👑 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.

If it makes it any better, I don’t have any time for Lily either.

I've not listened to tonight yet, but how is Freddie so Team Russ. He was vile to him!

Feeling like Russ is Philip Moss all over again! Where’s Lizzie?

What was the point of this story?

All that has happened is that 4 people, Russ, Lily, Chelsea and Tracey, who were reasonably happy with their lots (Tracey's had picked up, Chelsea and Lily had their future at college and university to look forward, and Russ seemed to be making something of the gallery) have, highly implausibly, had their lives turned upside down for no reason.

I wonder if Lilly will make a big gesture at the Art exhibition - like propose to Russ or something ?

I'm now thinking we won't find out about baby's father - I also think as others have said apart from the Writers using the excuse of Chelsea disappearing to drive the rift between Lily and Russ it's unlike Chelsea to disappear - she would have stayed and let her Mum help her.

Can we have proper writers back please and decent storylines ?

Where is Rex - is he ok on the boat ?
What about Rosie's first day at school after all the healthy eating bit ?

Emma - will we ever hear from her again?
We know how Brad did in his exams but did I miss Mia's results ?
I could add many more .......

When Lily got together with Russ, I was expecting Elizabeth to react with horror. Surely she'll finally say something now they've broken up ("well he was never really suitable anyway")... then again she gave him a job and seems to like him... this storyline annoys me. Where is Elizabeth, anyway?!

Oo, maybe the thing that Russ will do which will finally make the scales fall from everyone's eyes is to make a play for Elizabeth?

Vince will be away on foreign business or something.

I entirely agree @Poppins2016

Even those of you who hate Russ must agree he's a very good actor with a very attractive voice I used to love him because he was so gloriously cringy but his character was developing beautifully. He was becoming the Mme Macron of Ambridge (but a bloke!).

Tracey promising Kenton that she won’t have any more time off seemed like a bad omen. She said nothing will stop her from turning up for her shifts which immediately made me think further bad news is imminent.

Either the SWs have completely forgotten all this or they are hoping we have. This rewriting of history is very tedious. It makes me question why anyone would bother listening intently and trying to keep up. I used to think it was dramatic irony - we know about the blackmail, but Lily doesn't. Now it appears even Freddie has had his memory wiped so what was the point?

Sorry - my post was in response to this.

Maybe Julieanne is the Mme Macaron of Ambridge.
Maybe Lizzie is with Rex rocking the boat.

Is JD still in Hungary?

And is Johnny in the Brookfield cereal cupboard?

I agree. He was actually quite supportive of Freddy during the trial. He supported Chelsea when Freddy wanted to sack her. I don't think there was any ulterior motive there.

Goodness knows why Elizabeth didn't react in horror 4 years ago but it's a bit late now.

I can't begin to imagine what far-fetched incident they've set up for the exhibition opening.

If it isn’t Russ throwing himself off a hastily invented local cliff I’m not interested …

Russ's voice is too creepily close Mr Gently Benevolent's (the original Bleak Expectations one - ie Anthony Head) for my liking.

russ' voice/tone reminds me a lot of rob.

I think it marks a dividing line in audience/listeners in general. Some people want to get really well developped characters and good storylines, regardless of whether the characters are awful or lovely. Other people (me) want to have a bit of escapism in a nice world where evil people get their comeuppance (ideally pretty quickly, and then disappear) and most characters should be likeable and have good things happen to them. And in the case of TA, there should be plenty of farming chat and not much OTT melodrama, although I appreciate the SWs are probably under pressure to appeal to a broader, younger, listenership. I don't like characters like Russ, however well written or acted he might be, because he just comes across as nasty. I wish the blowup over Chelsea had been the end of him.

And is Johnny in the Brookfield cereal cupboard? Good question. And more importantly is he a potential suspect as the father of Chelsea's baby. I must confess I had completely forgotten about him he's been missing for so long.

He went on holiday. Ibiza? Possibly with ‘mates’ and was reported to be having a great time. But that was ages ago so presumably he’s back at Bridge Farm.

I seem to recall some Ambridge maiden showed a fleeting interest in him a long time ago … Who was that?

I think it marks a dividing line in audience/listeners in general. Some people want to get really well developped characters and good storylines, regardless of whether the characters are awful or lovely. Other people (me) want to have a bit of escapism in a nice world where evil people get their comeuppance (ideally pretty quickly, and then disappear)

Many posters used to cheer on Matt Crawford. He was absolutely foul. I couldn't see the attraction at all. What he did to Christine Barford was far worse than anything Russ has done.

I really can't get exercised about Russ grooming Lily; partly because I don't like her and partly because, as Lily herself would no doubt say, was she groomed?

Ruari has been lurking around the village a bit (and has recently started having sex with Julianne). Surely he makes the listing?

See, this is who my money is on. He fancies himself quite the player (I mean, he's Brian's son...) and can lay the charm on so thick you need waders. I reckon he'll have fancied a bunk up where he has the power and who better than poor little Chelsea Horrobin?

See what I'd like them to do with Russ's character (god I sound like I'm obsessed with the man!) is have him marry Lily and be supportive of her studying and career. Then we can see what becomes of their relationship when he's 55 and she's early 30s.

And I hated what they did with Rob. Excellent actor who they turned into a rapist and a nutter. How much more satisfying to have him control Helen over a period of years. Really explore how an independent woman like Helen (!) Can be manipulated and diminished by seemingly charming, family man