👑 Archers thread #139: Who’s the Daddy? No ceremonial required to join us – 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 like the sound of Lilian’s Cinnamon Chicken, 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.)

I'm often struck by the time a thread ends how irrelevant the previous title has become to what's currently going on in The Archers. The Queen's death has only been mentioned very briefly in TA, of course, but I suppose that was to be expected in a time of budget constraints. In a few weeks when this thread fills up I wonder if we will still be thinking that, and about Chelsea and her pregnancy. That depends on what she decides to do, which at the time of writing is still up in the air.

As usual, I asked for title ideas and for various reasons then didn't use them. Sorry. Lillian Gish's was very witty - Will Chelsea stay mum about dad? Muddler made a more controversial one - Horrobins thread #139. As a new Great House of Ambridge emerges, come swear your allegiance here.

That's about all I can face saying about TA at the moment. I am expecting to have to travel north soon as my Dad is in hospital and I have to be with my Mum. (They're the same sort of age as Jill Archer, and up to now have been like her and Peggy, very active, managing very well with no help, but this may all be about to change ). So apologies if I'm more absent than present for a while. Will pop in when I can.

Hope all goes well Gadpode

Yep, she did.

I've never really got on board with the Lily hate previously, I just saw her as an overprivileged young person but fundamentally harmless. I immediately lost all respect for her when she managed to make a 17 year old's unplanned pregnancy subordinate to her self-inflicted relationship problems:

'I dunno what I'm gonna do yet, with the baby, I've got no idea. I'm a bit all over the place to be honest'

'Me too.'

Me flipping too. Of all the places for a me too moment, this really wasn't it. This is not about you, Lily Pargetter.

In other news, I agree that the SWs were heavily hinting that Josh was the father this evening. I'm not convinced that wasn't another red herring though.

Who is Scumbag?

So, in the absence of any evidence whatsoever that Russ was grooming Chelsea, (omg, he bought her lunch at the caf at the place where they both work on a day she'd forgotten her purse- the bastard- the pertinent question there would be why doesn't LL give its waiting staff a bowl of soup and a sandwich free?) let alone is the father, turns out he wasn't and he isn't.

Would also seem that unless Chelsea and Freddy have prize winning poker faces, Freddy isn't a contender either.

And turns out that Chelsea wasn't even a useful pawn in the long term advancement of Lily.

I'm sure it isn't Ben either What a pointless mess.

Lily's true colours werevreally shining through tonight.

Or even Gadpode.

Oh fgs Gaspode

Good luck Gaspode - I hope it all goes as well as it can.

awful awful episode. Lily, Russ and Freddie. Ugh. I think it is genuinely irresponsible to depict the storyline like this. And where is Elizabeth??

If I were Josh I would be questioning why the hurry to kick me out when I have no recollection of Pip having the same treatment?

My money is still on Jake rather than Josh or Ben.

Russ is Scumbag, whoever asked.

I thought David was somewhat unreasonable, expecting Josh to go through all those boxes on one day, especially as it appeared Josh had had no idea that his room would be turned into a B&B. I think a conversation along the lines of, "now you're moving out, would you be able to clear these boxes in the next fortnight? We're thinking about turning your rooms into B&B accommodation." But there's not yet any indication that it's permanent, only for the duration of Shula's placement. And a bit mean on his birthday. Plus he's a working man - he could have a busy day of egg-selling set up, and it's not unreasonable that he'd have plans to go out on his birthday. David didn't think it through at all. (I know that's no surprise.)

Horrible of David to suddenly demand Josh decamp all his stuff overnight. Really made it seem like he’s unloved. Not the being pleased about moving out bit, that’s fine, it’s the “remove all trace of yourself by sunset” act.

I also thought they were going to find Josh’s old toy hens etc

Problem with Josh being the baby daddy (sorry, couldn't resist 😉) is it would result in another Brookfield co-parenting SL. Pip and Toby have already exhausted that sl to tedious effect.

It is effect and not affect right?

Oops that was me using my non-Archers name!

thinking of you Gaspode!

I thought David was vile (fancy?) getting your son to empty his room and the attic in one day, with no warning, on his birthday.

If it weren't child I'd have mentioned the renting out thing, given them time to process and then asking them to make a plan to get it dealt with. And actually celebrated their birthday.

Also yes Josh is 25 (although being at home at 25 is sadly not so uncommon these days)
but David seems to be overlooking how much unpaid work Josh does on the farm. (Admittedly not as much he'd like, but he does despise his son ms entrepreneurial streak so.)

If it has been anyone else I would have assumed it was a ruse ti get them out of the way for a dreadful surprise party.

I'd wanted Freddie to be the father so Chelsea could have had an in at LL but Josh and Ben's move made me think it must be them. They're being set up with a home.

Justin is impressed by Lynda's manipulative/ persuasive side. He clearly feels intellectually stimulated by her in a way he doesn't with Lillian (perhaps anymore - I think he did feel like about Lillian when he left his wife.)

I don't think they'll be DTD any time but I think it will rile Lillian.

I want to use the word emotional affair but I've realised I don't really now what that is or isn't.

Tedious effect.

A is for action (affect); E is for end result (effect)

Sorry to hear about your dad Gaspode. Safe trip.

I get the idea that Justin might enjoy a debate with Lynda and that he has grown to admire her bossiness (manipulation), but would he be physically attracted to her?

I seem to recall that Lynda was very badly burned by the fire at the Gables to the extent that she was almost unrecognisable, are we meant to forget that? Seems the script writers have.

I may sound shallow but I very much assume Justin is a man driven by looks.

Just dropping in to say thanks for the new thread @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g and all the best for your trip up North, thinking of you and your parents

Not sure I have much to say on TA at the moment apart from that if Chelsea is pregnant and Lily and Russ get back together then it just seems like pointless, spiteful behaviour from the SWs and I'll be really cross.

Completely agree - and the same would apply to Ben. But I also agree it can't be Freddie after yesterday. I'm still not clear how far Chelsea is along. Not so far if she still has time to factor in a termination. When did we last hear any mention of Jake? I'd still like to see her do another test. To be honest after yesterday I'm fast losing interest in this story. As a means of finally bringing the CMR and Lily story to some kind of climax I could just about accept it, otherwise it's just too soapy for words.

Ditto.

I feel as though there is going to be a series of meetings between Chelsea and various of the male characters, after which we rule out another suspect. All the while ignoring the fact that time is ticking on, if Chelsea wants to terminate.

So far, the following have been ruled out:
Blake
Russ
Freddie

I think either Ben or Josh will be next to be ruled out.

Is it significant that when Tracey asked who the father was, Chelsea didn't say "You don't know him."

I suppose Josh (and Ben, but I discount him) might be the only person in Ambridge who doesn’t know Chelsea is pregnant. He was kept well out of the action last week so hasn’t been required to deny or confirm anything Chelsea-related.

Guess it depends how big a story the creative team envision. A Brookfield baby is at the other end of the scale to Jake being the father.

It’s true Jake’s brief appearance was unexplained. And quite long ago. But Chelsea herself made it clear she’d been having sex with someone, maybe not just one, but she was highly affronted at the suggestion the father might be ‘some random’.

Which logically suggests it’s not Josh? If they’d been seeing each other he would surely have been heard to be worried when she disappeared?

Ah well - cogitating over this provides excellent material for work avoidance!