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!

dementia?

Love Leonard wish he was my friend ive got lots of things for him to do. Jill is nasty and vince is vile and Elizabeth is a let down for not telling Vince to do one.
I must admit that Ben is getting on my nerves with the crying. Chelsea sounds like she needs her ananoyeds (dont know if I spelt that right) taken out. Oh and Im new to this thread but just read it all and am really enjoying it.

I don't think she's demented I just think she's "traditional" and probably thinks that could have been one final great grandchild before she popped off.

I don't mind Ben's crying- well I do MIND it but I don't think it's unrealistic.

So if Jill HAD known, and stopped the abortion, what would the plan have been?

If the plan was to snatch the baby and bring it up in Brookfield, who would look after it? Jill is 92 and the poor child would be force-fed cake for its formative years, the Dopeys are too busy, Ben ought to be nursing....

A lot of the Ambridge matriarchs do seem to have a nasty streak to their character. In Jill's case I do wonder whether she is going to be diagnosed with vascular dementia and get popped into the Laurels (is Christine still there or is she dead). She certainly can't be left with too many talking parts even if she does still turn up at the studio for the social aspect. Her voice sounds painful.

I'm sure the reference to Jill feeling tired is going to turn out to be significant. The way she spoke to Ben sounded like a complete personality change to me.

Does Elizabeth know that Vince has called in the solar panel loan?

@Tulipomania , yes, and she told Ben.

Why hasn't she dumped Vince then. Silly woman.

Maybe he has hidden talents

Maybe she's ill or in pain, but didn't Ben find her out doing something strenous like hurling feed at the cows or tarring the barn roof or something (I joke slightly).

She was rounding up the sheep showing Bess how to do it properly.

I agree she may have reservations about abortion (fine, don't have one) but her outburst did seem out of character to me, which can be an early sign of dementia- either acting out of character or being disinhibited- so, whereas previously she might have thought 'oh dear, that poor baby I will never get to meet' etc she now gives voice to that thought regardless of the pain she will cause.

I don't see why Jill's character needs to be deaded (or silenced) just because her voice sounds weak. Posters on these threads are often frustrated that the elderly characters don't have health problems.

It was the streak of cruelty that was a bit shocking. Not just sad and disappointed (something she still should have kept to herself).

I can't remember any examples at the moment - maybe Asking can? - but I seem to recall Jill quite often being devastatingly frank about her feelings even when it might not please others. She's not always kind or tactful.

I think jill may have pushed ben over the edge she was just vile

Welcome @Sandman100 !

Would we have heard it as cruel-sounding if we hadn't known Ben's state over the last few months, weeks and days?

Because apparently no one's told Jill how he's been....

Just a thought

I think so, she basically told him she didn’t want him in her company and she was ashamed of him,

Ben:
‘I tried to do the right thing by everyone’

Jill:
‘except the baby’

‘I’m ashamed of you Ben’

‘It might be better if you and I kept our difference for a while’

I find myself in perfect agreement with Ruth. Good for her for setting Jill straight.

Wow, just wow.

It's not dementia is it.

Where is this going?

Maybe Jill will now die and David will blame Ruth?

I kind of feel like Ambridge has just imploded.

Quite likely.

That needed saying. Also, Ruari's boss/girlfriend 😟 talk about controlling!!

But I think he's realising isn't he....