🌟 ⭐ Archers thread #138: Two new stars on the Ambridge firmament, but will Peggy’s retirement leave a black hole? 🕳️ Join us here for a window on The Archers.

[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 commissioning a stained glass window for two of your great-grandchildren and nothing for all the others is a sensible thing to do, 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.)

Thanks to @LillianGish and @MuddlerInLaw for title ideas, which I have played around with a bit. I'm sad to have heard the last of Peggy. An era starts to draw to a close.

What a relief to be out of the Steph Casey phase, which I hope was an unfortunate blip, not to be repeated. [Triumph of hope over experience there ... ]

@BoreofWhabylon has asked the 🔮 about Adil and it predicts that he is actually the Mysterious New Owner of Grey Gables but won't be revealed as such until he has won Kirsty's heart (or some similar Mills & Boon level tosh - apols to the 🔮 but it does seem to have a mushy side). I still cling to the idea that the mysterious silent and invisible Gills who now own Home Farm may have some role at GG, but why not name them?

No mention of the heatwave in Ambridge, but budget constraints probably severely limit their scope for topical inserts these days. IRL I believe this has been a tricky time for farmers. Perhaps the SWs will catch up with this over the winter and start putting in some farming chat about diversification away from oats to olives, or similar. We already have at least one vineyard in the Ambridge area, at LL. (I understand there was another, in the heart of the village, decades ago, but the SWs have now forgotten all about it, sadly.)

Over to you!

A-hah! She was gone during the same period Russ was absent from Lily’s party!!! (Someone asked about that above, I think.)

Chelsea rushed out supposedly to cut Harrison's hair shortly after she got up. They were talking about breakfast. The party was in the evening

The earlier part of that episode, which might coincidence with when Chelsea wasn't cutting Harrison's hair, had Lily and Russ being extremely pretentious up Lakey Hill, although at some point after that he, allegedly, went back to look at their dream flat.

The mystery is indeed who texted Chelsea on Sunday morning?

Spoilsport!

My current suspicion is that it is ‘Random Lad’ - but that Chelsea has hotfooted it to her favourite ‘Responsible Adult’ for help and advice. Scumbag has emptied his piggy bank to aid her - and attempted to disguise this with talk of paying for a more expensive flat. (Admittedly hazy.) Lily will discern the odour of rodent and tear down the walls of the LL gallery. Exit of Scumbag pursued by … all of Ambridge.

Yeah but I can't see Russ paying for Chelsea's private abortion out of pure altruism, can you?

(How much does one cost?)

The vast majority of abortions in the UK are funded by the NHS, even if done by a private clinic.

Chelsea asking Russ for advice is very plausible but there's no need for him, or any one else to pay for an abortion.

I don't know Russ would agree to keeping her hidden

I don't think Russ would agree to keeping her hidden

Some of you are sounding a bit deranged about Russ!

I'm surprised the focus is on putting up posters/ handing out leaflets. Who's running the #findChelsea social media campaign?

Late to the thread and have only just caught up with the omnibus and this weeks… developments nonsense. Agree with PPs that this would be perfect place to address abortion in a realistic but compassionate way; also if Chelsea wanted to go ahead then we could have had some really decent writing around her and Tracey’s conversations - both excellent actors.

Everything seemed too soapy the last week or so; I obvs do care who the dad is as I know it’s going to be a big deal in terms of the grand arc, and I care about the archers in general, but Chelsea running away was just meh - unnecessary, and while I understand the need for script over character I am firstly disappointed they did this right after all of the mawkishness about food banks and job loss for Tracey, and secondly very annoyed it’s become some mad working class goose chase. Chelsea had every right to say - yep, sorry, pregnant, bit scared and no idea what to do but here we are - Mum, what do we do next? Etc.

