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!

The Rob character is so cleverly done. He starts off so reasonable, so interested, so kindly. And then switches. Terrifying.

That is probably for the best.

I felt like he was already getting that feeling last night. It was nice that he was so protective of his little brother.

Rob will be looking for some way to blackmail him into bringing Jack to him.

So sweet that he bought him a keyring

t is interesting how they itched it. Henry is clearly searching for validation from a man he looks up to as a father figure. A bit odd seeing a he has good male role models in his life in Lee, his grandfather and uncles. I suppose that relationship would have been formative.

Not sure he's searching for validation especially, just naturally trusting and not old enough to truly understand what happened when Rob was his stepdad and hasn't been given any therapy whatsoever.

Yup @EBearhug he will be retraumatised when he realised it's Jack Rob wanted all along.

وداعا حبيبي, dàhaag schatje 😘

Moving on... Very good to hear George get played. Then again, perhaps he will pick up some skills from Rob?

That was a nerve wracking creepy performance from Rob. Is Henwee beginning to see the light ?

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g , thanks. My apologies for you receiving a post that was probably intended for me.

Young Blayke is doing well. He'll no doubt go on to bigger and better things one day. I'm impressed.

I’ve been enjoying it. It’s lovely having people come on with all sorts of arcane knowledge.

It’s not difficult to skim read and skip posts you’re not interested in.

Bla(y?)ke ?

@JanglyBeads , the Henry actor. Not to be confused with Blake.

Yes I know cas=castle, you or another PP told me, I was talking about my initial thought when I was wondering where it was a literal translation and decided it wasn’t. Travelling in Wales means you pick up quite a few meanings, porth, aber, llan etc. Most hills on the border seem to be tautological.

Don’t know what it’s like now, but growing up in Borsetshire, one was very conscious of Wales, the way the accent shifted as you moved westwards, the placenames, the higher number of people with red hair.

Sorry, Gaspode!

Ah, yes. I was wondering if I'd missed something. Blake reappeared at some point relatively recently I think (when Chelsea disappeared for a few days?) but not since. Yes, I agree the actor who plays Henry is clearly talented.

That’s uncalled for rudeness

Am adoring the firm but polite treatment of the troll!

And misdirected with it. Never mind; we all been left in peace to consider the Error Of Our Collective Ways.

@fitofthegiggles , I hadn't considered that the name might be confused with the Blake character. My mind 'sees' a word not 'hears' it. Hence, Linda for Lynda, and Gill for Jill making me twitchy.

There is definitely no reason for rudeness. If someone wants to be rude to me then it will probably go over my head, but I can't abide rudeness towards somebody else.

@PedantScorner Of course no problem. Also down to me not knowing the name of the actor who plays Henry - which I now do, having researched: Blayke Darby. I agree he may well go on to greater things..

If you find it boring, just leave and find another thread/do something else. No need to make a big song and dance about it.

Personally, I find the random digressions a whole lot more interesting than your posts whingeing about how boring it all is, but I do recognise that I don't get to dictate what other people can or can't post.

Didn’t we used to have a flouncer’s corner?

Last night I wondered whether, right at the end, the tone of Rob's voice was bringing reminders for Henry of the way he used to talk to him and Helen when he was bullying them previously, particularly all the "Be a man" nonsense, hence the way he took fright.

Yes, I wondered that. It was extremely well written and acted. Young Blayke is the best child actor they've had for ages.

Yes, I wondered if that brought it all back and made Henry panic.

He’s really good. He also makes Henry that rare beast, a likeable Bridge Farm Archer.

Don’t say that, @Abra1t - they’ll put him on a boat! Forever …