Archers thread #141: The nights are drawing in. Can we turn the clocks back to a time when The Archers was fun? Cackle or carp about 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, although we do mostly try to be civil about it. Most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you're hoping Ambridge has a pantomime again this year, 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/4636789-the-archers-spoilers-thread-7-cant-wait-for-702pm-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.)

Many thanks to @TottersBlankly and @GoldenCupidon for the title suggestions.

Too much to hope, I suppose, that by the time we get to the end of this thread Chelsea's pregnancy is a distant memory and the Horrobins can gear up for a cheap and cheerful Christmas. I really, really hope she doesn't change her mind about the termination. It's a horrible and unrealistic storyline, as most of us have agreed over the past few weeks, but now I just want it to end and be forgotten about.

I do like the idea of Lilian taking on the role of witch in the woods. Much more fun to listen to than Mia sabotaging the Hunt Ball, which is surely bound to go horribly wrong, or the odd wrangling over the stained glass window which we know Peggy won't be contributing to on air , given June Spencer's retirement.

Not a peep out of anybody in Ambridge about all the recent political shenanigans, but that's hardly surprising. Nobody fretting about fuel bills or rampant inflation either.

Also, where's Jenny? I hope Angela Piper's OK.

Over to you!

Thanks Gaspode, once again.

Not much to add for now, mainly placemarking. Like you, I'd rather not listen to the inevitable embarrassing car crash of the attempted hunt ball sab. I was also mystified to hear Mia being bitchy to Chelsea at the beginning of last night's episode, as far as I knew they didn't have much history at all and I certainly hadn't pictured Mia as being generally bitchy to all around. Where did that come from? Have I blanked out a chunk where there's some back story between them?

This is exciting, never contributed to a thread title before

Mia isn't bitchy. Chelsea was really horrible to Mia at the Orangery. Will took Mia for afternoon tea as a treat. Chelsea was extremely rude, surly and mouthy. She was very lucky not to get sacked. Her behaviour towards a paying customer was appalling. I think Freddie had to step in and take over the order.

I think Will asked someone, can't remember who, if Chelsea would be pals with Mia when Mia is in Ambridge as Mia didn't have friends in the village.

It was a daft idea as you can't force friendships but Chelsea has behaved badly towards Mia ever since.

Yes, the details are a bit misty but I do seem to recall some misguided efforts to make Mia and Chelsea spend time together. They are chalk and cheese, so no wonder they failed. They did seem to be getting on better last night, though. If Mia and Brad do end up together, Mia and Chelsea are going to have to rub along together a bit better.

Oh, thanks. I think I've definitely blanked out the Orangery bit. I remember Will offering to take Mia out for a treat sometime around her GCSEs, probably when he couldn't help her with her German revision and she confided in Stella that she felt pressured to do well because she had a reputation for being clever, but she was stressed. I can't remember what happened at the actual outing.

I recall Chelsea's resentment was that she thinks Mia thinks Mia is better than Chelsea because Mia is clever and a bit swotty (on the evidence the last couple of months, yes, Chelsea, Mia is better than you. I know which one I'd prefer as a daughter.)

Brad is supposed to be clever and swotty too but he sounded like the village idiot with a chip on his shoulder last night.

Thanks for the new thread Gasp. I hope that you and the GaspParents are well.
I love most of the characters, especially Shula, and I still can't stand Pip.

they were forced to pal up, I think possibly in run up to last year's Christmas show? Will thought it would be nice, it went about as well as these things usually do. Mia was the typical radical teenage vegan and thought Chelsea was shallow, I think Chelsea thought Mia was weird and annoying.

Thanks, @ILoveShula. My Dad isn't very well at all, but it's up and down. He had a chest infection last week but seems better this week. C'est la vie when you're very old indeed except in Ambridge.

Thanks GaspOde, and wishing GaspO snr a speedy recovery. Winter isn't kind to the elderly.

I really can't make head nor tail of the rewilding/Halloween trail and Hunt ball storylines. I wonder who is in the hunt these days, apart from Oliver?

Thanks as always @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g.

Just reiterating MysticBore™️'s predictions (with the assistance, of course, of the 🔮)
Chelsea will go ahead with her termination
Mere will win the riding lessons at the HB raffle
Tracey will discover that she is pregnant

Thanks for the new thread @Gasp0de. Looking forward to some Chelsea SL resolution very soon.

I've just seen my PILs who are always weeks behind with the Archers as they tend to listen only in long car journeys. They're just at the end of September so I felt duty bound to warn them there was still a loooong way to go.

We should look out for the return of Lynda to the speaking cast in the next few weeks as that will inevitably signal the improbably-late start to organising the Christmas show. I wonder what they have in store for us this year? Someone on the last thread mentioned the mysteries - was that really only last year? Feels like a lot longer to me.

Lynda had a brief appearance in the Horrobin debacle. It's the only part I've enjoyed. We got an update on Blake- he's doing fine; Lynda apologised for scaring him and he realised she isn't scary after all. It was very nice.

TA on Feedback now!

Thank you @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g !

I tuned out of the Feedback bit, though I had been listening. What failed to keep my attention? I know it was something about Chelsea.

Btw, prompted by another thread - are there any properly unhappy (married?) couples in Ambridge at the moment?

(Not really willing to count Beth and Ben - they’re unhappy but not with each other. So far.)

Denise is apparently unhappy with her husband but they’re off-screen.

Pip and Toby weren’t a couple.

Ruairi is in thrall to the glamorous Julianne, but they’re not a couple.

So many bizarre relationships but not one conventionally dissatisfied cohabiting couple?

They briefly mentioned. One woman apparently thought it was well written !!!! But nothing substantive said.

The improbably late arranging of the Christmas show drives me mad! My nerves just can’t cope.

Well that's put the cat amongst the pigeons.

I've revised my opinion of Beth- Beth, you are a grown-up. You deserve better than that whiny, self- pitying man- child.

As for Ben, I wouldn't count just yet on not being a father.

Oh FFS Ben! It's not all about you!

Now Hooting Rooth will be banging on Chelsea's door
"NOOOOOO! Yer cannae kill ma grandchild!"

I am RAGING now!

What TA has taught me: if I ever find myself with an unwanted pregnancy that I don’t want the world to know about, steer clear of Ambridge.

Well at least we seem to be as one on this, so it's not all bad.

Thanks for the new thread, Gasp0de

I'll eat my hat if the termination goes ahead. Far too may people know.

No it's not all about him but he's allowed to have feelings, isn't he?

I was impressed with tonight. People making the connection between having sex and taking some responsibility, albeit too late of course!