🤐 The Archers spoilers thread #7: Can't wait for 7.02pm? Join us here!

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Spoilers thread for The Archers. Please keep all spoiler-related discussion in this thread and do not spill the beans on the main Archers Thread (hence the zipped mouth on the emoji!). Last spoilers thread here: www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4197199--The-Archers-spoilers-thread-6-Cant-wait-for-7-02pm-Join-us-here

Current main Archers thread here: www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4632741-archers-thread-139-whos-the-daddy-no-ceremonial-required-to-join-us-discuss-the-archers-here The main thread tends to last a few weeks. The spoiler thread runs for well over a year, but I strongly suspect it gets read about as much as the main thread.

An older half-sibling! Of course, it's a soap.

Yes … A long ago adoption sounds possible.

Thanks for spoilers!

Thanks Asking. Jazzer and Tracy will fall out, only for them to patch it up and get engaged at Christmas.

Thanks, Asking! I see Jill's not in the cast list, for what that's worth. Surely this can only mean that if it is Jill telling him an ancient secret that he rapidly overcomes any qualms about repeating it and heads for Brookfield.

Thanks Asking. I think it will be Joy making the heartbreaking confession to Leonard.

That makes sense, Bore. So who do we think had a psychotic episode in the past - Joy or Rochelle? Or Rochelle's father?

Haven't thought it through that far Gasp0de (and the 🔮is all swirly and enigmatic )

Probably meant to have been Joy.

Joy had a chat with Elizabeth after the leaving-her-knickers-behind incident, during which Elizabeth for some reason unconnected with anything in any actual plot (it was during Mental Health Week, on 11th May, 2021, and the life class had been in aid of it in some way) decided to share her having had depression, and Joy explained about having been lonely and the strategies she adopted for coping with this:

"Elizabeth has told Joy all about her depression, for some reason. It turns out that Joy also has depression, or rather, has been feeling low, and needs a routine to keep her going. She has tried everything for it from creative paper cutting to Russian phrases for beginners, and is now volunteering for a help-line, having tried to ring them for help and mistakenly dialled the admin number."

So Joy is probably supposed to have suffered depression herself, in spite of simply describing it as being lonely. I suppose I ought to check the BBC synopsis to see what we were supposed to have heard....

"Joy felt so liberated stepping in to life model that Elizabeth has to awkwardly return her underwear. Joy’s disappointed to have been beaten to a parish council role by Bernadette. They discuss the next class for mental health and as they get onto the subject Elizabeth decides to stop for a cup of tea, sensing that joy relates to the issue. They talk about Elizabeth’s depression and Joy explains some of her own strategies for coping with loneliness – sharing that she has phoned a helpline and even signed up as a volunteer. Impressed, Elizabeth really enjoys their heart to heart."

Not sure what is impressive during the BBC synopsis, but that's what they say Elizabeth was.

But if it's Joy's secret, why would Leonard then have a dilemma about whether to reveal it? That bit makes it much more likely to be Jill's doesn't it? What about if she admits to feeling odd at times, forgetting things and thinking she might have dementia? Or the long ago adopted baby but I don't really buy that for backstory.....

I think it's impressive to sign up to be a volunteer of that kind. It's not something I could do but I am very glad others are stepping up. Thanks for looking that out, Asking.

I recently met someone who is rather like Joy and I'm finding some difficulty in separating them out in my head. It doesn't help that my acquaintance is also a volunteer befriender and keeps herself very busy (single retired woman who moved to a new place when she retired).

Maybe what Leonard has confessed to him is Ben's heartbreaking secret, though what that might be who can say: at the moment all Ben's sorrows seem to be being worn in a large wreath round his hat for all to see, really.

Leonard has now promised not to tell anyone what Ben revealed to him. In TA that means he will have spilled the beans before the week is out, as indeed we know he will from the one-liners ("Leonard attempts to do the right thing"); the remaining question is which he tells of Jill, David or Ruth.

Does anyone want to place any bets?

