Archers thread #151: A Fête worse than death or a reverse ferret? Helen’s got the Borsetshire Blues, Tom’s talking shiitake, George is a rotten apple. 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 Helen and Tom would do well on Dragons' Den, 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 to @OverArmour for various title ideas! I would have liked to incorporate the suggestion from @Fleetress, which was

‘Do do one Ron, Ron, do do one Ron’

(Rob is Ron for many on this thread now)

Possibly a bit obscure for newer posters, though!

Anyway: we got through that last thread in no time at all. Combined effect of Rob and George, I suspect. I wonder if Rob will have made it to Ambridge by the time we need a new thread. I'm still waiting for Pat's shotgun to feature. That can't have been mentioned for the first time ever for no reason at all.

Over to you!

Information …

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ice-spice-bimbocore-aesthetic

Who knew?

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/28/why-the-bimbocore-aesthetic-is-the-path-to-weaponising-the-social-performance-of-the-ageing-woman

I thought Mia's "not on brand" was an excellent euphemism for "cheap and nasty", which is what she wanted to say!

Is reverse ferret a chess move? Ice skating manoeuvre?

The term originates from Kelvin MacKenzie's time at The Sun. His preferred description of the role of journalists when it came to public figures was to "stick a ferret up their trousers". This meant making their lives uncomfortable and was based on the supposed Northern England stunt of ferret-legging (where contestants compete to show who can endure a live ferret within their sealed trousers the longest). When it became clear that the tide of public opinion had turned against the paper's line, MacKenzie would burst from his office shouting "Reverse ferret!"[1][2][3] The phrase moved into general usage after it became a catchphrase in Private Eye magazine, initially in its 'Street of Shame' section but which quickly spread throughout its more satirical pages. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_ferret#:~:text=In%20British%20media%2C%20a%20reverse,acknowledgement%20of%20the%20previous%20position.

Now mostly political, I think.

Bimbo core? Why is everything a "core" nowadays?

<Grumpy old woman alert>

Beats me. One of the contestants on the Great British Sewing Bee last year wore clothes described as cottage core. Seemed to mean not unlike Laura Ashley dresses from the 1970s.

I must say I am totally loving the writing of the current generation of Ambridge teens mockingly imitating their enemies or elders. George doing Ed, Chelsea doing Mia - it makes me realise how rarely I actually laugh listening to the show. And it’s so brilliantly true to life.

Thanks for the new thread, Gasp0de.

I've found a link to the pronunciation of Adil in Pakistan. I know some of theses are not accurate having seen the appalling mess is made of my surname.

https://www.pronouncenames.com/adil

@TottersBlanklyIntoBimboCore

1. love the name change
2. I agree. I was struck by how well the Chelsea actress managed to imitate Mia using Chelsea’s voice.

@TottersBlanklyIntoBimboCore it's quite surprising that this thread exists in the 'Fun and games' section of mumsnet!

Agreed. I had a similar conversation with my nieces the other day. I feel older than I'd like to...

I thought that was brilliant by the actress too. Really good, a very talented actress

Joe Grundy would have accepted a public "ferret-legging" challenge with worrying alacrity.

Bert Fry would have composed an ode.

The denizens of Ambridge, far more the ferret population, have at least been spared that double trauma in 2023.

Thanks for the new, excellently-titled thread @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g 😉

And for the explanation of "reverse-ferret".

Kelvin MacKenzie otherwise deserved Lynda's fate suggested upthread by @RegimentalSturgeon

And during the toasting of it and the buttering of it with much butter and the slow enjoyment of eating it …

Wow.

Thank you!

I’ve always avoided Saki, for reasons long forgotten, but that really was - in the language of Love Island - a bit of me.

oh i love Lynda - she's the one that drives the events that the people of Ambridge actually really enjoy seeing. But can't be arsed to arrange them, or arrange them properly (with accountability). Without Lynda it would be a really really boring place to live.

Am reading this thread as a way of knowing if i can actually listen to the programme. If there is Helen/Rob stuff or George/Hannah stuff i simply can't be bothered. It is horrible to listen to.

Loved Adil telling Tom he knew what was going on. His MO is to go along with things that he wants to do, right until the opportune moment.

Can anyone help me? My toes curled so tightly during the last Tom Adil scene that my feet have turned inside out and I can't get them back to normal on my own... 🙈

Also I can't remember who suggested it on the last thread but I think the suggestion of Tony keeling over trying to rescue Henry and Gideon is bob on...

I am hoping for a siege in which Rob will blow himself and the entire family (including Tom and the twins) up?

Luckily Jonny has escaped as he is the only one that I might have a conscience over.

If he could take hero Harrison with him as well that would be a bonus.

gosh no - Peggy will insist on a window for ALL OF THEM

When is Peggy going to die @Brefugee?! I think the actress playing her retired about a year ago!

Absolutely loved the Chelsea, Mia and Kirsty scenes. And Adil taking no shit at all from Tom, loved it!

they may have forgotten she exists?
Maybe they'll be marking her 100th birthday? I'm still worrying they're going to kill Robert and finish off Lynda. :(

@PuppyPerson Just re-listened on iPlayer. Fantastic!

I was just thinking has Ardil's personality changed a bit. He used to be quite easy going and would join in anything to get accepted ie:- Christmas Choir, going round the Rewiding project with Kirsty and moving out of his room for Rylan. Now he didnt want to join the Cricket team and he sort of shrugged his shoulders at Tom and Helen( not that they didnt deserve it) about the GG contract. I think he would have been more diplomatic before, unless he has found his feet.? Also I think he stays at Lyndas because he gets all his meals and laundry, I expect done. He is most probley too busy to do that himself and its easier than finding a permanent home and housekeeper if he is not going to be permanent in Ambridge.