Archers thread #148: Unseasonably, it's panto time in Ambridge. He's behind you, Pat! BANG. 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, 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 think George Grundy isn't a psychopath, 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.)

Will Rob return, or are they playing with us? Will Pat run amok with her shotgun and wipe out half the village? (We can but hope ...) Will Oliver come to his senses and turf the Grundy clan out of Grange Farm? So many questions, so much time.

Over to you!

No it was an unlikely if fun conversation, knitted ferrets and all!

Brian's grief seems to be transforming him into a much lighter person in many ways though?

I was extremely surprised that Adil hadn't met Brian before. He's been in Ambridge for ages now and he's on good terms with Lilian and Justin. He works with Roy, Brian's granddaughter's father. Brian's wife's stepfather used to own Grey Gables and Peggy and Kate live in the lodge at the gates. Surely Jennifer would have made an effort to invite him over soon after his involvement with Grey Gables was announced?

However, having got that off my chest, I liked the conversation between Adil and Brian. What I didn't like was Elizabeth breaking the news about the trustees to Freddie in the middle of a big event. Nonsense on stilts.

Nonsense on stilts! I love that phrase, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

Can’t say I’ve been loving a lot about the Archers, of late.

Yes, Brian needs to talk to someone for our benefit and there aren’t that many candidates around. He fell out with Neil over something at Berrow didn’t he, so that’s a no go. And after his dust-up with Debbie - and given Tamsin’s lack of availability (for which I am grateful) - he can’t confide over Skype. He doesn’t really have many other options but I don’t think he would be indiscreet about business matters. - and an impending row with Stella - with a casual acquaintance.

Poor Brian. He really is a sitting duck - won’t be long now before we hear the trill of lady’s laughter coming from the cortage.

What a horrible thought, @FallonsNewCoat ! His offspring would be heartbroken. And my ears would definitely complain.

I’m with you @iratepirate. Listening feels like a bit of a chore at the moment.

Freddie sounds incredibly adolescent and petulant when he's moaning that he can't have what he wants. When he implied that it was all so unfair because he was being penalised for having no worthwhile qualifications, I wanted Lizzie to point out that that is something he could remedy with a bit of hard work and application.

that would have been the time for her to suggest some training. Didn't she do some courses early on? he could do similar, surely.

But he sounded so bloody whiny "wah wah I've been a bit of a waster and now i can't have a huge house wah wah"

Am also not enjoying Ian encouraging Adam to throw Stella (who i also haven't warmed to) under the bus.

I remain completely baffled by the trustee situation. Nigel wasn't subjected to any fitness tests before he took over. I suppose he hadn't been sent to prison, though.

Poor Brian. He really is a sitting duck - won’t be long now before we hear the trill of lady’s laughter coming from the cortage.

‘Cottage’ or ‘cortège’? Makes quite a difference, though either scenario is plausible.

I don't think Nigel had any trustees. Freddie only has them because he was a minor child when Nigel died and so couldn't inherit immediately.

Cottage’ or ‘cortège’? Makes quite a difference, though either scenario is plausible.

Haha! I definitely meant cottage. I think it would definitely provide an interesting twist if Brian started attending that cookery school regularly and met a new lady there. It would be great to hear him with a spring in his step again. And I’m sure CC would enjoy it too. I think IRL someone like Brian would not stay single for long.

He might need to get some little blue pills but that wouldn’t be a problem. You can get them over-the-counter nowadays so he can just pop into Boots in when the time comes. He will need to check with the pharmacist that they don’t clash with his blood pressure meds, of course.

I genuinely have no information about what percentage of men who are widowed when they are eighty marry again. Is it the norm?

CC?

Not sure another marriage is being suggested.

I think the proportion of rich, outgoing and craggily good-looking widowers to 'partner' again might be quite high....

Charles Collingwood?

Ah of course, thank you.

I was struggling to remember, while Justin and Brian were talking, whether any more was revealed and J and Stella's relationship at that secret lunch date than he was letting on to Brian.

I feel like there was but maybe that was just because the event itself created an expectation in the audience that there was or had been something more?

Otoh, what was the point of that original scene if they simply 'worked together on a big farm in Cambridgeshire' ?

Why on earth would a "successful hedge fund manager" (which was what Justin was said to be when he arrived) have been working on a farm anywhere, though?

I like to think he and Jenny had an active sex life to the end (whether or not with blue pills).

Aha! They may simply have produced the original scene in order to set up Justin as the catalyst for Stella’s imminent sacking. Whether or not he reveals anything even mildly shocking, Brian will latch onto a couple of words and base his already-made decision on them.

Stella can join Charlie and Phoebe in faraway Scotland - together they’ll be an unbeatable force. Maybe they’ll find some untamed heathen there, needing Shula’s ministrations?

I was relieved that Adil shared my confusion as to how Oliver had the right to invite anyone to use Grey Gables. Just as well Tracey insisted on Ollie being there.

Stella can join Charlie and Phoebe in faraway Scotland - together they’ll be an unbeatable force. Maybe they’ll find some untamed heathen there, needing Shula’s ministrations?

Will we ever find out who Adil's employers are? Why all the secrecy?

Maybe it’s Rob

Rob and Hazel Woolley in partnership with Simon Pemberton and Cameron Fraser, with Clive Horrobin as a silent partner.