Archers thread #159: Sad news as 2023 draws to a close - RIP Ian Pepperell (Roy Tucker). Discuss The Archers here.

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Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

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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.)

We start this thread with the very sad news that Ian Pepperell, who played Roy Tucker from 1995 without a break, has died at the age of 53. There's a lovely tribute to him in this article from Jeremy Howe, the current Editor. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/23/the-archers-actor-ian-pepperell-dies-aged-53-roy-archer-eastenders

Graham Blockey, who played Robert Snell, died just over a year ago, also far too young (66). https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/much-loved-surrey-gp-archers-25524449 As yet, Robert survives in Ambridge.

I do hope they don't re-cast Robert, but it might work for Roy, I suppose, after a suitable interval. They've re-cast Tony, Tom, Kate, Pip, Clarrie and Emma, mostly successfully. I still wish Tom and Pip hadn't been re-cast. New Tom is a good actor but so was Old Tom.

Meanwhile, several very elderly members of the cast survive, and long may that continue, although not necessarily on air. I think most of us would say that the time has come for Jill to become a silent character, following the precedent of Peggy and Christine.

So! Christmas next week - will it be the best Christmas ever at either Brookfield or The Stables, or both? Then it's 2024. What does the New Year hold for The Archers? Over to you!

David also killed a badger at a time when there was huge concern badgers were spreading TB to dairy cows but were a protected species so farmers couldn't kill them (something like that, anyway). Matt Crawford happened to see David taking the corpse out of his boot on the way to dig a hole somewhere to the side of a road. I suppose this is just about plausible as a farmer wouldn't want an infected animal buried on his own land. I have a vague memory that Matt and David had had some sort of run in so Matt was delighted to be able to dob David in to the police and he was fined. The only killing for which he has a criminal conviction, IIRC.

Wasn't that at the time at which David had told Matt that he wanted a clause in a bill of sale that any planning permission on the land Matt was trying to buy "for a paddock to keep his horse" would mean Matt had to pay him more for it. So Matt (who had planned to build a large house on it) wanted revenge on David.

Nice to hear a mention of John - they haven’t forgotten everything then! I guess this time of year has been quite eventful over the years

and team brillian was also a nice scene

how much drink driving happening?

That whole episode had me thinking something bad is going to happen to Tony for some reason

Peggy having already moved to The Laurels being part of the episode seemed more important than Dead John being glorified (he wasn't a sweetie, he was a rather nasty, sexually incontinent young man who treated his parents like dirt while sponging off them), and I wouldn't like to guess how much drink driving may have happened but most of the people we heard live a short stagger from The Bull anyway.

Whatever John was like he was still Tony’s son and it’s nice to hear it acknowledged that these events stretch far

peggy moved fast! Please don’t let Harry buy the lodge. That really would be a red flag!

The reason John died was that he had manufactured a row with Tony and driven off in a snit – in Tony's vintage tractor because John had not been arsed to do the repairs on the one he'd been supposed to repair days earlier but not bothered to get round to. The vintage Fergie didn't have a cabin protection cage so when John drove it carelessly and tipped it over, he was crushed.

(Pat told Tony that he had killed their son by having that row, for which I still find it hard to forgive her. It was an absolutely horrible thing to say to him; and she didn't say it at the time, it was weeks later, so it wasn't when she was still in shock.)

I’m concerned about Kate diving into the cream tea at the Laurels. Has she forgotten she’s vegan?

"Only when it suits her, dear."

as Peggy very nearly put it when the angry Kate exclaimed "I'm her mother!" about Phoebe, when Kate was on one of her ten-days-per-three-years stopovers in Ambridge from RSA.

Kate being vegan does not apply when she is stealing Brian's booze or scoffing Adam's chocolates or getting sloshed in a wine-bar and having her car-keys confiscated by her teenage daughter when she says she will drive home now.

Provincial fashion shows are a contradiction in terms.

Could Brian and Lillian find consolation in each other's arms?

@WombatCowgirl Now there's a thought!

Oh no - that would be a step too far ----- many steps too far actually.

I too thought that about Brian and Lillian but I dont think that would happen. Lillian is not very much like Jenny Darling even though they were sisters, and Lilian is Brians SIL which though its not, would seem a bit incestuous to me.
Also Lilian has just got back with Justin.

Lilian and Brian have known each other for ages. Enjoying a night out together at the pub surely needn’t mean romance is about to blossom!

The jumble sale fashion show is going to be dreadful, isn’t it? Joelene will fancy herself as a model and force Fallon to join her on the catwalk. Other models will include poor Joy and Susan. And then Paul will want to join in. Why does anyone think these things are ever a good idea?!?

Happy New Year everyone.

I've been away for a bit but I'm back now.

I would like to see a return to some of the land storylines as well, particularly the succession at Home Farm and what happens when the Lodge is sold (Hazel will buy it won't she).

I'd also like some loose ends tied up,

What's happening with Berrow? Didn't they have six months to sort things out?

Who is the mystery investor at GG and why is it Oliver taking the financial hit not them?

Who bought the Grange Farm land and why?

Is the Bull out of financial dire straits or does the cost of living crisis not stretch to Ambridge?

I'd like to see a good, well thought out storyline on the rural housing crisis, but unfortunately that's probably going to fall on the Grundys again. I can't believe bucolic Ambridge hasn't been touched by the 2nd home/Air bnb plague

I've heard quite enough of Helen, Ian and Pip so would be happy for them to be parked for a while.

Also, can anyone remind me what Will does for a living now? He must be skint now he doesn't have the rental from 1 The Green.

Regarding grey gables - Oliver just paid his proportionate share. The partners were at the party in the polytunnel so it can only be assumed their identity is irrelevant and it is only adil that was to be introduced

agree re will - he was living rent free and collecting rent which must have made up. Good portion of his income. His job is delivering bridge farm boxes

I don't think he was living rent free with his parents, it was mentioned that it would be harder to find the rent money without his contribution. It is true that they're paying below market rent and he was going in with the other adults in some unspecified proportion, whereas now he's solely responsible (along with whatever George puts in).

Happy new year everyone!

That's evil!

Ha ha!! Knew Tony going to the tip was going to led to something!! Although I’m impressed it was open at all on a Sunday evening - let alone nye.

brian is becoming very zen in his old age.

is Phoebe really only 25? Feels longer than that!!

well Rochelle is clearly going to be a key Joy SL

Brian and Joy…?

I like the idea of Brian and Joy she was very kind after Jenny died. I'm not sure where the storyline is going with Mick though.

Brian's having a bit of a personality transplant atm isn't he?

Yes, the Rochelle thing has been lying dormant for quite a while now. I sense we are building towards something at last.

First thing I thought of re Kate's belongings erroneously chucked by Tony was to get down to the recycling place ASAP. There'd always be chance, even a slim one that she could get them back. I hope she does. I've warmed to Kate a lot more in the last year or so.

Brian and Joy?.....I can't see it personally, just not each other's types.

I can't see why Brian has to be paired off with anyone, myself. He's eighty and the woman he loved for more than forty years died less than a year ago; he might just want to be left alone for a bit. Some widowers don't remarry.