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

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

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

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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!

I don’t feel like Brian is interested in a new partner either. He’s had more than an exciting enough love life for 3 men and he’s through the initial phase of his grief and loneliness. Living with Kate will also mean he’s less lonely.

so why didn’t Joy go to micks brother? It felt like there was something there too

How old is Joy? Rochelle seems an unusual name for that age group. I wonder what the back story is.

Clearly no one in Ambridge is nosy enough to do a spot of googling or FB stalking. I’d have Rochelle’s address, workplace and children’s names by now.

The 🔮 spoke of this some time ago.

Also, Kate's clothes will no doubt turn up at the fashion show.

I agree, in real life, that it’s daft to be pairing Brian up - but I do reckon that’s what will happen. Maybe even because of past. It’s his MO! Maybe Brian will unlock the Rochelle story as he and Joy spend more time together?

Haven't been to the tip for ages, but whenever I have, they wouldn't let you chuck an unsorted bag - it all has to go into the relevant different bins, and has for years - and that's from more than one local authority. Plus the whole being open late on a Sunday just before a bank holiday and no slot booking etc.

When I was a little girl we lived on the upstairs floor of a house, and my grandparents lived downstairs. My Nan and my mum were both great knitters and sewers, and I had a bagful of doll's clothes they had made, along with others, in the landing cupboard. There was also a ragbag in there for old clothes and cloths and whatnot. Every month the rag and bone man came round the street with his horse and cart, ringing his bell and shouting 'any rags and bones'. You've guessed it, my Nan gave him the wrong bag and all the lovely dollie's clothes went on the back of his cart. One devastated child 🤭
Kate's bin bags reminded me of that LOL

Rochelle is an ‘orrible name, like calling a baby Courgette.

Just listening on catch-up to tonight's episode

Re Rochelle - does she exist ? or maybe even more sadly do you think she has died only Joy keeps her alive by buying reindeer pajamas that she said were Rochelle's only they still had the tag on them ?

Interesting theory. Would tie in with Joy being so understanding of bens breakdown if she had also been through one.

Today I worried the same @BeaLola

I think the truth about Joy is going to be played out this year and Brian will be involved somehow in it all coming to light.

The other two incidental comments tonight -

Why did she not go with Mick ?

If it were "Rochelle's" in-laws turn then why was Rochelle and family not with Joy in Ambridge last year ?

Having just read another MN thread perhaps another explanation re Rochelle is that she is not in contact with Joy for a specific reason and Joy keeps buying gifts at birthdays and Christmas hoping that the situation will change ?

Maybe she’s not in contact with Joy because Joy did something awful that will shock the village to the core when they find out

Our local tip was open on NYE. Black bin liners full of mixed household rubbish can be handed in at one of the bays.

I surmised on this thread somewhere in the recent past that Joy wished to avoid being asked about Rochelle if she went to Mick's brother (IIRC) for Christmas. And hence stayed at home.

I agree, in real life, that it’s daft to be pairing Brian up - but I do reckon that’s what will happen

New widowers get a lot of attention- whether they want it or not. It would have been very realistic to have several ladies buzzing round the new cottage, filling his freezer and ‘helping’ him get settled in.

complete with Glasto wristband! good call

When my grandma died, my grandad started going to a few things on at the club (they lived near sheltered housing for oldies). One of them was an "exercise" class (he was in his 80s by then) and one thing they did was stand (or sit on a chair) in a circle and throw a ball to someone else in the circle. 2 men and a whole bunch of women. And he stopped going because they'd all keep throwing the ball to him, bringing him tea and biscuits and so on. He got fed up with the attention.

I'm enjoying having stories about which to speculate at the moment. I agree with you @BeaLola that Rochelle is dead but Joy has constructed a fantasy where she is alive. She seemed knowledgeable about psychosis when Ben had his breakdown. She might have told Mick she was having Christmas at Rochelle's house. I also wondered if Henry's doggedly independent birthday meal out will be stalked by Miles for instance, or a not-dead Rob.

Has it ever been mentioned why joy is living in ambridge?

No - but it has been much speculated about on here, most popular theory is that she is in a police protection scheme!
I don't think it will be Brian who uncovers Joy's secret, but Kate. She was the one grilling Joy yesterday and I'm guessing she might be the closest to Rochelle's age. Kate is pretty much estranged from her son in SA and has been variously estranged from all her children at some point or another. I'm guessing she will sense a kindred spirit and Joy's kindness to her yesterday has thrown them into each other's orbit.
I also agree that her missing clothes will turn up at the fashion show.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/02/charlotte-higgins-on-the-archers-please-god-let-the-dog-that-ate-a-sock-lead-to-new-romance

I like to think she was conceived in La Rochelle, France, which is very nice.

Ours will. No inspection of bags.

when I need to pack things I want to keep in a bin bag, I use a recycling bag instead, then it’s more likely to be looked at before throwing out (and the recycling bags are more transparent. But I guess not many people have access to those.

When we moved house, the removal company helpfully loaded up our black bag of rubbish and brought it up to the new house

I like to think she was conceived in La Rochelle, France, which is very nice.
Nah, probably Ars-en-Ré.

Rochelle is dead but Joy has constructed a fantasy where she is alive.

Or Rochelle is in some kind of institution/home, having been sectioned or unable to live independently due to MH issues?