Archers thread #147: Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder how old Ambridge is. Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Many thanks to @PseudoBadger for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed, and of course we are always delighted to welcome back former or occasional listeners/posters. 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 like to have the general public watching you work and asking questions, 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.)

Title comes from this poem, with which I drive my family to distraction at this time of year.

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz
I wonder where the birdies is.
The bird is on the wing.
But that’s absurd, the wing is on the bird.
Or so I’ve heard.

Ogden Nash

Apologies to @TeenDivided for ignoring her good ideas for the thread title. Here they are to kickstart our ruminations:
'window on the world of cheesemaking'
'how long until the intercom is fatal'
'will Brian settle in new pastures'
'Springing towards Easter with Widowers, Windows, and wails'

Over to you!

I had to laugh out loud at Adam’s comment to Debbie “You thought he’s broken mum’s heart so many times it finally broke for real”

It was interesting to hear him defending Brian when for years he has been pitted against the two of them in various disagreements. I suppose it takes one serial philanderer to understand another.

Goodness, I didn’t expect to find so many fellow Debbie-dislikers on here. I find her so irritating. More than happy for this to be her final flounce.

The way David keeps bullying and pressurising Ben about the B&B, he seems to have forgotten incredibly quickly how fragile Ben's mental health is.

Adil is a slightly shady character.

I don't think he is. What has he done that appears shady?

He's a bit mysterious but not necessarily shady.

I'm glad Jim persuaded Harrison to speak to David, sorry Harrison went in so softly (does he know about David's past form?). Jim booking in to the B&B is barking mad, but I'm prepared to hear how it develops.

David really is a psycho though - climbing up to pull a banner down in poor light. Does he remember what happened last time?

And poor Ben, the bloke who had the breakdown being the only sane one there.

Does he remember what happened last time? Yes, he survived unscathed

It's more what he hasn't done: all that secrecy.

Hilarious episode!!!

Excited to listen to tonight’s to hear the next stage of Killer David’s spree

Coincidently, I happened across Iain on an episode of Father Brown this evening. Would never have recognised him, but the voice was so distinctive.

Ok I'm puzzled. Dana International was a bearded man, when I saw him on Eurovision.

I think that was Conchita Wurst?

I find myself tiring slightly of the walking stereotype that is Paul. Justin realising what he’s signed up to help with was mildly amusing though.

Oh god. There's going to be an Ambridge Drag Race isn't there?
With Paul in a massive wig as MC and Harrison sporting his rainbow lanyard and laces.

I like Paul too but wish he'd tone it down a bit. Most times when he's speaking, I imagine him doing jazz hands.

Presumably Justin is supposed to have been talking about Dana aka Dana Rosemary Scallon. I'm slightly surprised that he's a fan of hers, particularly since it's a long time since she's been a performer, and she was very very young when she won Eurovision for Ireland.

She was still at school at the time, at Thornhill College, generally believed to the 'the' Derry Girls school. Justin wouldn't survive ten minutes with the Derry Girls.

I’d love to have been at the meeting where Adam and Ian were consigned to the ‘boring middle aged married gay parents box’ - necessitating the invention of a new young gay character. They do seem to be loading him down with clichés - but it’s good to have a fresh perspective and engagement with the world beyond Ambridge.

Also, Camp Harrison is a marginally less dull place than Holy Harrison, so …✅. Who knew he’d become Paul’s Designated Best Friend.

Justin is older than me and I remember that Dana vividly from that time. She had a lovely voice, she was pretty and engaging, and the song was quite pleasant and easy to hum along to.

Eurovision is very different now, and easily avoided if it doesn't float your boat, but back then with very little choice on British TV it was default viewing for many, I suspect. That's probably the only reason we had it on, as my parents weren't interested in pop at all but did enjoy light entertainment, which often featured singers. Cilla, Lulu, Dusty, Val Doonican, Rolf Harris, Nana Mouskouri etc etc. Lots of singers also did guest spots on comedy shows like Morecambe and Wise, The Two Ronnies, The Mike Yarwood Show, the list goes on. Early Saturday evenings always started with something like this, in my memory. Sunday evenings too? I can't remember now. Saturdays continued with Match of the Day and then Parkinson. The TV was never off in our house in the evenings.

Is Fallon not also a Eurovision fan?

Irish Dana was Dana Gillespie (there was an article about her in The Times the other day, she's still singing in her 70s)

The trans singer Paul (the hideously over-camped person) was talking about was Dana International (from Israel) who won last time the competition was in the UK.

And Conchita Wurst is - not sure, trans? drag? anyway, Austrian.

I am bored of Paul being such a cliché. And i am beyond cross at Jim being such an arse.

The way David keeps bullying and pressurising Ben about the B&B, he seems to have forgotten incredibly quickly how fragile Ben's mental health is.

also this. Yesterday's ep hurt my ears, tbh

Along with the "plenty of sustenanance" Jim brought with him for his protest, fingers crossed he also packed a chamber pot.

Because much has been made of that B&B room having no en suite facilities.

Jim's escapade does not ring true at all.

It is much more likely that his character would be driving a 2nd hand Nissan Leaf and dealing with a lot of annoying questions about how long it takes to charge and what the range is.

also is he a professor still? I thought in the UK it was the kind of title that went with actually being in the uni, unlike in the States when you're a professor for life?

but anyway: i don't think any of this rings true for him, and the Jim we know would be more likely to have sympathy with Brookfield for having been lied to about the use.

I find Paul almost cartoonish in the way he is portrayed: he is gay so he must love Eurovision, sequins and being theatrical.

Unusually, I have sympathy for David. His home has been invaded by an antagonist and his son, who may be fragile but has recovered enough from his breakdown to take on a full-time job, is failing to honour his commitment to run the B+B. David needs calm as he deals with the most stressful time of year on the farm. No wonder he is about to combust. And who is cooking for him and bringing him thermos flasks of tea? Jill is nowhere to be seen. I would be very cross if I were him.