Archers thread #152: The Dog Days of Summer in Ambridge! Rabid rants, tearoom dogfight, Bully Dog George gets it all on camera. Is Lone wolf Rob waiting in the woods? 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'd love a son like George, 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.)

Starting this new thread a bit early, as we're near the end of the last thread and I'm out all day today. As last night's episode was a banger, I thought I'd better ensure discussion can continue seamlessly!

The original idea for a dog theme for this thread came from the death of poor Weaver. RIP. The Dog Days of summer are associated with storms and the silly season, so quite appropriate for The Archers at the moment! They may technically be over now, as it's all to do with the heliacal rising of the Dog Star, Sirius (no, me neither), but apparently the Anglo-Saxons considered they lasted into September (thank you, Wikipedia), so that will do for me.

So - what next for Helen, Henry and Jack? Surely even the Bridge Farm Archers will see that she needs professional help? After her outburst the other night they might finally grasp that Henry could do with some too. All very grim.

On the lighter side (perhaps), whither Pip and Stella?

Over to you!

Just listened ... never thought I'd say this but ... Go Tom!

@crumpet I remember Pip being born too. I remember them picking her name! Blimey!

@Eastie77Returns After listening to tonight's episode I agree with you about George. Together with hints of decency he does occasionally display there is cause to hope for some redemption for him yet. And as you say he is only just 18 at a highly impressionable stage of life with hardly the finest examples of adulthood - barring Neil - around him during his early years.

Pip is boring and annoying, yup. Not wild about her mum either.

I come from a totally non- Archers background. Grew up in Ireland, and wasn't really aware of R4. Moved to England in 1990 and discovered the omnibus there - it kept me company through some homesick times.❤️ When I moved back to Ireland a short time later, I spent a good few years listening to the omnibus through a fog of white noise, with the sound fading in and out, until the day internet radio arrived, which helped the sound quality greatly. The real revelation was the arrival of the podcast - I now listen to each episode when I like, in crystal clear sound!!! Just love it, although the Rob stuff can be unbearably tense. I usually listen to the dramatic episodes a couple of times, just to check I haven't missed anything I've since met some fellow listeners here in Ireland, although not many, sadly. Lurking in this thread, but loving the discussion!

I agree - it's as if the SW have mainly kept her ticking along for the most part recently - this SL with Stella could be dramatic, as they (possibly) start seeing each other...

Pip has always been really annoying.
She was particularly annoying when she was younger, but hasn't grown out if it.

Emma/George scene was excellent. Winder what he will do now.

Yes, I think Tasher will take over the tearoom. And poach Emma.

Mot sure if Fallon will take onthe charging station one or move to the Outer Hebrides with Carpet to live a more "back to nature" existence.

Wow this thread is moving at pace. @DadDadDad do you have stats on how quickly threads fill up?

I agree that Pip would be my choice to be deaded but I dislike David too. He is so belligerent and actively bullies Josh. Jill is dreadful too. Ruth is ok and Ben is alright in v small doses.

I think maybe Stella is younger than the actress, wasn't she in EastEnders years ago? But her reminiscing to roller skating with Lisa Stanfield playing puts her at least 40 of say she was 9 or 10 in early 90s.

Not a fan of George and glad Emmur has seen the light. I do feel for her having the most horrible things thrown at her. All she wanted was a nice uncomplicated life in a new build semi.

Can someone please remind me of the current state of play re George's 18th birthday gift money from Oliver (several thousand £s, IIRC?)/ reparations to Caroline's damaged bench/ George's 'fundraising' for her charity as recompense for damaging of said bench?

I would love to see some redemption for George. As others have said, there are flashes of decency!

I'm feeling very hypocritical over recent events and that's good. I like it when we are conflicted.

Having thought Pip was a childish nob to Stella after the kiss, I completely had sympathy with her on the roller skating trip. I think she'll confide in Toby )or he will figure it out) and he will be supportive (after a bit of ribbing).

I don't like Helen. I actually think she's quite selfish and mean. But she is really suffering. It is like full on Ron for her again. Rent free in her head as they say.

I wonder if H will feel bad about George getting the sack? And then will someone have to tell her about the video?

It's interesting how different teenagers are treated differently in Archers and real life. 18 is young and impressionable. I'd like to feel a bit more for George and understand a bit more about what's made him this way.

