🏏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.)

I see Ardil will be featuring in all forthcoming village shows...

She liked Bruch’s violin concerto in G minor. She remembered listening to it at a table overlooking the Mediterranean with her husband and friends. When the reached the slow movement, which was her favourite, all conversation ceased and they all let the music-wash over them. Now friends are dead, and husband, but listening brings back that wonderful evening.

Thanks @MereDintofPandiculation , that sounds lovely.
When I have heard Soul Music, it has been excruciating listening. Might listen to one on classical music though

Absolutely absurd that Lynda would have been so rude to a long-term paying guest!

Yes, and it's absolutely absurd to keep running the "destroying the community" storyline.

Grey Gables was , as far as we can tell , a badly run, country house hotel in need of refurbishment. It will be closed for , the way these things normally go, 12-18 months, during which there may well be work for local tradesmen and suppliers. Whatever it's turned into is going to need new staff.

That's a point - in his desperate search for work, surely Jazzer could turn his hand to some painting and decorating for the refurbished rooms?

I suspect it's virtually inevitable that someone will decide it makes no sense to have two managers at Berrow, whereupon Neil will feel sorry for Hannah and decide to do the noble thing and retire.

Anyone else find it a bit icky Chris mooning around after Amy? I don't know why it is, but I always get the impression that his main motivation is that he feels he's gone too long without a shag.

A hotel being refurbished would not want a complete amateur doing the painting and decorating, @AmaryIlis .

Chris mooning after Amy seems icky to me too.

Amy moved on quickly. She was agonisingly in love with Chris not very long ago, now suddenly she’s settled and happy with someone else. Hmmm…I don’t think the dating game usually works like that

I don’t understand why GG dispensed with Ian so summarily, other than for plot purposes re Home Farm finances and pizza van aspirations.
when Adil was showing Roy round the hotel to talk about the return plans he was talking about a big new open kitchen to showcase local produce. AFAIK Ian had a good reputation and was a great draw to the hotel and excellent relationships with all the local suppliers. So why not keep him on a salary (or offer him a small stake in the business), involve him in the whole restaurant /kitchen refurb and he spends the 18 months planning his new menu, recruiting crack sous chefs, setting up supply chains etc?

Or are we meant to think he was washed up and never all that good after all?

Oh wow Denise’s actor was in Emilia! That was a brilliant show.

I think it was supposed to show Alastair falling for Denise, yeah. Although I’d say their chemistry was… non existent.

Having a family member and a couple of friends with autism I did mildly chuckle at Jakob’s praise for her rigorous handling of feces or whatever it was. Mind you I think most autistic people would remember to at least say she was very nice and kind to people and the animals!!

I still don’t understand what is going on with Usha, she sounds like she’s reading off a script that only contains her lines and she doesn’t understand the whole scene. The timing is weird, the tone sounds very detached… something’s off.

BOOP for Chris suggesting he’s quite depressing to be around 😂

But I was very confused about why Chris - who’s coming to talk about bell ringing - apparently doesn’t know when church is or how busy Alan is on a Sunday. Surely he is usually ringing bells?? Or at least helping organise the ringing of the bells???

Was she perhaps not in the studio, and having her dialogue patched in? (I have no idea what I’m talking about …)

Yeah … Chris wandering down to the vicarage to see Alan on a Sunday … Slack writing? I didn’t get the impression it was actually Usha he was hoping to catch, but I could be wrong.

Just been catching up on last week and this thread! I can’t believe Natasha found out the sex and Tom not. I think if a couple can’t compromise on that, it’s not a good sign. Plus Tom had valid reasons and Natasha just changed her mind after a bonkers convo with Suzan. No doubt the sonographer got it wrong anyway as it was hinted she wasn’t 100% sure. I think good shout on here that either Tom or Natasha will get depressed post babies. Although maybe this will be a happy outcome after the Alice/Chris baby storyline and what happened to Tom historically.
I really liked Hannah having dinner with Neil and Suzan. And her line about Suzan being a good wife…For me I thought of a future relationship for Chris and Hannah perhaps?
the Steph storyline is beyond ridiculous, who would want a divorce party at the same location as their wedding?!

Yeah … Grin Chris wandering down to the vicarage to see Alan on a Sunday … Slack writing? I didn’t get the impression it was actually Usha he was hoping to catch, but I could be wrong. Yeah, good time to go for access to Amy apart from when her dad's at work. Seems he’d completely forgotten the existence of Usha just as the SWs have. Agree with the PP who said his feelings for Amy were entirely driven by his desire for a shag. I remember asking DS what his GF of 6 months interests were; he thought for a couple of minutes and said “shopping?” I think Chris’s answer would be similar.

But it would be odd if there weren't at least some unskilled jobs going that he could take. And of course he could fill one of the vacancies there are all over the country in hospitality, shops, the NHS etc.

What a petulant brat Alice is.

And what a bore Ben, Beth and Steph are.

Just got to the end- well done that nurse.

Yes the doctor (?) was great, professional and clear.

I can’t believe neither of them felt any shame for having let Martha fall because they were too busy rowing! If this was the wisdom of Solomon neither of them would be judged the true parent.

You're right , it probably was a doctor. Oh dear.

Jenny Darling and Susan will die of shame at their grandchild being referred to social services.

Oh and as for the pizza van story- it's completely ridiculous too.

If Ian was any good as a chef, as someone pointed out, they'd have done a deal to keep him / used him as a consultant.

Absolutely, if Jenny doesn’t come back for this I’ll be gutted. I’d love to see a joint grandparents intervention as both parents are clearly inadequate.

I did find myself wondering whether Martha falling is an early sign of impact from Alice’s drinking as well. NHS lists problems with “movement, balance, vision and hearing” as one of the top symptoms.

Can anyone remember if the HCPs around Alice’s pregnancy knew about her drinking? Or will the SS referral be the first time it’s come out?

I thought SS were already involved with Alice when she was pregnant? I’m sure I remember JD saying how embarrassing it all was.

Difficult to believe that a highly trained chef really finds fulfilment slinging pizzas in the back of a van, either. No matter how upmarket his creations are, I bet he'll find everyone demands Margheritas, Hawaiians and Meat Feats.

Meat Feasts, ffs.

Ludicrous behaviour on Chris's part about demanding to take Marrtherrr early. Given that (a) he'd just had that discussion with Usha about trying to settle something amicably, and (b) he couldn't look after Marrtherrr himself, surely the obvious thing to do was give Alice a call and see if she was up for keeping her? Turning up and demanding that he take her early only to farm her out to his sister was incredibly high-handed, and in line with his previous assumption that he would take all the big decisions about Marrtherrr.