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!

Joy is an excellent human. I enjoy all of the episodes she’s been in recently.

I also thought Ed/Stella had a bit of tension between them. But maybe it’s just Stella’s slightly flirty manner?

George is possibly going to have a low profile for a bit until the charity stuff comes to light.

I think Joy was a hostage negotiator - calm in a crisis, cuts through bullshit, gets things done. She’s in Ambridge because she had a complete mental breakdown (Ben incident - she clearly had experience there) after she failed to negotiate the release of the kidnapped wor Rochelle and the kiddies. Ooh, possibly they were killed by an abusive partner, hence her life skills will also be useful for Helen 💁🏻‍♀️

I think Joy was a hostage negotiator

I can imagine that, somehow.

"Now then, let's just see what's going on here, shall we pet? You've hijacked a plane and aren't going to let anyone off until your demands are met? I'll pop the kettle on and we can have a little chat. Do you like digestives? Chocolate ones are my favourite..."

Exactly like Idris Elba, @BrightYellowDaffodil!

A decent unapologetic bisexual character would be very welcome.

Ah yes we've yet to find out where she's gained her expertise in MH crises.

She could have a breakdown in her past I guess.

I think the "Let's pop the kettle on" approach to hostage negotiation might be just what's needed in some situations. Not with the "professional" terrorists though maybe!

My mum had a theory that if ever you come across a burglar in your house in the middle of the night you should say ‘oh hello- I’ve been expecting you. Thanks so much for popping by. I’ll make a nice pot of tea and we can catch up’ etc. I’m so grateful that she never had to test the theory but she thought it would disarm the crook and jolt him into realising what he was doing was wrong. Very much a graduate of the Joy School of Hostage Negotiation…

@stilldumdedumming , There is one, Ruairi.

@PedantScorner ha! Of course! He's just been so absent, he had slipped my mind!

Quite a few characters have been absent recently.

Haha exactly this. I read that with Joy’s voice in my head.

I like this. And it does have the ring of character authenticity about it.

Pip …

Tut!

Did they have to make her so cowardly?

I'd rather this unfolded in an interesting manner - no need to cut to the chase!

(not suggesting anyone was chasing anyone, just using the analogy of film making...)

That’s all poor Stella needed, isn’t it? First her dog dies and now she’s on the confused receiving end of Pip’s “Try before you bi” efforts.

I am now shipping Pip and Stella. I hope to hear something about how Pip will process her feelings in the meantime.

Hmm … Unreasonably, I’m always a bit disappointed when we are conclusively steps ahead of the SWs - so their big reveal falls a bit flat.

Pip is so gauche…How old is she? She acted as if she was about 15 but then she has led a fairly sheltered life so it was actually quite convincing. Poor Stella.

I mean if I had been involved in an unexpected clinch with anyone I don't think sharing a tent would be a good idea. But to race off like a frightened teenager. FFS grow up. Have a chat. Apologise. Say it's taken you by surprise and you need to put the brakes on. Especially as she is supposed to be your mate and was crying seconds earlier. You nob.

Exactly Pip just own it. Don't rush off like that.

I thought Pip’s reaction was entirely appropriate.

I thought that the Pip and Stella SL was obvious but annoying you just knew it was leading up to a snog. Now Pip will ignore Stella and blame it on the rosè and the big marshmellows.
Yes Id like to think Joy was a hostage negotiator. I loved that..lets just pop the kettle on pet, I can hear her saying that.

I could barely listen to Pip's gulped words and utterances. She always does it but being in that tent seemed to distil the dreadful process

Pip's reaction was credible.

God isn't Hellin Archer UNBEARABLE?! It's all about her!!