I can only imagine Neil’s reaction to George being sacked from two farms in two or three (?) months.

And given the interconnectedness of the farm owning families, I would not be surprised if he is effectively blacklisted from Brookfield and Home Farm as well. And LL.

I’m sure Oliver will continue to think he’s great though.

I thought last night's episode was outstanding. Absolutely brilliant. Fantastic acting from Emmur... deafened by the sound of chickens coming home to roost! Who's going to stick with George now, Susan and Neil have seen through him and now his Mum...

Who's going to stick with George now, Susan and Neil have seen through him and now his Mum...

The Carters may have got his number but good old Clarrie and that ‘chip off the old block’ Eddie are still in his corner for now IIRC. And his Dad. It’s clever how the SLs are peeling back the layers on this one by one…

Longtime lurker, but not commented before. It's interesting to read the different ways people came to The Archers. I grew up in an Archers household with Mum listening every Sunday morning whilst prepping the Sunday roast, and we kids knew better than to interrupt Mum during that hour. I wasn't really interested until I was living abroad and one day managed to get radio 4 via long wave, that familiar tune came over the airwaves and I suddenly felt terribly homesick for those Sunday mornings and my family, and was hooked from then on.

@stilldumdedumming I also remember Pip being born and how put out Elizabeth was that David and Ruth named her after Phil, thereby denying her the opportunity to use the name for any of her and Nigel's future progeny. She was properly miffed. Still haven't forgiven Vanessa Whitburn for killing off Nigel, stupid, stupid decision.

I agree with others about the actor playing Pip, all the weird noises and pauses and strange way of speaking, it's really annoying.

Ah yes, the days of Elizabeth being miffed. Remember the whole farm ownership drama?

Neil may have seen through George, but he will still do his best for him, meet up with him to give him grandfatherly advice etc etc. Susan, too.

I didn't realise the Pip/Phil connection until now. I suppose it's obvious now I think sbout it. I came to TA around 1994 introduced by DP who is now just an occasional listener whilst I am a confessed addict!

I do remember Sunday mornings as a child however with the omnibus addition on whilst my mum prepared the roasties, Yorkshire puddings etc. Followed by Alistair Cooke's Letter from America, I think?

Just caught up. As the mother of a teenage son I have sympathy for Emma but also think she's so stupid. I have been talking to my son about misogyny, Andrew tate, sexism etc for years. It seems to have only just occurred to her now she has a fully fledged adult misogynist son that it might be worth having these discussions and being alive to the likelihood (some would say certainty) that her son will absorb some misogynist messages from the media...
not absolving ed or will from this at all, but putting myself in her shoes.

Well done Emma. And well Done for calling it what it is, misogyny, not some generalised teenage arseholery.

Tom will have to tell Helen why he’s sacked George won’t he? Being as 10 minutes before he was advocating for him.

Yeah good point. In normal life he’d probably move away but in the archers who knows…

I thought last night’s episode masterfully brought together his well established misogyny but also digital video making skills. That video was creepy to listen to. Maybe if he’s taken it down he’ll still be employable as a freelance digital marketing sort in future.

Followed by Alistair Cooke's Letter from America, I think?

Oh my … Such a wave of nostalgia!

Can’t remember the exact order of programmes on Sunday mornings, but I remember lazing on the floor of my parents’ bedroom, tea and toast, the Sunday Times, Nova, New Society. And Tom Forrest. Those were the loveliest of times …

Tom will have to tell Helen why he’s sacked George won’t he? Being as 10 minutes before he was advocating for him.

Ha!

Yes. That was brilliantly written.

Deserves countless BOOPS.

Did George post it on the bridge farm site?

There are now so many people who can’t or don’t want to tell other people what they know about the latest twist in the George situation, or won’t believe the George situation - it’s really racking up the tension. Tom won’t want to tell Helen, the Grundies won't want bountiful Oliver to know, Tom must tell Natasha and his parents but they’ll want to shield Helen; Clarrie and Eddie will try to defend George….on and on it goes.

I agree with others about the actor playing Pip, all the weird noises and pauses and strange way of speaking, it's really annoying

The previous actress was hard to listen to as well ('Jooooooooooood!') but current Pip makes me want to chuck things at the radio. She’s now started doing this weird humming thing when other people are talking 🙇‍♀️