Archers thread #150: For whom the sausage rolls: George over a Berrow, Fallon & Harrison seek new lease on life, is it all a Fête Accompli? Discuss The Snivelling Simpletons, sorry, 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 people frequently miss their own weddings because of a morning quickie while in a plaster cast, 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. I basically took @OverArmour's excellent suggestion and managed to shoehorn in snivelling simpleton, gloriously coined by @Eastie77Returns to refer to Lee in the first instance.

@WitcheryDivine suggested Recharging, Red Kites and The Man They Call Ron, is Ambridge becoming an earthly paradise or a hell on earth? which seems as good a place as any to kick off our discussions! Ron = Rob, a fortuitous typo on a previous thread. It does feel a bit as if we're marking time before he turns up again. Odd to do what could be a high profile storyline over the summer holidays when a lot of people will be away, but depending on your point of view, maybe that's a blessing!

Whither George? Is he shaping up to be Andrew Tate mark 2?

Everybody looking forward to Ferret Fun at the Fête? Me neither.

Over to you!

BOOP! And just like that, the SWs' trap snaps shut on innocent TA listeners...

Yes. George does something actually helpful to Mia and Brad then ... bam!

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime
That list ought to have dates attached rather than being alphabetical, shouldn't it! (grin)

I have just realised that Usha is not on the list of people with reason to dislike Rob, but she got in before Emma in the standing up to him stakes: she had given him two months' notice to quit Blossom Hill Cottage the previous week. That may have been why he was feeling particularly put-upon when he had his go at Emma, that and Emma earlier in the day refusing to deliver something to Henry for him.

Who does Lee think he is, questioning Helen’s decision like that? Doesn’t he know she is Fiercely Independent? He won’t last the week.

I can’t open the link, but thanks to you I’ve been reminded of so much other stuff that happened back then! It was all so intense that I mainly remember how I felt, rather than actual details, I think.

A most enjoyable episode. Just when George seemed vaguely human, he's back in fine mid-season form.

Why on earth can't Lee just be devastated about missing his child's birthday? Why does that have to be about Knob?

He might not have a leg to stand on, but Helen was characteristically vile. 'It was a couple of days ago, get over it already. Are you sure this isn't about meeeee?'

IMHO George was not advising Henry out of malice, but out of fellow feeling, and he is young enough to remember what it was like to be Henry's age, when presumably George was being mocked and bullied. He had the best of intentions IMHE - even though it was completely the wrong advice, in circumstances I presume he knows little about (Ron etc)

Also, what @booksandbrooks said.

I’m quite impressed with the Henry actor. How old is Henry now? I thought the child actor did well to sound youthful without being annoying, and sincere and posh without being stilted or ‘theatre school’-y.

Yes, exactly this. And on Wednesday Kirsty was excited about going away for a weekend in Prague, but that had to be all about Helen too.

Rob has successfully recruited Lee as his Flying Monkey. He has planted the idea that they share the pain of not seeing their DC. Lee is too dim to realise he is being manipulated while Helen doesnt know what Rob said to Lee.

I think Henry has heard too much and Helen has pretty much lied to him about what is going on. Surely Helen has to tell them what is going on with Rob? Otherwise finding out at a later date and trying to unravel that could be very difficult for Helens relationship with her sons. Otoh the boys are arguably not old enough to understand the implications of any decisions they make now with the information.

George may be 'recruiting' Henry for whatever mad schemes he's got planned.

He was 12 at the beginning of January. Just finished first year of secondary school. He was born a few hours after Nigel's death plunge.

Agree young Blayke is doing a good job.

I remember when any child parts were taken by Shula! It was something that Patricia Hayes did as a sideline in the 60s as well - she was Henry in Norman and Henry Jones, the Boy Detectives, which my best friend and I were obsessed with when it was first broadcast. (We were the only girls in our junior school who didn't have a telly at home.)

On the good old Home Service on the wireless radio, of course. Am ancient, we had no telly for ages, but luckily got one just in time for the start of Dr Who.

Coming back to the present, isn't it nice to actually look forward to the next episode for a change?

Helen does know what Rob said to him, they've already had an argument about that.

Yes henwee - as was is sounding v credible. I agree, George wasn't actually acting maliciously when he advised him.

Why on earth doesn’t Helen buy the SS a plane ticket to SF?

@booksandbrooks and @asking yes, I thought that was brilliant scriptwriting on both accounts. Helen consistently turns everything into something about her - I really wish Kirsty would get some better friends and I couldn’t believe what Helen said to Lee about it having been ‘days ago’ that he missed his daughters birthday. There was something about Helen’s ‘well I haven’t either!’when Kirsty was talking about not having worn a backless dress that pissed me right off 😆

the actress is really great though, simultaneously insufferably self obsessed but also so believable at being lost and malleable when it comes to Rob.

I suppose the only thing that surprised me about the Helen / Kirsty exchanges was that they are of such a similar dress size that lending and borrowing is possible. But I guess there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be.

I guess when Rob does die he may have left a legacy for Jack ?

@Fleetress hmm, yes you’re right. I definitely do borrow things from friends at times but it was a tad contrived that H&K would spend an evening shopping Helen’s wardrobe wasn’t it?

I know, my mental image has Helen fairly tall and thin. Kirsty is short and sturdy, not fat, but strong.

There have been various comments over the years that have made me think Kirsty is not particularly slim, even perhaps slightly overweight. Veiled references to her enjoying cake and the like, that pissed me off no end. Helen of course, is painfully thin. That scene surprised me too, but other events made me forget to mention it.

Kirsty is short and sturdy, not fat, but strong

Sorry to say but I think Kirsty is actually quite fat. She never says no to a biscuit. I don’t think it’s a bad thing - and it doesn’t stop her from being slightly sexy - but I would say a backless dress isn’t a great idea for her shape. She generally lives in fleeces and finds summer a sartorial challenge - which is why she needed to go shopping.

Now that is a very interesting idea, and one which would mess with Helen's head forever and ever