🏏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.)

Susan's famous secret butterscotch Angel delight will be a shoo in.

Given it must be a year since she did Lyndas hair she must be almost qualified.

Does anyone else think they don't do teenagers very well?

The SWs are like a badly organised tag team

That was like a very unsubtle Public Service Announcement.

Mia should talk to Emma. It’s unlikely she would confide in Stella rather than Emma anyway. The SWs seem to have forgotten how E handled the period chat very well.

Actually, where is Emma? We haven’t heard from her for some time now.

Emma would have been much more likely than Ed to get her knickers in a twist over Kiera missing out on opportunities to Henry. We haven’t had a good row from Emma in ages.

Mia should talk to Emma. It’s unlikely she would confide in Stella rather than Emma anyway. The SWs seem to have forgotten how E handled the period chat very well.

Yeah, but Mia thinks Stella is awesome after the way Stella dealt with Mia's protest at the shoot.

Also, Stella is educated and bright and Emma never did well at school, not sure Will did either. They can’t understand the detail or empathise at all- all they can see is “Our Meeyurr is so clever she’s bound to get all top marks. “

Also, Stella is educated and bright and Emma never did well at school, not sure Will did either. They can’t understand the detail or empathise at all-

I’m not crazy about Emma but she’s not that stupid. I think she would take the ‘you can only do your best’ approach

I’m not saying that Mia should not have spoken to Emma at all, and that’s what Stella also advised. But that’s kind of my point “you can only do your best” is pretty meaningless, clichéd advice really, and doesn’t mean much coming from someone who could not know what it feels like to be expected to “do your best” when you have been told you are capable of top marks.

Maybe time the Archers gave a disadvantaged youngster from a struggling family a role as an intern rather than relying on those who can navigate the BBC application process?

Definitely, or even - gasp - offer them a paying job. Radio is always done on a shoestring though so that seems unlikely. Rumour has it the archers is famed for nepotism, too recent a listener to know whether that’s true myself.

Wasn't it just!

Horribly clunkily written 🙄

@BowerOfBramble , Rumour has it the archers is famed for nepotism, too recent a listener to know whether that’s true myself.

I don't know where that rumour came from. It couldn't possibly be true.

Fat Dan was played by a certain scriptwriter's son. Mike Tucker and Will Grundy are father and son IRL, as are Tony and Tom Archer.

Brian and Shula are married IRL, but I think they met in Ambridge.

There are probably ones I've missed.

Back in Wiilliam Smethurst's days there was a lot of crossover between Ambridge and Crossroads

Oh my! Is the end of the starter marriage going to be the death of Brian???

The Will & Mere bits were nice

Yes, I played it to DD. We're currently going through revision and she's complaining my German isn't up to scratch. I was showing her how much worse it could be! 😂

They were. Nicely done- particularly with compare and contrast with Brian, Alice and Chris.

And what is this empty house which Brian has secretly bought?

Yes! Delightfully intriguing.

Wonder which of the Aldridge offspring (or in-law) will have taken possession of the mystery house by this time next year?

Or why Brian is renting when he owns a mysterious house.

Caught up yesterday and today. Enjoyed the comment about Will having dragged his knuckles whilst talking to Mia Cheeky touch of compare and contrast.

I think when you're a teenager having older people outside of your family to talk to is healthy anyway. Even though it was clunky and annoying to listen to, I found the concept behind Will's well intentioned chatter to be realistic. Especially highlighting Nic's absence.

As for Chris going after spiritual home, well...

Oh is this paragraph glitch I keep reading about?

Would Brine really have got that angry in front of a professional?!

Catching up on the last few days. I found the Chelsea/Freddie critique-off really sad. Sure she doesn’t really get it at the mo, but the fact is she could be stuck in crap
min wage jobs with jobsworth bosses and horrible uniforms forever, whereas Freddie doesn’t need to look smart or do well or do anything except continue to live and not disgrace himself again and he gets to be the boss. Tragic.

also agree she sounded about 14. Also none of the trainee hairdressers I’ve known have ever had to get “other” jobs because er they’re skilled in an in demand job.

Pip and Fallon talking about the child judges had all the decision making skills of the Chuckle Brothers trying to work out how to carry a sofa.

and lastly for now - why is the dog called Weaver when we’ve already got an inhabitant called Webster which is v similar and means the same thing?? Are the scripties in the pocket of Big Loom?

Yes isn't she now Lillian's main hairdresser after her fiasco copying Chelsea's do for Lynda?

I'd assumed she was going to give Freddie a makeover (like she did for Blake) then go off to do more hair/ stylist work, whereupon Tracey will pick up the LL vacancy.

Why are Brian and JD squashed in a rental with only room for one tagine (the horror!) if they have a spare old lovely farmhouse hanging around they’ve forgotten about?
Alice is going to tell Chris she’ll forgo any claim on Martha if only Daddy can keep his precious farm. She knows where her priorities lie.