBC site:

At the age of 16, Hedli had the amazing opportunity of attending the University of California for one year where she actually heard Martin Luther King speak.

firmly places the actor as at least 70 years old this year.

So surely Kathy will retire rather than being made redundant?

I went through a phase of listening to Dum Tee Dum during lockdown. In one podcast/Zoom they interviewed "Kathy".

I have the feeling she would have done well on this thread. It didn't sound as if Heidi was quiet when it came to pointing out character inconsistencies/flaws. After changes to the editorial team the calls to her agent stopped coming.....

She did mention that the current set up had promised Kathy a proper "farewell". I'm not sure that dressing up as an Easter bunny was what she had in mind!

With Jamie being late 20's (what's happened to him-so many trees needing TLC after storms and...nothing), Kathy must be late 60's/early 70's. Perhaps a little younger than Pat, but not much.

So how did Kathy manage all that Easter bunnying at the same time as her full time job?

I do hope Vince's suggestions for Freddie include packing in the DJing. Freddie's blatant cadging for money for equipment is getting painful to listen to.

Anyone else sniggering at Ian saying they hadn't managed to be open for Easter for two years? As I remember, Ambridge was the only place in England fully open for Easter 2020, due to the fact that they were still using pre-recorded episodes.

GG wasn't, because of the explosion. How the production team must have cursed their decision to have a big story just at that point.