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!

Gosh, my impression of Beth is the opposite of flaky. She was really impressive in her reaction to the pregnancy Flaky was the wrong word. I was trying to think of a word to describe her over-reaction to Ben shagging someone after she’d dumped him, and not listening to his side after the Steph kiss. If Ben’s going to so emotionally fragile, he needs someone solid and unreactive. Not sure any of those are the right words either

I bet Lynda wished she'd never started this.

Emmurr's not feeling well. Funny how no-one says do an LFT. Isn't TA overdue for a covid case?

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?? I was assuming that’s what she was doing.

BOOP for Jakob. DH was cock-a-hoop - he hates Lynda as an interfering woman who needs someone to say “no” to her.

Nice demo of where we are now, in that Emma didn’t even think “should I be here, with these symptoms “

Christmas memories might well end up being the theme of the Christmas production but what does Lynda expect from Tony? So if he said he wanted a guitar when he was 8 what would she do? He probably doesn't want a guitar any more.

I can't help feeling that if he had still wanted a guitar after he left home when he was about eighteen, he would have got himself one.

Some of us, during heedless undergraduate days, squandered driving lessons money on hiring a deeply unsuitable instrument 🎷and paying for pointless tuition … Never actually made it through Twinkle twinkle little star without an embarrassing mistake.

As an undergrad I borrowed one of those, @TottersBlankly , and for a whole term taught myself from a book called A Tune a Day for the Saxophone. I could get through Abide With Me with no mistakes <proud>

Quite. I don't understand what she wants. If she wanted to solve the mystery of the message in a bottle she could just ask. X

Whoops. Random X

I was assuming that’s what she was doing.

Now I’m confused, @MereDintofPandiculation! I did have the radio on yesterday but must admit I paid scant attention, so perhaps I’ve missed some plot development? AFAIR this oral history gathering was just a ploy to wheedle the guitar info out of Tony. But Lynda didn’t actually want Christmas recollections from anyone else - and wasn’t planning to make use of them for any other purpose.

I just don't like Lynda wanting to solve this particular mystery it seems intrusive and best left in the past. Just trying to satisfy her own curiosity.

Wonder what's up with Emma?

Upduffed.
All the Midwich Ambridge women will turn out to be upduffed.
They will all produce blonde children with strange, golden eyes...

@BoreOfWhabylon oh my goodness I loved that series. One of the best things I’ve watched for ages.

I would love Radio 4 to produce The Ambridge Cuckoos as a one-off play!

Yeah there was a lot about Emma feeling ill tonight.

If she turns out to have Covid then they've changed their earlier decision to make Ambridge a virtually Covid free zone (as an escapist stand).

I actually really want a Christmas production this year. It's how I plan for a Kirsty and Adil to discover each other under the mistletoe.

What is it with prying siblings and their chums taking through the past? First Dave and Diary and now the witches of Ambridge.

Really hope Emma is okay and the Ambridge good health fairy isn't asleep at her post. I'm still recovering from Nic.

Really hope Emma is okay and the Ambridge good health fairy isn't asleep at her post. I'm still recovering from Nic.

As are all the Grundys, so they'll all be panicking about Emma being ill.

I thought upduffed too, but I'd have a headache if I had to spend time with Geowurge.
I like the idea of adding an X after a post. xxx

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/08/charlotte-higgins-on-the-archers-the-hot-tub-scenes-are-radio-at-its-most-icky?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

if anyone is upduffed, surely it will be Tracey after all the misunderstandings at the Bull, the conversation with Jazzer about fatherhood etc. oopsie I’m pregnant after all? Would continue the theme of the Horrobins being the family being continually under the heel of Life, a role they seem to have taken over from the Grundy’s.

emotionally incontinent Ben is still grating on me. If they wanted to introduce a storyline about young mens’ mental health this is really an odd way to do it. Taking a woman’s tough decision on whether to go ahead with a pregnancy and making it all about him. I hope for her sake Beth is never heard from again.

I agree with pp on Freddie becoming more like his dad. Big BOOP if that continues. Nigel was a solid anchor that restrained the worst excesses of Lizzie; it seems to be going that way that Freddie will need to counteract both his sister and a newly single mum.

You’re undoubtedly right. My listening has been erratic recently

Nigel was a solid anchor that restrained the worst excesses of Lizzie; it seems to be going that way that Freddie will need to counteract both his sister and a newly single mum. I clearly wasn’t listening during that period. I remember Nigel before he and Lizzie got together, when he was responsible for most of the exercises. And the next memory is him being goaded on to the roof and falling off.

Thanks, @TonightMatthewIamgoingtobecher , that Charlotte Higgins piece is the best I’ve seen from her for ages!

It was hard to tell whether Emma’s headache was simply clearing the way for George to do George, or whether it’s the start of something. Obvs she can’t die <stern look at SWs> … Wouldn’t mind if she’s pregnant, though I think Tracy would be a more interesting prospect - for Jazzer’s sake.

It was surprising to me that (surely) recently re-boostered pensioner Lilian’s ‘cold’ didn’t prompt the correct response from pensioner Lynda - “Get the fuck out of my airspace you virus-ridden monster!” Instead it was “Come closer and breathe all over me while I fuss over your cloak.” What ought to transpire is that Lillian has infected the entire village with a novel strain, and Alan will have to impose total village isolation for the sake of humanity …