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!

Feedback at 4.30 today!

Jeremy Howe, Editor of The Archers, and actor Maddie Leslay, who plays Chelsea Horrobin, answer listeners' comments on the big storyline in recent weeks - Chelsea's pregnancy.

I remember the evening, think it wa leading up to Helen and rob becoming an item, it was just a collection of friends at that point - so don't think Rob preferred her to do anything?
But he may have expressed displeasure at stir fry and somehow got steak. But not in any way to make Iain warn his friend off her potential partner.

The morning after the rape, when he phoned about the opera at LL that evening, was one of the most harrowing episodes for me. Even then some listeners were unclear as to what had happened the night before 😢

Rob's homophobia was a particularly nasty character trait. I imagine they put that in so that Ian would keep his distance from Helen. He was much nastier with Ian than with Adam for much the same reasons as Martyn Gibson, I expect - Adam is gay but 'you wouldn't know it' (plus, of course, Adam's Brian's stepson and Rob was working for Brian). There was that odd business where Ian punched Rob - something to do with a cycle race and a celebrity appearance? Bradley Wiggins?

@BeardieWeirdie , I remember.
@TottersBlankly , thanks. I'll be listening.

Oh thank-you Totters. I've not caught the new presenter yet.

I've just been on the bird app and there is speculation on there that Vince might be the "Grey Man" that Blake used to go on about and that Vince was over in the Philippines to purchase some horses - Discuss (apologies if this should be on Spoliers, but it is speculation).

Perhaps Rob's return will coincide with the point when Myson declares himself to be gay? Whereupon Rob will decide that he didn't "give" Myson to Helen as he claimed, but that she was a wicked scheming adulterer.

😮😮😮😮

Ah yes it was poor Jess with the fish kettle! Wasn't Helen and ?Fallon helping out with the catering?

I might stay delurked for a bit!

Seconding the 😮😮😮😮!

Though I don’t think it could be true.

Gosh! So who's Victoria?

Why would anyone need to go to the Philippines? According to the more excitable tabloids, the Albanians are landing potential victims on our shores in their hundreds.

Are you following someone in particular ? I need to vary my feed with some light relief from the political stuff

I don't think Vince is that kind of baddie.

I thought 'the grey man' was in the building trade so not Vince.

Hi TwoBlondes
twitter.com/jenniwdog/status/1588535814690320387

I don't follow her (but maybe I should), but I do follow Miranda

Ambridge on the Couch and The Cider Shed Pod might be worth a follow.

I agree the "Grey Man" idea is probably a stretch too far for the team, but they did have Chelsea run away and live with Blake for a bit.

Vince is such a cunt.

The "whole salmon" party was just after Rob and Jess moved in, IIRC. I seem to remember Jenny advising Jess to make the salmon. Nobody ate it and Rob ended up shouting at Jess and throwing it on the floor.

I seem to remember a lot of details - can anyone confirm?

Back in the present day:
And it came to pass that it was even as the sybils of MN had foreseen many moons ago.
And there was mighty wailing and gnashing of teeth (but not by Gnasher).

Boop for Chelsea, tonight, not letting Vince off easily and managing to make him unable to decide whether she accepted his apology or not. Well played, I thought.

I wish Elizabeth had thrown Vince out properly though. She seemed to back off when he said sorry to Chelsea - not good enough!

Farming Today had a big feature a few months back on British farms employing modern slavery Filipino workers. This was the first thing I thought of when we heard frisky Vince back from his travels.

I don’t get the Elizabeth and Vince partnership at all

I just listened to this. The actress who plays Chelsea has such a different voice (which means that endless sniffing she does is a conscious decision 🙄)

Given how much Leonard is getting his feet under the Brookfield table, anyone think he'll come to the Dopeys' rescue and "invest" £40k when Vince pulls out?