👑 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.

I agree, Russ reminded me of Rob.

That was a horrible episode he was basically enjoying making Lily beg and plead.

I really hope he doesn't 'relent' and make her grateful to him for coming back- that way he gets what he wants (job, help with the mortgage, status, adoring younger female on tap) PLUS he has the so called moral high ground. She was right to doubt him because he did to his wife what she feared he had done to her. He DID groom her and the reason he lost his job was because of gross failure in his professional ethics.

I really don't like this trying to portray Chelsea as a powerless Thomas Hardy/ Dickens heroine lined up to be the victim of a latter day Alec D'Urberville / Steerforth.

Chelsea's family is financially poor (although frankly that seemed overplayed too) but Chelsea is a strong- minded, forceful character. She's been having sex; she knows to use condoms; she rejected any notion that this wasn't concensual.

We know she's attractive. We assume Ruari is too. There's no reason for the roll in the hay which resulted in this to have been anything else than enthusiastically entered into by both parties.

Although having said that I don't think Ruari is the contender.

Hmm I wonder why.......

I could see it being Ruari as another symptom of his damaged self. However I think if it was, even if not to be revealed for months, they would have given us at least a bit of involvement by his relations in the search or something.

Can’t be Johnny - that would just be a re-run of John and Sharon! (Though I don’t recall what Sharon was like as a character.)

Good God, Kenton and David are dull together.

And what the jeff is up with Lynda and Justin? Do the SWs think this is funny?

It's Ben.
Gotta be.

Can’t be Johnny - that would just be a re-run of John and Sharon! that was exactly why I thought it could be Johnny. I feel like it shouldn't be Ben or Josh because there's already been one accidental pregnancy at Brookfield and maybe that's exactly why it should be one of them.

I’ve been on holiday watching your posts and thinking “I’ve been missing some interesting stuff “, so I come home, switch the radio on, and what do I get? Fifteen minutes of twaddle about Kenton’s diary and big business man Justin giggling over a juvenile plan involving a dog. Have you all been lying to me?

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 . Absolutely. It was realistic and chilling when there was so little to put your finger on. The skill of bullies and abusers lies in making every little incident seem perfectly reasonable on their behalf, and their victim deranged

No, he doesn't have children

Thanks @TheLassWiADelicateAir

I've realised I was mixing him up with Helen's boyfriend Lee!

Oh yes, Johnny! I'd forgotten about him!

I’m catching up with this week and just finished last nights with the very lovely dialogue between Leonard and Tracey in the Bull about the extra cricket matches - reminded me a lot of my lovely late dad, exactly the kind of thing he would do in that situation.

not much else to add apart @TheLassWiADelicateAir yes to the ick I feel about it all getting a bit Hardy-esque. Ugh.

Ooh - on tonight’s now and right at the start, before the David/Kenton dullness about the cost of mars bars and the weird Lynda/Lillian/Justin dog oddness (?) David says ‘Well Ben is in love though, isn’t he’… @BoreOfWhabylon i think you’re right

I really should make the effort to listen shouldn't I? I'll get on the Sounds tomorrow, honest...

@leftshark yes, that's what clinched it for me.
The 🔮concurs.

Yes, but it's posters on here that are seeing Hardyesque parallels.

Oh I hope it's Ben- just to see off Beth.

We know she's attractive. We assume Ruari is too. There's no reason for the roll in the hay which resulted in this to have been anything else than enthusiastically entered into by both parties.

I didn't mean "poor" as in financially poor, I meant that if Ruari turns on the full beam of his charm then he's probably even more attractive. I don't doubt that it would have been consensual, but that he would perhaps have leveraged his social position somewhat.

(I'm actually reading Tess at the moment - from what I remember of the earlier chapters, it's not clear whether she consented to the situation with Alec D'Urberville or not?)

Many posters used to cheer on Matt Crawford. I miss Tiger.

Seriously - I’ve just re listened - what is going on with the Lynda/Justin/Lillian thing? I know we are all fixated (or at least meant to be fixated) on LL, Chelsea, and the possible father… but what is happening there? Is it meant to be a hugely hilarious thing about Lillian’s cooking? Do I just not understand dogs?

I'm wondering too, @leftshark

Loved Tiger

He was loathsome and genuinely evil.