Hardly a surprising confession IMO.
They must have suspected he might have contemplated it.

I am unconvinced by the word "heartbreaking", if I am honest; it doesn't seem any sadder than anything that has preceded it, really.

No heart breaking wasn't quite right, was it? Alarming, possibly. Esp for his mum 😢

I'd have lost; I hadn't thought of Pip.

He promised Ben he wouldn't tell "Gran, or Mum and Dad", so I suppose he thought Pip wasn't included in the word that he gave.

It's terrible how little I care about any of the Ambridge carry-ons at the moment.
I'm trying to make out whether this is just me, or it's the writing/editing, or what...

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
BBC One-Liners
11 Dec The pressure mounts on Brookfield, and Jazzer is feeling frustrated.
12 Dec There’s romance on the cards for the Grundys, and George finds himself on the spot.
13 Dec One resident makes a drunken admission, and emotions threaten to overwhelm Ruth.
14 Dec Neil resorts to surprising methods, and Kirsty turns detective.
15 Dec It’s a big day for Pip, while Tracy proves a tough nut to crack.
16 Dec Rex faces a terrible dilemma, and Fallon has a mountain to climb.

Credits
Sun 11/12/22, Mon 12/12/22, Tue 13/12/22, Wed 14/12/22, Thu 15/12/22, Fri 16/12/22
Writer, Liz John
Director, Marina Caldarone
Editor, Jeremy Howe
David Archer: Timothy Bentinck
Pip Archer: Daisy Badger
Ruth Archer: Felicity Finch
Tony Archer: David Troughton
Harrison Burns: James Cartwright
Neil Carter: Brian Hewlett
Rex Fairbrother: Nick Barber
Toby Fairbrother: Rhys Bevan
Ed Grundy: Barry Farrimond
Eddie Grundy: Trevor Harrison
Emma Grundy: Emerald O’Hanrahan
George Grundy: Angus Stobie
Martyn Gibson: Jon Glover
Tracy Horrobin: Susie Riddell
Jazzer McCreary: Ryan Kelly
Kirsty Miller: Annabelle Dowler
Hannah Riley: Helen Longworth
Fallon Rogers: Joanna Van Kampen
Lottie: Bonnie Baddoo

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 11th – 16th December 2022
David & Ruth have a hard time getting past their recent traumas, especially when a past memory returns to haunt them. Ruth, though, receives comfort from an unlikely source. Pip and Toby's plans for a big day are interrupted.
Love is in the air at Grange Farm for another couple, although they might also have landed themselves in the soup.
George has an embarrassing encounter that could prove the final straw, unless he can wriggle his way out of his commitment. A Christmas night out for the folks at Berrow stirs up a surprising confession. Tracy proves hard to fool, and Eddie teaches someone a valuable lesson.

Daily Mail Weekend Magazine Archers Update 11th – 16th December 2022
The grazing cows still need to be moved around the paddocks, the milking units hosed down and fences kept in good order over at Brookfield.
These tasks are done with heavy hearts as David and Ruth try to deal with their traumas; then, just as they seem to be coming to terms with recent events, they find themselves haunted by a memory from the past.
The Berrow Christmas outing takes an unexpected turn as the drink loosens tongues, while over at Grange farm romance is in the air, and elsewhere George has an embarrassing encounter.
Meanwhile,valuable lessons and hard-earned wisdom are freely available in Ambridge – but is anyone listening?
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

I do hope that someone may notice soon that undried branch-clearance is not saleable logs. Ideally Ed or Emma before they do their imbecilic night-raiding. But I would settle for someone editorial just deciding to drop the stupid business.

Thanks, Asking! Do we know who Lottie is? The actor is in her 20s and on her Spotlight page it says her character is Lottie Summers. I wonder if this is going to be a one off or a recurring role.

Elizabeth seems to be weirdly missing from the cast lists up to Christmas. Surely at some point we are going to have a showdown about the fact that it was Vince who pushed Ben to the brink of suicide?

We get both Elizabeth and Vince again in the new year, so we might even hear her telling him what he has done.

