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.

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 like more of Gagriculture, 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.)

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!

Absolutely @LillianGish!

Miles runs the family farm and has a family

is there even enough land to farm?

So I don’t see why miles would be moving to ambridge. Bruce would want nothing to do with it so would only leave miles.

hopefully they are going to develop some holiday cottages and leave it to Jack

The land bought as a burial plot for Rob? And left in trust for Jack ?

Im fed up with the Titchener story line, im fed up with Helen. I thought after Rob died that would be it. Im Not the least bit interested in Henry either. Its sad but thats all the Archers is at the moment, just tiny bits of everybody else and all Helen. Its too much.

They'll build a gaudy and loud Rob theme park with all of his estate money.

The Titchners will think it's Wonderful Disney Magic but it's actually just a series of ever increasingly awful houses of horror

Wonder when they’ll break ground on the Rob Titchener Memorial Hall, incorporating the Jack Titchener Annex, future HQ of the Borsetshire Men’s Rights Action?

@Alwaysdieting Yes I agree. I'm really considering giving up listening for now.

For me the whole ongoing Helen saga which TA has basically become has simply become boring. It's like when I'm reading a book I find uninteresting and realise I'm just not that bothered about finishing it and I don't open it again.

I've never particularly liked the character of Helen. For all that she's had some tough times she is basically a selfish person and I'm not very sympathetic towards her and frankly just not that interested or emotionally invested in "what happens next?" in her life.

There is a host of other Ambridge people about whom potentially interesting new storylines could be developed. Yet the SWs don't seem to want to consider that and here we are yet again with more - and this time very silly - developments in the life of the blessed Helen.

The idea of a Rob theme park just made me laugh out loud.

Minor question, but why couldn't Jolene serve alcohol to Brad? He's 18.

Brad was born in 2006, so he's 18 this year. I think he has a summer birthday.

same, I'm not listening until Helen and this rubbish fades into the background.

Strange that Rob is now being portrayed as a high roller with money for trusts and land etc. He surely wasn’t worth that much when he died. I don’t remember him being particularly affluent and his job was never going to pull in a massive salary. His father is also still alive so no huge inheritance to draw on either.

I agree- I’m bored with the trials and tribulations of Helbel (though I loved the way H brushed Joy’s oblique references to her own traumatic past aside and got the conversation back where she wanted it and focused on her!)

Jolene teaching Trace how to make an alcohol-free mojito is not the light relief I am looking for. Why didn’t we go to the Dower House for supper last night instead of being taken back to the Boring Bull?

I’ll keep listening out of duty but I’m not getting the feeling of escapism I used to get. And I only started listening about 10 years ago so wasn’t even around for the glory days…

No.

That idea that any of the active farmers in Ambridge would be interested in 10 acres was nonsense. It might have been of interest to a working farmer if it bounded the land they were already working and if they could buy it at bare land agricultural value but even then 10 acres is hardly worth bothering about.

i bet the sw thought they were so clever tying in the gg mess with the Helen SL here - I can just imagine them pouring over their storyboards and patting each other on the back for being so clever

I also tuned in expecting a twelfth night party at the Dower House.

#disappointed

Is that a deliberate pun? (Minor question)

Never having bought land, I was puzzled by the surveyor visiting the property after the purchase. Does that mean Miles could have backed out if something had shown up?

I was really hoping for a long break from Helen.

What a load of (chubby little) horse shit!

That idea that any of the active farmers in Ambridge would be interested in 10 acres was nonsense.
The interest in the sale was fine. A relative had a house and paddock on the market recently and there was a lot of local interest.

That's as a house and paddock - different ball game. There was no reason for Brian and Stella or Justin to get so excited about it.

@IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle , the interest was in buying the land without the house. The house is nice but wasn't for sale without the field. The field could probably get PP but the scenic view from the house would be lost.

Any land for sale would generate a lot of local interest and the Grange Farm land IIRC has PP of some sort.

I do this sort of thing for a living. The idea that the active, working farmers would be falling over themselves for 10 acres of agricultural land is as fanciful as the story line about the actual buyer.

Oliver said the land had planning permission (why!!)

Brian wanted it for holiday homes - not farming

atella wanted it for experimenting - is 10 acres enough?

justin just wanted it I think!

I thought the interest in the land was mostly due to the barn. Brian was going to develop it as holiday lets, if I recall correctly and use the pattern ch of land for trials. Lillian had the least likely interest, neither of her ideas made much sense and were just a vehicle for falling out with Justin and Shula.