Archers thread #144: Window pains again! Light relief or dark times ahead for Ambridge in 2023? Discuss 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’d love to volunteer in the shop with Susan, 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.)

New year, new thread. Many thanks to @LillianGish for the window pains pun! Hoping to hear a lot less from the Caseys this year and a good deal more about farming and how Ambridge is coping with Brexit, cost of living crisis, ageing population and all sorts of credible character-based storylines. Yes, I know, but one can only hope.

Over to you!

Other sudden deaths:
Caroline Sterling
Polly Perks
Heather Pritchard (Ruth's mum)
Mark Hebden (Shula's first husband)

I think Mike is probably the only one who could get through to him right now

I was thinking perhaps Oliver, if they can track him down. Didn't Caroline die completely unexpectedly, while having a nap?

Surely, Shula would be the best person.

I missed last night's episode, I listen to the podcasts (I'm in Ireland), and mistakenly put on tonight's first. Quickly realised something terrible had happened, back to last night's & had to sit through the whole late-for-supper nonsense until that heartbreaking ending.

I was really shocked. It was very realistically done, the shock, the confusion, no trying to make it so they got a few final minutes with her.

Poor Jenny 😔

I didn't expect Jenny's death, but it was clear something momentous was going to happen

I disagree with this actually. I thought the beauty of that episode was all the normal goings-on, supper, Kate being annoying Kate, the phone call from Lillian whole Brian & Justin were together. All so ordinary, as life is, before a bombshell falls.

Oh god, just caught up on the last two episodes. Poor Jennifer.

And how right you were!

Thank you for the welcome.

I’ve only sporadically listened since the lockdown hiatus. Caught the omnibus on Sunday on a drive she thought I’d listen today as I was WFH. Purely by chance I caught this bombshell.

Oh poor Brian. I think this will break him and I’d be amazed if he starts philandering again.

Have there been any hints about Ruairi being cagey and hard to get hold of?

Oh, and mega BOOP for the reappearance of @BitOutOfPractice and @PseudoBadger ! I was Songbird when these threads began 😊

It’s sad but I’m also a bit worried that we know we have two other deaths eventually to come due to the cast members sadly passing away, and so it’s quite depressing to know all the additional upset is to come. Too many things ending.

Also, Stella is going to buy the drill thing isn’t she… and maybe that will cause a problem with Jenny’s will’s execution potentially.

Yes it feels a bit wrong that they've killed JD before Robert and Peggy.....

Has anyone else in Ambridge apart from Pat and Tony ever lost an adult child? Probably but I can't think. And certainly not at Peggy's age.

Poor brine.

I wondered that too, about that bloody £150k drill machine. Surely she won't - it's hard to see how you'd justify reasonably doing that.

Dan and Doris Archer did. Peggy's first husband, Jack Archer, was Dan and Doris's eldest son, elder brother of Phil and Christine. Died of alcoholism in middle age.

Stella is bound to go ahead and buy the drill.. just what the family need!

Every time they mention the drill I am taken back to O-Level History and Jethro Tull's horse-drawn seed drill - the only thing I remember apart from Arkwright's Spinning Jenny.

Also Nic.

Of course! How could I have forgotten that one.

Jethro is another one who died suddenly.

@Gonners That was quite a revelation to me in my O-Level history class. I remember the day quite clearly. Having been introduced by an older mate to quality music at the age of 12 I had until that point thought that Jethro Tull was a rock band. 😂

Keri Davies tweeted today that he would make sure that all the kind words about Angela Piper were “passed on”. Sadly that suggests to me that Angel herself is unwell as it sounds like she will not be able to read any social media directly. Also I think the lack of tribute by the official Archers channel must be a privacy thing.

If they kill off Robert too, is there scope for Brian and Lynda to bond through their grief?

Hello BOOP and Pseudo. Nice to see you, shame it’s in such sad circumstances, as people say when these things happen IRL. I’m one of the old guard too.

Or Brian and Shula on her return from Sunderland - a real-life couple as an Ambridge couple....?

Or Brian and Shula on her return from Sunderland

Hasn’t Brian suffered enough? Don’t wish Shula on him. Anyway, she’s far too old for him - though I am sure he will have the older ladies circling by the summer. A new widower is always of interest…

Jennifer was 78!