And honestly I’m so bored of the men in Ambridge in general, unless it’s lovely Rex and they are going to shack up on his house boat together - I don’t care. So disappointed with Tracey and Chelsea’s storylines.

there's no need for him, or any one else to pay for an abortion

True. I was always astonished to see abortion paired with offers of cash and ‘private clinics’ in contemporary English TV soaps - as if the writers were living in a different age. I rarely see soaps now, so don’t know how abortion is currently portrayed - but Russ does seem to have wanted a large wodge of cash for something. I’m hoping it’s to provide Chelsea with accommodation and transport, rather than the actual NHS procedure.

My experience was that nhs took too long . If you've decided on it, you want to do it fairly quickly. That was 25 years ago though.

Isn't Rex a bit old for Chelsea?

I've never had an abortion but your experience doesn't seem to tally with available information.

The worst case scenario for a late surgical abortion (19 weeks or later) not funded by the NHS is around £1500. There's no reason why Chelsea would not get NHS funding.

Hello all, long-time lurker and (on/off) listener here, thought I might join in at last.

Did I spot CMR referring to Chelsea in the past tense last night? I was only distractedly listening but it was something like "she was always so confident for a teenager".

I agree that Russ isn't involved and the SW are toying with us, but I thought it was interesting to note. I believe one or two real life killers have brought suspicion on themselves in a similar way.

Whilst it has caught our attention it is far too soapy and unrealistic. Under 18 pregnancy rates have been consistently falling for years. The running away bit is unnecessary.

The link below has the statistics (and also throws cold water on the suggestion by one poster that teenage pregnancies are fine and dandy)

www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/teenage-pregnancy#about-this-data

Regardless of whether it's actually Russ, I think he will be publicly accused, and my bet is on it happening at the opening of the 'amazing' art installation that Lily was cooing over - maybe she's been disguised as an installation (is there an unmade bed type scenario?) so she can hide out in plain sight at the gallery

@TheLassWiADelicateAir thats such a good point as well - and stats aside it doesn’t even make sense for her age group does it and their general behaviour. that age group are so clued up on their own autonomy (ie leading you would assume to robust contraception) - they drink less, smoke and vape less, and t the issue of consent, autonomy, boundaries etc is such a hot topic for that age group

@stilldumdedumming oh I wasn’t pairing them off, more just saying he’s the only possible one I’d fancy myself 😉 Rex is early to mid 30s I think?

@TheLassWiADelicateAir Sorry I'm really tired and probably wasn't being clear. What I mean is, when I decided to go for it there was a waiting list on the NHS so you'd spend more weeks being pregnant - and given that having an abortion is not an easy decision for most people- it's hard, especially when you're young to hang about for weeks waiting. You can effectively jump the queue by going private. And thats what i, and others I knew, did.

Yes Russ did refer to her in the past tense. People did this a lot! Really upset me when dp was in a coma!!

By the way I do know how to use proper grammar and sentence construction but I'm too tired!!

Welcome, Sir Charles! (I feel I should be bowing or something as I type that.)

I think the trouble is that we are assuming that the scripties have started collaborating, so that characters act in character and there is a seamless handover between weeks.

The reality is more like the results of a game of consequences!

I suspect Chelsea will be returning after a few days at a mate's house (or her Dad's).

Poor kid, now all the village must surely know what's happened.

What Ambridge needs are the team from that TV programme "Hunted"!

Russ only referred to her in the past tense because he was talking about when he first got to know her / tutoring or whatever, he was saying at that time "she was so confident" (or something similar.

Is the past tense thing being picked up on in the same way that one of the things that stood out to police in Maxine Carr’s interviews about Holly and Jessica in the Soham murders was that she referred to them in the past tense…? Has Russ deaded Chelsea? 😳
(Ok I was pleased with my pregnancy prediction coming true but I know this is ridiculous… or is it?)

I LOVE THE ARCHERS!!!

Billion BOOPS!

yippee! result!

Oh WOW!!

Who's written this week, that was fab, Shakespearean even?!