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!

Went over my head. I just saw the opening credits...
Brookside Theme tune 80s Version - Bing video

@fitofthegiggles - I meant much missed Hayley! I love Hayley, especially when Lucy Davies played her.

And yes, lovely Nigel, and I loved Phil and Marjorie Antrobus and Tim-and-Janet, and Auntie Satya.

Oops, wrong link
Brookside Opening Credits 1992 - Bing video

Did Hayley and Roy have a child together? Is Mike still alive? How old would Bethany be?

@Bruisername , Abbie (Abigail).
Bethany is 10. Abbie is 15.

Mike is still alive and was on fairly recently. Can't remember if he was on air.

Oh yes Abbie - similar age to Brad and Mia?

I was sad to see Mike go

Yes he was heard in a couple of episodes. He was avoiding Vicki who had put him on a diet due on Doctor's advice.

I think it is such a shame they wrote our the tuckers and would love to hear more about how they are getting on.

Excuse my brain if I’ve got characters mixed up (not good at discerning them, plus catching up on holiday after wine) but are we going to see a comedy moment with rex after pip, Tom after stella and stella and pip…..well, ahem…..

And apologies further to @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g whose posts I very much enjoy and view as all knowing in archers-land, but Helen being a ‘stepmother’ to Lees’ girls did make me 😤. Has she actually ever interacted with them beyond refusing to have them live with her?

@Shouldbehoovering , Toby not Tom, but yes.
She didn't refuse to have Lee's daughters live with her. She suggested it IIRC.

Wow, I may have to have that put on a badge!

I think Lee's girls have stayed at Beechwood many weekends and sometimes for longer in school holidays. That's about as far as Helen's stepmotherly activities have stretched.

I'd quite welcome a farce-like set up like that. Did you mean Toby? Tom is married to Natasha.

Oh is Rex still after pip!

I cannot STAND Jill. Is it just me?!

Yes Tony! Hopeless with names (and faces but irrelevant here!).

She didn't refuse to have Lee's daughters live with her. She suggested it IIRC.

oh bless your innocence. She didn’t want to be lumbered with them (and who would want two teenage girls? Let alone two who took a strong dislike to one on first meeting, which Evie and Mabel very sensibly did, even chucking the chocolate she bought them in the bin) and made damned sure Lee decided San Fran was a wonderful opportunity for them.

I like most of the characters, they are like people you know (and ourselves!), with all shades of goodness and some darkness. Loved Nelson and Nigel, and dear old Walter Gabriel, Lynda, Neil. As for the really awful ones, like George, without them it would be quite boring!
am now in mourning for my image of Stella as a willowy, dark haired sporty type, having just discovered she is played by Lucy Speed, who was little dumpy Natalie in Eastenders many moons ago (haven’t watched that since Den was resurrected LOL).

Did Helen not suggest it and then withdraw the idea. Remember a conversation between her and her dad (maybe parents, won’t go there with names!) where she said she couldn’t cope with them living with her.

not sure my brain works 100%, can remember my mundane activity whilst listening to that conversation much more clearly than the actual conversation. I mainly lurk here to clarify what is going on and love the abstract paths the conversations takes.

@AngryBirdsNoMore I LOATHE her. Her querulous interfering sets my teeth on edge. She behaved horrifically to Ben before Christmas and I was cheering Ruth on when she gave her a dressing down!

I’m laughing away here at everyone's pet hates. I like Jim and I’m fond of Brad, and I have a bit of a soft spot for Tracy because I think she’s had a life of pretty relentless grinding hard work for no thanks. Oh, and Neil. Steady, dependable Neil, who just sensibly gets on with things. There’s an awful lot to be said for that.

Top of the loathe stakes: Pip (obvs), Kate (obvs), Lilian, Justin. And at the risk of being drummed off the thread, Nigel left me cold too.

@FizzingAda , I don't watch Eastenders, but wasn't she in The Bill? I imagine her as shortish and blonde. Slim but not with a particularly small or large frame.

Oh thank goodness. I feel like she is a sainted figure here. I think she’s horrible and I can’t stand her voice. It sounds so damp. Awful.

Tracy is probably my favourite character. Neil, Brad, Ben and Chelsea are also favourites as just generally good people who will help others when they need it (like Chelsea lending a dress to Denise).

Tom is with Jill in my most hated characters pile, with Pip and Kate. Pip and Tom’s voices are annoying as well as their being obnoxious.

I am also a fan of Alan, which I think is not a popular opinion here…?

On Helen: I agree she’s not a nice person, very selfish and self involved. What I object to on the thread is the idea that ‘she had it coming’ or that her suffering is enjoyable to listen to. It really isn’t enjoyable listening to an ordinary person suffer, in my opinion

Agree on Helen angrybirdsnomore

alan seems to me to be a stereotypical vicar!

I loved Brian and Jenny Darling. And I loved Robert. Sob.
I have a real soft spot for Lynda and used to like Freddy when he was a reprobate, but find him quite boring as a character now.