🦈 Archers thread #137: See left - have they jumped it? Discuss The Caseys - sorry, 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 think Steph Casey is a wonderful addition to the programme, or similar odd 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.)

Too dispirited to add much else. Have we reached a new low?

I suppose the Archer twins will be born before we need a new thread. 👶👶
Any thoughts on names? Patrick and Antonia were suggested before - inspired! Peggy has to be a strong contender.

Over to you!

Yes Tracy to be Natasha's next employee.
Sad about June retiring but not unexpected. I think slipping away in her sleep is the best way to write her out, as said Tony finding her peacefully in her chair/bed-hopefully the SWs won't do their usual and mess it all up ....

Pat’s debrief with Tony was very clunky and I’m just not sure her saying what a wonderful woman Peggy is worked at all.

She would have been far more likely to have said she was worried Peggy was having a funny turn or was unwell because she was being so nice to her. However, I’m prepared to turn a blind eye for now because my expectations re script-writing are pretty low post-Steph Casey

The thing about wanting a window for the twins because twins are special still sounds pretty daft. The reality is that it's no more than a biological anomaly. It brings back to me that meme in the Chalet School books where you're clearly a bit of a failure if you have children one at a time, and triplets are the ultimate achievement.

I had the same reaction. I know Tony is a farmer but he's never had any indication of understanding female anatomy beyond udders. (In fact I can imagine the same being said of him as Bridget Jones's mother said of her husband - that he "thinks the clitoris was something from Nigel Coles' lepidoptery collection”)

Maybe it's just cos all the farmers I know use a lot of euphemisms about the biological processes of their "girls".

Oh can anyone clarify why Brad needs Jazza’s dressing gown please? I was baffled when Tracey said that he needs it til Thursday.

They were alluding to a costume with a dressing gown and a belt I think. Would it be some Star Wars crap? (never seen it)

Just so meh with the unnecessary story about the car keying tonight. Tracey and Chelsea are acted so well and a storyline like that lets their characters down.

And as for Harrison’s intervention into the whole debacle…. Pfft

Won’t there be CCTV?

Fingers crossed this will be something Kenton forgot to renew / upgrade / change the battery for - and no one will ever know. I can’t quite bear to think of Chelsea being dragged off to Borchester police station. It would be truly crappy if that’s where this whole chicken factory story is leading.

Presumably there isn't CCTV otherwise Harrison wouldn't even be involved. Gemma would complain to whoever was behind the bar and they'd say "we'll check" rather than "report it to this off-duty copper who will immediately leave his pint and go off sleuthing". It's a stupid storyline, agree. Not even sure why she was checking on her car unless it was a lot later at night than I'd imagined.

<sigh>
Hopefully now that Caitlin's leaving it will somehow get back to Natasha that Tracey needs a different job. Not sure of the link though. Lynda, somehow??

There’s a reason or three why coppers don’t live where they work. I did enjoy the “This Isn’t Line Of Duty” line but Chelsea could hardly have made herself look more guilty.

It was genuinely silly. And as has been discussed on these threads before, a very stupid way of depicting working class people (when they had done well in Tracey’s dignity and general quiet class the last few months - the Jazzer hotel debacle aside). Can only hope that it’s leading to something decent for them as a family, will be very angry if this turns into a proper downfall story.

Tracey needs to talk to Emmur. I suspect we'll discover Emmur handled Gemma OK because she knew where some incriminating bodies are buried, so if she passes that on to Tracey life will massively improve for her.

A) Even without proof might Gemma jump to the conclusion it was Tracey & put her on 'worse shifts'
B) don't most pub/private
car parks have a 'vehicles parked at owners risk' sign
C) are the police really getting involved? (Had my car scrapped in a car park before and never thought to go to the police)

If only I'd known that I could get my car scrapped in a pub car park, would have saved me a trip to the scrap yard.
Wasn't Gemmur's car parked on the road?

I'm trying to figure out which 'Betws' Katelyn and 'Gwillum' (Caitlin and Gwilym) live in. I seem to recall that Natasha said near Capel Curig, which would probably make it Betws-y-Coed, but their accents are south walian.
If it was ByC, why say CC, when both are well known?

Is Gemma now going to hit Tracey with a respray bill for hundreds of pounds as well as giving her the worst shifts?

@WhoppingBigBackside ...ooop that's what comes from typing before I've had a cup of tea!
:)

Thanks @TheHideAndSeekingHill re dressing gown. Can’t be Darth Vader as he wore a cape. Luke Skywalker’s outfit is a bit like a dressing gown so may be it’s that. My sister named one of her sons after Luke S so I feel as if I almost know him.

I remember steering into choppy waters a few months back on here re dressing gowns. I didn’t really think men used them any more but it seems I am wrong. I don’t believe Jazza would have one in his wardrobe though- certainly one that wasn’t totally threadbare or indecent…

Yoda.

I expect it was a gift from Jim or Alastair to stop him from wandering around the house in his ancient undercrackers 😄

I'm trying to figure out which 'Betws' Katelyn and 'Gwillum' (Caitlin and Gwilym) live in. I seem to recall that Natasha said near Capel Curig, which would probably make it Betws-y-Coed, but their accents are south walian.
If it was ByC, why say CC, when both are well known?

Living there now doesn't mean they always lived there.

Meanwhile, Chelsea - as Tracy said, the Horrobins and the police don't have a good history. I'd have thought she'd have been better at lying. Or just not saying anything.

They could have moved there, but it seems an odd choice. Maybe like moving from somewhere like Bristol to Bakewell, or something. Might be logical if there was family nearby, or if moving for work.
When she said Betws, I thought of Betws near Ammanford and maybe Capel Curig was never mentioned. Saying Gwillum was unforgiveable though.

I hate the Tracey SL more and more. How much more misery can they heap on her? And why is Chelsea, after what seemed a sparky and promising start, being turned into a cookie-cutter scally who’s begun resorting to an inarticulate growl of rage when crossed?

The singling-out of characters for almost mythic levels of ritual humiliation is so depressing.

(I freely admit to a personal investment in Tracey’s chicken-factory humiliation because I once had a holiday job in a grim packing factory mid-A levels - though not chickens, thankfully - and was singled out for horribly similar bullying by one of the women there)

A few nice reminiscences of June Spencer from the cast here. ‘Brian’s’ is somewhat typical!

I love that June is very fond of cats just like Peggy.