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!

Lillian keeps going on about what a handsome boy he is but not sure if anything else has been said

As opposed to a stallion, or as opposed to a mare?

They’ve referred to the horse as “he” throughout.

They definitely said 'he' because I immediately thought pregnancy then realised it couldn't be.

@TottersBlanklyIntoBimboCore I'd completely forgotten that Phoebe had moved to Scotland. I reflected following the sad news about Ian Pepperell a couple of weeks ago that Roy was an increasingly forlorn figure, with what seemed an ideal marriage to Hayley falling apart, his family moving to Brum and the real love of his life Lexi deciding she preferred to go back home to Bulgaria. And his daughter presumably removed from Ambridge long term. Poor chap!

Maybe if the SWs decide to continue with the Roy character he will at last be given a chance of some lasting happiness.

I too envisage a pony on a lead rope incident forthcoming. Maybe Harry will be involved🤔

@KingsleyBorder , as opposed to a gelding. They said 'he'.
A stallion however cute and fluffy would not be a suitable pony for a 2-yr old.

Would someone refer to a horse as 'he' automatically?

Sorry, you’ve lost me. I’m well aware that stallions are not suitable ponies for kids, have been riding all my life. But you asked whether it had been made clear the horse was a gelding, and since everyone had been calling it “he” I assumed you already knew it was a male horse? Hence my asking whether you were wondering if it was a gelding as opposed to a stallion.

Horses are referred to by their actual sex.

@KingsleyBorder , the horse is called Champion which suggests he's male.
If I was told 'Here's Champion' I might assume he was a boy pony, and that because he was a small child's pony that he had been neutered.

Because the pony is short and fluffy, it would not be obvious that he was intact or a pregnant female.

So I might say 'Oh he's a handsome little fellow' without thinking whether he was a she or an unneutered he.

I asked if anyone had actually said gelding.

So I might say 'Oh he's a handsome little fellow' without thinking whether he was a she or an unneutered he.

Yeah, but you do expect an equine vet who has looked the horse over to notice.

Also interesting that “Champion” is a male name.

I do instinctively agree actually but it makes no sense- women who win things are, and always have been, called champions too, there has never been a female equivalent like Championess.

Is it just because Champion the Wonder Horse was a male?

@KingsleyBorder , pets are sometimes names a masculine name but end up having babies. Normally hamsters or rabbits, which aren't so easily sexed.

Champion seems a masculine name for a horse, but it could be used for a female horse I suppose. (Someone posted about a horse called Hoof Hearted on another thread )

The Would someone refer to a horse as 'he' automatically? was another way of saying 'Would someone use he for a horse and not it or she if they had not established its sex?'

Unlike the guinea pigs this animal has had a once over by a vet so unless Jakob has been negligent then the pudgy pony sl must have another conclusion to it than babies

regarding the name - I would have put it as a female name. But then I always assume horses are female. I know absolutely nothing about horses though!

My pets had fairly gender neutral names, but that's probably because they usually have already named, and it's easier to reuse a name if the pet is a new one.

Black Beauty was male.

I’d always say “it” until I’d worked out whether a horse was male or female. But I am quite pedantic, maybe other people might default to “he”. But none of the Archers characters who have spoken about Champion will be in any doubt about his sex.

I’m wondering (again) how far in real life a Lynda would continue to be involved in the life of her step-grandchild Mungo, once her husband (the actual blood relative) was gone interesting question @TottersBlanklyIntoBimboCore. Robert's girls are no longer frequent visitors (or even mentioned) suggesting they are not massively close to their dad. I do think Lynda's physical proximity to Lilian plays in her favour though - a visit to Lilian would naturally bring Mungo back into Lynda's orbit and I feel sure Lilian would encourage this. I love your proximity to an Archer thesis and agree that Kirsty having a child with Erik would bring her more firmly into the fold. I think its unlikely though - how long is it since Kirsty and Erik first got together? He (and she for that matter) hasn't been mentioned for months and Kirsty is not getting any younger. Ian Pepperell's death makes me feel so sad for Kirsty - Roy was like family to her. I liked the two of them together - even though they were never actually together.

Could kirsty possibly be thinking she is going through a menopause though - maybe a little early but I sort of feel she’s the kind of ‘get on with it’ type of person who wouldn’t necessarily be complaining about symptoms/ going to the doctors just because her period had stopped/was late (and maybe no other symptoms…). That said I also know people who have continued to have periods through pregnancy and not recognised a second pregnancy (although I think this storyline is a little too far fetched).

if the pony turns out to be pregnant, for a number of boring and horse knowledge related reasons, that may be the final straw for me. I can’t believe Alice and Lillian (and Shula in the past) are sold as being so experienced, whilst their scripts make them appear totally moronic. They just need a junior helper to explain things to.

I really didn't get the impression of helpless ignorance regarding the pony on the part of Lilian and Alice. Just one of perhaps slight uncertainty with an unfamiliar breed but mainly because it was an animal which had arrived rather unexpectedly as a family-owned pony and therefore for which they had a more personal concern than the animals owned by other people about which they would be more dispassionate.

Jakob happened to be passing and he was called upon to give his opinion. When he said one would normally be able to feel the ribs Lilian replied, "Yes, that's what I thought". Alice then gave her opinion that doubtless it was nothing that a bit of exercise shouldn't resolve. Neither Lilian nor Alice appeared to me to be helpless or lacking knowledge but consulting together and then sensibly bringing their vet into the conversation. But maybe I should listen again as others may have picked up on something I may have missed.

As said upthread, the unforgivable thing was Jakob supposedly having to explain to Chris the farrier about foot problems!

Could kirsty possibly be thinking she is going through a menopause

They’ve done that before, with the appalling Vicky Tucker, for an ‘issue’ story which they then ducked out of. And more recently in reverse, with Kate

I know this is mumsnet, but why must everyone and everything be pregnant? I understand Alan’s looking a bit portlier than usual at the moment. Probably all the mince pies, but is it juuuust possible….?

Not sure I approve of Alan being fat-shamed. Maybe he is on medication or has some illness that affects his metabolism.

I think it’s probably a peril of the job at Xmas time. Lots of visiting and having to sample homemade mince pies etc

Pregnancy is a big part of life though - be it avoiding it, fearing it or being it

rarely in drama is it realistic- especially childbirth

@Bruisername Pregnancy is a big part of life though - be it avoiding it, fearing it or being it
And sometimes totally unexpectedly being so, recalling Ruth's experience a few years ago.

MerryChristmasToYou
She's an Ambridge woman in her 40s who has had sex recently. There's a high probability of pregnancy.

I happened to be looking in the synopses for something else and noticed that Kirsty had sex with Erik in mid-July and hasn't as far as we know seen him since.

Wouldn't a pregnancy have started to show by now, even if she had either gone on having periods or assumed they had stopped because of the menopause?

Did you mean to sound that insensitive?

Eh?