🏏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 was glad Chris had the sense to ignore Neil and his solicitor. Solicitor sounded pretty useless. It would have been extremely dangerous to try to pin the blame for Martha's fall on Alice, because the first question to Chris in cross-examination would have been "Where exactly were you at the time of Martha's fall?" Equally if he tried to claim he thought Alice was drinking there would have been valid questions about why he was leaving Martha in her sole charge.

Can Beth, Ben and Steph please bore off to the far side of wherever and never come back again? They are teeth achingly tedious.

So, Chris is happy for shared parenting and it's Alice who is demanding sole residence? I hadn't picked that up.

No, I hadn't picked that up either!

Me neither. I thought Kristiffur wanted to be the primary carer

Sick of Beth and Steph

If Chris is happy with 50/50, then Alice should really just accept it!

They both want her full time, that’s been the subject of all their rows. Did the cleaner write today’s episode? Ridiculous continuity fail.

I wonder if Alice and Chris might get back together after this whole episode. They obviously feel very sad about what's happened and both seem to have huge regrets. When they're not fighting each other they clearly still care for and have a lot of respect for each other. Maybe that's the purpose of this whole Social Worker thing - the SWs could demonstrate to someone neutral how Chris and Alice actually feel.

I wonder if what will happen is that they'll realise they're over or can at least work through this difficult part of their marriage and reconcile, and then we'll be left with the families trying to undo all the peripheral mess after Neil's character transplant and other nastiness.

I would like them to get back together actually. That would be nice.

If they get back together, can they wind back the clock to before Kristiffur became a neanderthal and before Alice became an alky?

Sod that, let Alice get back her career and leave the Carters to cope with Marthyr.

And then emigrate. Alice is and always was, dull, spoilt, snobbish and whiny. She's Kate with none of the amusement value.

I’d quite like them to get back together as well, if only for the increased Carter/Aldridge tension.

I’m joining the chorus in condemning the simultaneously dull and enraging Beth/Steph/Ben shite. Why Beth isn’t reminding Steph that SHE CHEATED ON HER HUSBAND I have no idea. And why couldn’t Steph buy her own bloody willy confetti??? 🙄. It’s just insulting to us loyal listeners isn’t it? Beth was a breath of fresh air at Brookfield and now she’s a moaning hard-done-by shrew. Ugh

I'm sick of the Beth/Steph shite too. Not interesting!

Unlike most people on this thread, I do quite like most of the characters though. They have their flaws, of course, but I'm quite fond of the majority and I want things to work out for them.

@Anothernamechangeplease , you are not alone. I like most of the people in Ambridge, although new characters tend to take a while before I like them.

I don't like the characters who have personality transplants, or the ones who are just caricatures.

I like most of the Archers (not Pip, who I can only just about stand unless she is in an episode). I like all the Aldridges. Not keen on the Grundys although Ed & Will are OK, and the old Clarrie was ok. etc

I know what you mean about the newer characters - it takes a while for them to grow on me. Though I became very fond of Blake quite quickly when he was in it, and was a little sad to see him leaving Ambridge so soon!

It took me years to like Lynda and Susan. I'm not sure I like them now really, or I appreciate them as characters but wouldn't like them IRL.

Ah, I have a bit of a soft spot for Linda, though I'm sure she would be intensely irritating in real life!

As for Susan, I agree that she is quite annoying, but I did enjoy the development of her unlikely friendship with Ian and Adam.

I think A&C might get back together. The Social Worker’s intervention has been a revelation, deep down neither has a bad word to say about the other.

I dislike Adam, Shula, Josh, Pip and Tom. Kate is awful but she’s almost a cartoon villain, I can’t take her bad behaviour seriously. I cannot warm to Stella at all.

I don't mind any of those characters! You obviously have higher standards than I do, @Eastie77Returns!

@Anothernamechangeplease , she's Lynda not Linda.

I can warm to Stella but I don't trust her, but that is based on her meeting with Justin a long time ago.

Lilian and Kate are both 2-D. I like Kate but Lilian has gone from being OK to just an annoying cackle

Apologies- Lynda. I stand corrected!

I also had some doubts about Stella initially but the SW seem to have forgotten about that storyline.

I am not a fan of Lilian, I will admit. Love Kate, though...I find her amusing!

Steph is like a character from a cringe inducing 1970s sitcom.

I like Adil. But I like Natasha and adore Russ so I might not be the best judge of character.

I'm warming to Gnasher, I too adore Russ.

I like Natasha too. (Took me a while to get to that point!!)

Haven't heard much from Russ in ages??!

Haven't heard much from Russ in ages??!

Good times …

I disliked Russ until he helped Tracey when she was worried about Chelsea failing school. I thought that showed he is a kind man underneath all the pompous behaviour. I wonder when/if he will find out Lily strayed.

Stella is hiding something.