Having nipped into the shops to buy a few bits of food, I failed to twig that the Radio Times is now out for Christmas. I'll try to get hold of one tomorrow and let you know what fresh hell are Ambridge planning to inflict on us as a Christmas Special?

I think we can be reasonably sure it will be a carol concert, can't we?

Good news (though I just skimmed through the RT)!
Christmas Day just has the omnibus and a 7pm episode.

They mention Lynda's Christmas Chronicles, but it sounds as if it might just a mention for a couple of minutes/night. A budget cut to be grateful for, perhaps?

Late again; sorry.
I made the mistake of going shopping – only for food, which we needed because I hadn't been able to get out of the house for several days because it was so slippery, but just a simple weekly food-shop left me exhausted, there were so many people doing the same.
So I had a nice lie-down when I got home, and woke up some time later just in time to make supper.
Anyhow!
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
BBC One-Liners
18 Dec Who needs to get something off their chest? Alice faces the end of an era.
19 Dec Ruth shares a painful memory, and Emma feels under pressure.
20 Dec Fallon comes to a realisation, and is Brian’s hospitality welcome?
21 Dec Ben has an important errand to run, and Jakob gets some domestic help
22 Dec Who’s ready for a quick duet? Kate remembers Christmases past.
23 Dec It’s time for Jolene and Fallon to compare notes. Can one family come together for Christmas?

Credits
Sun 18/12/22, Mon 19/12/22, Tue 20/12/22, Wed 21/12/22, Thu 22/12/22, Fri 23/12/22
Writer, Naylah Ahmed
Director, Peter Leslie Wild
Editor, Jeremy Howe
Brian Aldridge: Charles Collingwood
Ben Archer: Ben Norris
David Archer: Timothy Bentinck
Jill Archer: Patricia Greene
Jolene Archer: Buffy Davis
Ruth Archer: Felicity Finch
Harrison Burns: James Cartwright
Alice Carter: Hollie Chapman
Neil Carter: Brian Hewlett
Susan Carter: Charlotte Martin
Rex Fairbrother: Nick Barber
Ed Grundy: Barry Farrimond
Emma Grundy: Emerald O’Hanrahan
George Grundy: Angus Stobie
Jakob Hakansson: Paul Venables
Kate Madikane: Perdita Avery
Lily Pargetter: Katie Redford
Fallon Rogers: Joanna Van Kampen
Adil Shah: Ronny Jhutti
Choir singers: Members of the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 18th – 23rd December 2022
Writing Christmas cards with Brian brings Alice a reality check about her situation - how will Chris feel about her festive plans?
Over at Brookfield, Ruth's busy worrying about Ben, who's busy worrying about David. Some memories from the past hover near the surface, even while the debate as to who's making the Christmas dinner goes on.
Elsewhere, one Ambridge resident is battling with the burden of a secret, while Ed & Emma work to get themselves out of a pickle of their own making. And Jolene and Fallon are gearing up for their festive projects - ever so slightly competitively.

Daily Mail Weekend Magazine Archers Update 18th – 23rd December 2022
One or two Ambridgers labour under the mistaken belief that Christmas is the perfect time to get things off their chests. If you are entertaining a similar notion this Yuletide, take note of what happens in the village over the next few days and think on. Take also heed of birds coming home to roost for Ed and Emma as the reckoning comes in for that recent bit of dodgy dealing.
There's trouble too over at Brookfield. In past times, Jill kept a steady stream of pies, puddings and roasts coming out of her well-run kitchen and onto the farmhouse Christmas table, but now, David struggles to keep back the culinary chaos while vying with Vince (boo! hiss!) to be the Christmas villain.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

I can't help feeling a bit pleased that Ed and Emma seem to be going to get some sort of comeupance for their thefts; I know this makes me all sorts of horrid, but the way Emma decided that it wasn't really stealing at all put me out.

Many thanks, Asking. Brian speaks! Hurrah! An early Christmas gift for me. Also pleased about the comeuppance.