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!

I can't stop noticing Chelsea's sniffs, now that people on this thread has drawn attention to them... it almost sounds as though she has a cold. Interesting contrast to the way Lynda expresses herself with sniffing.

Chelsea didn't sniffle at all the episode she told Ben her reaction to hearing her name had, as they say, been noised abroad.

I've been listening out for Chelsea's sniffle after reading about it on this thread, but I can't hear it at all.

I hadn't noticed it particularly so I have just gone and listened to the most recent scenes with Chelsea in them.

On Friday, we got it in every scene she was in.

"Vince is a prize turkey." (sniff)
"I know you're trying to be nice and everything, coming over here, but" (sniff)

"'S all right" (sniff) "I asked for this shift..."
"All right then" (sniff)
(Elizabeth asked "How are you?") "Better" (sniff)

"You should see the stuff that goes into these gift-bags" (sniff)

"I've got to get back to work." (pause) (sniff)
"I was just going" (possible sniff but she was also shutting the door)

I bit more listening makes me think the sniff is a recent development.

8th February, 2022 had Chelsea in three scenes.
She didn't sniff at all in any of them.

9th May, 2022, three scenes, one possible sniff but it may have been a snort of exasperation. Tracy sniffed instead!

Oh my goodness, listened to Fridays (as helpfully transcripted above) there is a sniff! Literally never noticed it before.

The sniffing is fairly recent and I can't understand how anyone could have missed it.

In my case, I live in a houseful of people who have allergic rhinitis and various other allergies. I think we're all desensitised to sniffs or we'd go mad.

I listened again and I think one person’s sniff is another person’s sharp intake of breath through the nose. I do it when I have something hard to say that I need to phrase with care. It’s a tactic to control emotion in saying something.

But that isn't what Chelsea is doing. She's sniffing even when saying something perfectly straightforward.

I took it to mean she was tearful. It’s definitely recent.

I want a nice clean break between Elizabeth and Vince. He’s been dodgy for a while - all that stuff with his mum and ex wives and lying to Elizabeth…and he practically forced David and Ruth to take that money.

I’d be happy to never hear him in TA again.

Also - did anyone else pick up on Freddie and Chelsea’s conversation and the kindness he showed her? Much more like a friend than a boss. Whether it’s romantic or platonic, I’d enjoy seeing the pair of them become better friends. I think that would be an interesting meeting/clashing of worlds.

Oh yes I’ve been meaning to award a BOOP for Freddie. He was very kind but not patronising. Same with Elizabeth. I was waiting for her to tell Chelsea about her own abortion.

Agree, I thought they both did rather well. A Freddie-Chelsea friendship could be good for both of them I think. He always seems quite willing to listen and have his assumptions challenged (unlike his sister…). I think he’s good at approaching people like equals rather than as the posho to the manor born that he actually is.

I did note how camp he was in that conversation. I wonder if it’s just that somewhat effete poshness that some boys have, or if he’s maybe gay - could be a reason for the lack of girlfriends? Obviously camp does not equal gay but the SWs aren’t usually subtle in their messaging so I wonder if it is deliberate.

What was the dodgy stuff with Vince’s mum, @Scarydinosaurs? I disliked his mum’s appearance because she was just such a one dimensional stereotype - oh look, adorably feisty elderly working class woman - but didn’t notice anything dodgy?

I thought the sniffing was down to tearfulness initially, but Chelsea is doing it now even when she's definitely not tearful.

When Vince’s mum arrived, it felt to me as if she were scoping out LL for herself while simultaneously warning Elizabeth of Vince’s past behaviour.

When she cracked on to L in front of Jill it really was a step too far. The entire family is just horrid, isn’t it?

We know Vince can’t be trusted, from his very first introduction he has been a con-man and cut throat. What Elizabeth saw in him I don’t know. Am I forgetting any kind storyline he’s been involved in? Russ was more multifaceted than Vince. At least he was kind to E when she was struggling with her mental health.

I've never believed in the Elizabeth/Vince relationship so I hope that this is the end of that storyline. I wonder if it will make room for a return of Dr Locke – Elizabeth wasn't ready for a relationship at the time that they were becoming close, but it would be nice if now is the right time. I seem to remember he moved into a cottage in Ambridge – not sure which.

If anyone is here who used to be on Mustardland or Sue's Place, I was Helena Handcart on there and am not @Hellyna Handcart.

Freddy is lovely.
Dr Locke was renting Bloody Hell Cottage.
Vince's mother was dreadful, fake brummie accent and incapable of saying a sentence that didn't contain the 'term of endearment' bab.

I think Ben and Beth will get back together Further Down the Line when they've both had a chance to grow up a bit and their families are less involved.

I think Chelsea is such a good actor they're writing her better scenes! I expect her nose will dry up as her life improves.

On the day that DEFRA insisted that all birds be brought back indoors, it was unfortunate that George was trying to persuade Martyn Gibson to buy and release his pheasants.

I was interested enough to google for prices and nowhere seems to be selling birds after about mid September. Hey ho.

Geowurge isn't terribly bright, is he.

It’s not just Chelsea’s sniffing that annoys me. The sound of her voice just irritates me. Sorry, I know that isn’t nice.

Vince’s ridiculous carry on in the Bull really made me think I was listening to an episode Eastenders when there’s a Big Reveal reveal in the packed pub. This entire storyline feels like a poorly written plot from a soap opera tbh.

And can Josh or someone shake Ben the Martyr and remind him two people took the decision to have unprotected sex. For goodness sake. If I hear him moan “it’s all my fault” one more time…

Agree with Freddie as a kind chap. I suppose the SW are emphasising how like his father he is. Wasn't Nigel not academically clever, but a good/ practical problem solver and good with people?

Yes he was

Freddie is not just a posh boy, remember he's been to prison.

Actually, yes@BlueBlueCowWondering, they do seem to have succeeded in making Freddy sound very like his father.

It’s not often TA makes me laugh, but they did tonight.

When is the penny going to drop for Lynda that Ambridge residents’ recollections of Christmas past would be an excellent basis for a Christmas show??