Archers thread #149: This is not a drill, it’s a plot device. Here’s hoping for Stella-r rows in Ambridge. 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's bantz make him a great laugh and totally harmless to women, 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.)

Thanks for title suggestions - @FallonsNewCoat started us off with Drilling down OR What’s the drill?: So many jobs hanging in the balance - what’s planned for Adam, Stella, Freddie and horrible George?, @OverArmour's suggestion was ‘Drilling down on less than Stella-r performances and who will be a pig in muck’ and @TeenDivided contributed the laserdrill focussed Lets drill into plot holes and hope George gets his comeuppance. I went for a bit of all of that. The phrase at the back of my head, which I am very pleased to have tracked down, was from one of my favourite film franchises where the character Conklin says in Jason Bourne's memory This is not a drill, soldier. We clear on that? This is a live project. You are go. Training is over. Training is over. Well, that's us, troops. Training is over, discussing The Archers is a live project, and it's our job to drill down into all aspects of what we hear.

On the last thread, people were discussing how unrealistic the portrayal of mental health problems is on TA. I wholeheartedly agree, but I suppose they don't feel they can tackle long-running slow burn storylines that often. They made a great effort with Jack Woolley's Alzheimer's. Other than that, I don't recall anybody having a recurring illness that's been portrayed realistically (and actually that goes for physical conditions as well). Most things clear up and are hardly mentioned again. Sticking just to mental illness, Pat had depression after John died, Mike Tucker had a bad bout of depression, so did Elizabeth. Helen's ED may or may not be about to re-appear, but nobody's mentioning it. Ben's rapid-onset depresssion recently led to a psychotic episode but now he's fine, not least because he got prompt, skilled and appropriate treatment on the NHS, unlike most of the UK. This is one area where I feel they shouldn't even attempt it if they can't do it in a way that reflects the reality of what most of us experience, for ourselves and our loved ones.

Anyway, with that off my chest - over to you!

Todd Carty! Remembered as soon as I posted.

Tonight's episode was daft. Imagine Jim really thinking that reveal would be funny.

Good scene between Helen and Soosan though

I Used to have a massive police van that was used in The Bill (it was my festival camper - outing v much!!) Anyway it had the cast's mobile numbers in it including Tucker's (he was actually named as Tucker on the list!)

As a pedant, I feel obliged to point out the unrealistic dialogue between Jim and Jazzer at the beginning of the episode. Clearly, the SW in question is not a writer of lists, though I am sure Jim is. The way lists work is that you put down everything and tick things off as they are done. This leaves you with a list of things that still need doing. On the same list.

Or maybe I am wrong and organised people do end up making a list of things that they haven't done, by thinking about it rather than looking at the earlier list?

That is such a brilliant anecdote @stilldumdedumming.

I agree. Well-handled with a plausible scenario and real warmth.

On a disagreeable note, will something happen with the fabulous green suit and the bogging awful George?

Just a minute, if Jazzer was born at a B&B in England, then that is the place of birth which address should be on his birth certificate, not Kelso Hospital, where presumably he and his (currently helpful) mother were taken immediately afterwards!

Will his mum be at the wedding?

I would have thought being brought up in Scotland with Scottish parents made him Scottish anyway. It's not like he would have a different passport (yet). I was born in another country to British parents and am still British.

I really liked the Helen and Susan conversation, it was so nice not to hear Helen being all lady of the manor with Susan and instead acknowledging their mutual experience.

Jazzer will get over it and realise he's still scottish, the big jessie.

I loved Erik's actor in Monarch of the Glen - so i associate his voice with that. I find it all warm and comforting.

Jim was being incredibly dense. He can stop stressing the "professor" if he's going to be that stupid. He is usually very emotionally intelligent, so i wonder why he thought slinging that in at Jazzer in his speech would be a good idea?

It does lead, of course, to interesting thoughts and maybe discussions about identity.

The Brad staying at his gran's thing is going to explode. Not sure how but how can the adults around them think that putting (horrible) George in with (niaive) Brad for a fortnight is a good idea?

Sorry if I'm being spectacularly dense but who is Brad's grandma?

I thought he was staying with his aunt Susan

I’m guessing @Brefugee mistyped, @suzyscat - she would have meant ‘aunt’.

(If Brad’s hopeless father has an existent parent I don’t think we’ve encountered her.)

sorry, yes i meant aunt. Sorry, @suzyscat and thanks @CountryCousin for the correction.

I don't think it was just @Brefugee though. I thought it was mentioned by Tracey too.

I don't think this is the first time I've wondered, but he and Bert have definitely been put with Susan so perhaps it was grandad that was mentioned?

in my case it's because i find it all so predictable right now i don't pay proper attention 😁

Tracy and Jazzer are making me cry.

Really? They just irritate me. I wouldn't miss either of them.

I still wish it were Tracy and Oliver before he turned into a disappointment.

Same here.

The song made me cry. I don't think it would have done if I had listened live, I would have found it too twee. But I only caught the song at the end then had to go back and listen to the whole episode. Once I knew Scarborough Fair was coming the second time, in context, it did make me well up. I like them both. Jazzer's philandering misspent youth was irritating, but I like him now.

It was Tracy’s serious approach to the lifetime they’re preparing for. Got me, somehow.

Even Though I Am Disappointed about the TrOllie failure. Just imagine the epic week long billion dollar high society celebration that would have been! And Tracy would have kept Oliver young. Instead he’s turned into a rather preachy bore.

I think putting Tracy and Jazzer together was inspired. Great couple, and I wish them well. Brigg Fair is the equivalent song in this household.

Good to know the SWs have met a young child. It was always extremely unlikely that Henry and Jack hadn't picked up that something was wrong. I'm not surprised it hadn't occurred to Helen or Lee.

I was in tears too, that was lovely. And jazzer treating us all to his lovely singing voice.
But why are they marrying on a Thursday?!

Children ALWAYS overhear. Poor Henry trying to protect his little brother....

That episode was completely bleurgh. "One would have to have a heart of stone to hear Jazzer singing Scarborough Fair without dissolving into tears … of laughter”

As for the rest of this week, Jazzer's professional Scotsbore schtick has been irritating , tedious and unfunny for years and the "comedy" revelation that he's really English was as dire as most of the comedy attempts.

Brad is a limp lettuce so his green suit will be perfect.