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!

🎶 ‘There’s a world outside your window, and it’s a world of dread and fear’ 🎶

So- when the armageddon comes as well as the Bridge Farm lot it has to be the end of Robert and Peggy?

Maybe Robert dies saving Henry whilst just popping in for a bit of cheese.

Oh no, human drama is one thing but dog drama 😔

I know - where is this leading? It must have a purpose!

Aghh I've just caught up too... i think PPs did speculate about a Ruth/Stella/Pip triangle/comedy of errors before... can it be that basic?

Also, I was so confused for a while about who it was talking to Chelsea and Stella - it took me a rewind to realise it was Paul, and it was only when he mentioned the Lovell James website it clicked. Lovely to hear him again though, despite the turn of events

Just on the Robert and Lynda situation. Along with others I was very sad to hear the news of the actors passing, and am really sad never to hear his voice again; I loved their relationship (when he called Lillian out about her hair on the way to the OBE ceremony...❤️) and from a SL perspective am interested to hear if/when the scriptwriters will either revoice him (personally I hope not) or get rid of the character entirely. I think I'm hoping he just becomes a silent character for the foreseeable, as we have had enough trauma already this year; however I disagree that it necessarily will be as awful for Lynda as we have said. I think she is stoic, beautifully drawn and as wonderful as a character that she may well end up being a fantastic example of an older single woman, either decidedly single and just throwing herself into village life with even more verve, or (perhaps) even dabbling in some online dating eventually, maybe supported by Kate or Chelsea?

Before I listen to Thursday's episode ... does something happen to Weaver?

That was what she said at the end having changed her mind, but the original idea was to rebrand it for all purposes.

Yes, but we don't know the final outcome yet.

Oh Brad and Mia are getting on my nerves. Mia correcting everyone and Brad stuttering and spluttering its so hard to listen to.
Just knew something would happen to Weaver the way they kept mentioning him tugging on his lead and the noise of the tractor in the back ground. I Hope his going to be ok. Which brings me to a question that just popped in to my head. Have animals got souls?. I like to think they have.

Well , animals certainly have personalities, so why not souls? I like to think they do too :)

Took me a while to realise it was Paul.

Yup - Paul, but suddenly taking on quite a managerial role, not exactly a veterinary nurse duty to go out to persuade a valued customer to take part in publicity for your employer, surely?

I hope Weaver will be OK.

I thought Paul had moved on, having completed his placement stint at the surgery. Didn't he arrange a send-off party which Alastair was initially dreading but then really enjoyed? That was several months ago. Was there a change of plan or have I just got that wrong? Good that he's back anyway.

I thought Paul was covering for Denise and she isn't back.

ISTR a change of plan, but I can't remember the details.

Does Helen think it’s ok to call a cheese exclusive just because it has a different a different label to what is being sold elsewhere. This would really shortchange GG. She deserves to go out of business.

Paul organised his own leaving do in the end, as Jakob and Alistair both faffed around too much, but I think Paul got a phone call AT said leaving from someone at Lovell James saying Denise had to stay on at her placement, so he also had to stay on with Alistair & Jakob - def all highly realistic with regard to how professional orgs notify staff about placements changing at such short notice, and also with regards to calling people in the evening, assuming that was when the leaving party was. They went to an escape room IIRC, and Jakob was really good at it.

this has made me remember the Denise and Alistair thing! I was really up for them getting together, I hope Denise makes an appearance soon, she’s a great actress. But as I said, once I figured out who he was, I did also love to hear Paul again - I don’t think we ever heard them together did we?

Thanks @leftshark That also explains the continuing absence of Denise. Perhaps the SWs will work out some way of mother and son featuring together in the future. Hopefully, anyway, because they are both good characters and we could do with some fresh characters/storylines IMO. I'm getting a bit bored with the Bridge Farm saga dominating everything.

Agree @fitofthegiggles - and also I think they might be the only black family/characters as well? There was a bit of Alistair (clumsily, from a script writing POV) referencing Denise’s braids at one point - I don’t think it’s been called out overtly though. Others who have been listening longer may correct me though!

Yes,that’s what I was trying to say up there. To sell one thing under a different label is basically fraud, unless it’s clearly labelled as to what it is, in which case there’s no point. Reminds me of The Apprentice.

Weaver had better not be dead. Just no need for such tragedy caused by the bleeding incompetence of supposedly animal savvy folk.

@leftshark yes, the actors are both black, as far as I'm aware the character's ethnicity usually matches the actor's. Until Noluthando makes another appearance (and maybe even Sipho?!), they are the only black people I think.