@TheBikiniExpert, you were asking yesterday what's been happening in the last year. Welcome back! It's been a dire year on The Archers, but we plod on regardless, hoping for better. Triumph of hope over experience, probably, but I for one am addicted. Anyway, here are a few highlights. (I did try to post some yesterday but I was on my phone at the time and lost the whole thing when MN froze. Thanks, update.)
Alice and Chris have a daughter, Martha, who is now a toddler. Alice is a recovering alcoholic and she and Chris are getting divorced. They share care of Martha 50:50. The financial split was getting very acrimonious but then Martha fell over and had to be taken to A&E and Alice and Chris both blamed themselves because they were arguing and not properly watching Martha. So now Chris is taking a holiday cottage from Alice's share of Home Farm and nothing else. He and Martha live in the flat over the Post Office. Alice is living in their old home (another former Home Farm holiday cottage).
Jazzer and Tracy Horrobin are an item and Jazzer has moved in with Tracy and her daughter Chelsea, a trainee hairdresser, and Brad, who is a genius and about to take Maths, Physics and Further Maths/Engineering A levels (he hasn't fixed on the last one). Brad and Chelsea are both working at Lower Loxley in The Orangery. Chelsea is annoying but talented with hair so may go far.
Grey Gables has closed suddenly for refurbishment as Oliver has sold a large share in the business to someone else (we don't know who). All the GG staff were made redundant. There is much ill feeling about this. Roy is working for the new owner's representative, Adil Shah, who has (incredibly) decided to stay at Ambridge Hall as a B&B guest of Lynda and Robert. Lynda is being very rude to him.
Pip is worried that her daughter Rosie is getting fat and Jill's Millionaire's shortbread is being blamed. Rosie starts school in September. Toby is still around but I can't remember what he's supposed to be doing. Rex went to live on a houseboat many months ago and hasn't been mentioned since, so he's either drowned or drifted away and no one has noticed. His pigs are now at Lower Loxley.
The new manager at Home Farm, Stella, lives in Bert Fry's bungalow. She and Ruth are very chummy.
There was a bit of a scare over the possibility of closing the pig unit, but it's been reprieved. What with the stress of that and the divorce, Brian had a bad attack of angina but seems to be OK now.
Phoebe has gone to work in Scotland. Kirsty now works on the rewilding scheme. She is still lodging with Roy and their relationship is still platonic.
George Grundy now has a voice and appears to be without any redeeming features at all. He is a bully and almost certainly a criminal. Hmm.
As you will have heard in the last few days, Tom Archer's wife Natasha has given birth to twin girls. She has moved her business to Bridge Farm. They also run a venture called Bridge Fresh. Helen is still with Lee and they live with Henry and Jack in Kirsty's old house. Were you listening during the time when Kirsty's husband Philip was convicted of modern slavery? He's in prison now and they're divorced.
Shula is still training to be a vicar. This is still tedious.
There are indications that Alistair and his vet nurse Denise might eventually pair off. She is unhappily married.
Kate and Jakob, the other vet, are still an item.
The Ambridge cricket team nearly folded from lack of interest this year, but Tracy (club captain) managed to put together a squad of veterans (mixed sex) and so they limp on, often literally.
Ben Archer is training to be a nurse and is in a settled relationship with Beth Casey, whose Dad Vince is Elizabeth's partner. There was an appalling period a few weeks ago when Beth's sister Steph featured but best we draw a veil over that now.
There must be more, but that'll do for a start!