🏏Archers thread #136: Howzat! Oliver’s bowled a googly, Kathy’s out, Grey Gables left with nightwatchman. Tracy knocked for six. Is Ambridge on a sticky wicket? 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 are entranced by new character Adil, 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 if anybody made a thread title suggestion and I missed it. I decided to mark the start of the cricket season in the hope that things will take a turn for the better for poor Tracy.

It feels like months since the last new thread, which was just after Phoebe departed for Scotland. Has she been mentioned since? I can't recall. Not greatly missed, by me, at any rate. Her fish gifts didn't last long.

I can't shake off the feeling that The Archers is going through a long dull patch. I don't feel greatly engaged by anything that's happening at the moment other than Tracy's plight. Such a good actor, which helps, of course.

What's keeping you listening? Habit? Genuinely enjoying it? Over to you!

(PS In the process of starting this thread, I've discovered that our custom-made Archers emoji has gone. You used to get it by typing . Not any more.)

And if she has to pay someone, why no go for someone nearer her own age who won't be instantly labelled as toy boy?

Nope. Listening again and I Still Don’t Get It.

Ruairi is the pampered son of a wealthy, well established landowner. Even despite the pollution debacle his family are local royalty, he’s had an expensive education and his place in moderately high society is secure.

So why does the SW have this woman ‘tempting’ him with free champagne and canapés and the opportunity to wear a smart suit? Truly, why? What planet is the writer on? The lifestyle she is paying him to ‘sample’ is a lifestyle he could enjoy entirely independent of her, without the murky strings. Brian and Jenny would indulge his every whim - and any rl Ruairi would be more than capable of falling into an extravagant, fun social life between City and country.

The whole thing is utter nonsense.

I initially saw it as a self destructive thing brought on by the awful things Alice had said immediately prior to his departure for uni.

But then realised that would only be true we're he in fact engaged in sex work. Not this rather mild arrangement.

1. a young woman Ruari's age could more easily pass as older, I think this not unheard if at all among university students. In fact didn't the 'first trans MP ever' have a web site that matched people looking for this arrangement? I'm sure it's predominantly for female students and wealthy older men, with male students and wealthy older men a close second.
2. I don't think he's supposed to be doing it just for the experience, she's paying him
3. no Ruari doesn't need the opportunity to sample the high life, but more importantly he doesn't need money to get by- he wouldn't be doing shifts at Tesco, would he?
4. Much as I dislike Alice it would be nice if she rescued him and he had to eat humble pie.

Souad Faress is doing sterling work on Words and Music, R3 right now.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mrgd

She often sounds a bit too arch as Usha, but listening to her reading prose rather than TA dialogue is delightful.

The whole ridiculous scenario seems like a device dreamed up solely to let point 4 on your list play out.

They've used up the posh boy caught doing drugs storyline and the posh girl failing miserably at university storyline and this is what they came up with.

No very successful business woman would want this arrangement with a 20 year old. Maybe someone a little older yes but nit that young. She referred to them networking, lawyers, bamkers etc. Ruari hasn't worked in that world and whilst they might say, nice young man, would be happy for him to join our firm once he's finished his studies, he is not likely to help her be impressive.

I'm slightly surprised I'm the first to comment on last night's episode! Everyone too caught up with Jubilee shenanigans? Ambridge's contribution wasn't nearly as sickly as I feared, unlike Natasha's Marshmallow Madness, from the sound of it. I love Jim and Jazzer together. I also rather like the fact that Fallon is slowly taking over from Lynda in all sorts of village community activities, but doing things differently. I wonder if the village panto will continue in any form once Lynda finally hangs up her clipboard.

I don't really like Jazzer. I can't get over the sleazy sex pest incident. The whole Jazzer moves out as lodger to a house in the same small village scenario is a bit overwrought.

Had to laugh at Fagash Lighthouse thinking she might be the unsung hero.

Is Ruari 20? I thought he was younger.

He's 19. 20th birthday due this November.

Lynda seems to have joined Johnny, Helen and Joy in a far distant cereal cupboard.

It was bizarre that the Fall of the House of Grey Gables played out with only the briefest mention , but no actual sighting of, Lynda and that the the annunciation of Pinky and Perky would go unremarked by Helen, Johnny and Joy.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g
I wonder if the village panto will continue in any form once Lynda finally hangs up her clipboard

we can but hope....

Last night was fine. Boring but fine. I suppose if the test of a decent episode is plausibility and a sense that life in Ambridge doesn’t always need to be dramatic or noteworthy then we can safely say last night’s writer delivered. Natasha simpering in the throne while wielding her orb and sceptre was actually very believable. Not a terribly high bar to reach but that’s where we’re at. Keeping our expectations nice and low…

I'm finding the Dopeys , Vince and Vince's daughter pretty boring.

Ok, Jazzer and Jim, I concede that was very sweet.

It was odd. David seemed to find himself spending all day with either one or both of the Caseys.

Nice, though, that Beth has clearly been assimilated by Brookfield. It’ll be her house one day … (Though I’m not sure where that leaves P and J.)

I love Jazzer and Jim together.

You wouldn't think David has a farm to run ...
I too thought him unusually underemployed for the day

I loved the Jim/Jazzer scenes. Especially the bit about the bong in Jazzer's gear.

Charlotte Higgins in The Guardian - already feels out of date:

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jun/07/charlotte-higgins-on-the-archers-kathy-perks-returns-as-d-i-v-o-r-c-e-rocks-ambridge?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Loved Jazzer and Jim - I seem to have something in my eye. So much history there between the two of them - proper drama. Moving them in together was a stroke of genius, but allowing Jazzer to move on is absolutely the right thing to do. I love the way his character has been allowed to develop over the years. BOOP.

I dunno … Yes, it’s time Jazzer moved on, and I’m glad he’s ‘found someone’.

But I’m still disappointed that Oliver ♥️Tracy didn’t happen. I had such plans for them! Tracy as queen of the village; Tracy seeking Lynda’s advice on how to navigate a relationship with Oliver’s daughters; the daughters arriving breathlessly to safeguard their inheritance! It would all have been such fun.

Where’s the fun in Tracy and Jazzer searching down the back of the sofa for petrol money? Or an endless recitation of all the crap jobs to be had (and lost,) for miles around Borchester? It’s not as if the SWs are good at poverty. And I can scrabble at the back of my own sofa - I much prefer hearing David and Ruth bickering over how to squander a spare quarter of a million £££ on yet another soon to be abandoned farming revamp. (And I don’t even like David and Ruth!)

Tracy said that if Jazzer moved in it would be for good. So I guess it would be cruel to imagine him, in a month’s time, hightailing it back to Jim’s because he misses him too much … 😈

I find the Ruari storyline implausible - yes it happens but really would she not want someone a bit older to impress people in her circle ? He's 19 ! IRL I think they would be laughing at her.

But Jazzer & Jim - bless - beautifully done - it was just perfect

I am waiting for Chelsea to set up as a mobile hairdresser or a pop up salon - village needs one - the only other tine IIRC that a hairdresser is mentioned is Peggy getting taken by Lillian or Jennifer to/from Borchester for her regular appointment or either of her daughters getting their hair done

@BeaLola , the hairdresser is mentioned fairly often. He is Fabrice and was the previous owner human of Hildarogden