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!

@Patineur Who's running the art gallery at LL these days?

A silent character that they have forgotten to mention for years and whose name escapes me? He probably still lives in the attic, covered in cobwebs.

Go Kirsty! I hope there’s only good outcomes to this, or no outcome, we’ve had enough women punished for daring to have sex in The Archers!

It would be stretching credibility to think Kirsty could be that lucky/unlucky twice.

Her last shag was a one nighter with her ex Tom that resulted in wren.

Elizabeth's stepfather-in-law Lewis Carmichael, who stood down to let Russ take it over but has probably stepped back into the breach left by Russ's sudden departure.

I’ve really enjoyed the last three episodes - lightly funny, lots of good character interactions, a bit of sentimentality and action driving the plot forward.

It all gives me hope!

Boop points for Jazzer and Jim, Lillian and Kate, and Kirsty and Erik!

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime - Elizabeth's stepfather-in-law Lewis Carmichael, who stood down to let Russ take it over but has probably stepped back into the breach left by Russ's sudden departure.

That's the chap! When was he last mentioned?

Three times - her criminal husband!

Paul Venables (Jakob) is 60 but (to my ears) sounds much younger. Steven Hartley (Erik) is 62 and sounds it.

Just googled and Paul Venables is also a psychotherapist who's married to writer Rachel Joyce (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry).

Damn I’m all disillusioned now.

Surely Phillip Moss?

Why?

That the Erik actor is 62. Spoils my picture in my head.

Sorry @UrsulaPandress 😬

I think it was on 7th May, 2019, when Russ was unpleasant about him having displayed "insipid water colours" at the gallery.

@UrsulaPandress , that's what you get for looking up the actor .He sounds like he's in his early 40s in TA.

Is there a cut-off age for physical attractiveness? I'm asking because I have started to think I've given up on that one, and maybe I should not give up.

Brad Pitt is older than me and, and George Clooney isn't far off 62, Hugh Grant and Antonio Banderas are 62.

@WhoppingBigBackside I think it’s all a bit subjective. I met my now DH when he was 55 and he was (and is) very attractive with nice hair and very fit. He is 65 now and getting a bit craggy but still looks good without having any work done. I think it’s mainly luck if men don’t lose their hair or go grey and paunchy!
Brad Pitt and co have to work on their appearance as their face is their fortune so to speak.
I am definitely not looking up the actors. Jakob and Erik are gorgeous in my minds eye!

TopOfTheCliff
I am definitely not looking up the actors. Jakob and Erik are gorgeous in my minds eye!

The actors are not even the right respective ages; Paul Venables (Jakob) was born in 1962, and his younger brother Steven Hartley (Erik) in 1960.

It does give us an idea of how old the editorial time feel that Jakob is, though, if both the actors are in their sixties.

team, not time. Dratted corrections, they make no sense!

Erik has a gorgeous voice. I see him as in his 40s and a good age for Kirsty - for a short time anyway, I couldn't cope with his mess after hearing tonight's episode. I'm 67 though and my husband is 62 next month.

He has gone in one swift episode from seeming nicely relaxed to being disrespectful of his brother's home.

I’ve not listened to tonight’s yet but can we petition the Archers Team to keep Erik in forever?

Long live men with sexy voices 😍😍😍

I don't think you can necessarily tell people's ages from their voices and so (to me) it really doesn't matter on the radio. Erik sounds like a feckless nightmare, very charming unless you had to deal with the fallout. He would probably be happier with Kate. Not that I'm wishing Kirsty on Jakob, obviously, because Jakob has done nothing wrong and also he is MINE, I TELL YOU, ALL MINE!

I had assumed that Jakob was about 40. But actually have no idea how old Kate is supposed to be?

Bring back Robin Fairbrother, and he's mine.