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!

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime Thank you, I had forgotten that he had moved away.

Wasn’t explained. And it had seemed odd when so much going on at Grey Gables. We’d commented on it.

Thanks for the new thread. So sad to read of Ian Pepperell’s death.

I liked Roy.

Most of the Archers comedy scenes fall flat but the one where Roy is at the rewilding camp site with a new date and it goes horribly wrong with Kate , Phoebe and a herd of cows turning up made me laugh.

Happy Christmas @AngryBirdsNoMore - so glad this thread brings you some joy. It is a lovely, friendly place. I always enjoy reading your posts - DH calls MN my imaginary friends, but on threads like this one it really does feel like we all know each other. 🥂🫖 and Merry Christmas to everyone for making it such a nice place to hang out. Very sad to hear about Ian/Roy - it feels a bit like the final nail in the GG coffin and cutting the last link to the Tuckers (wasn’t Moike a tree surgeon back in the day?)

Merry Christmas @AngryBirdsNoMore and everyone on the best thread on Mumsnet. The Archers threads are the only ones that actually make me LOL on MN these days.

BOOP for Ed for finally seeing the reality of his mother's life and coming up with a plan to make a better one for him and Emma. Will he sell his sheep to fund the training?

Very sad to hear about Roy/Ian.

He had a distinctive voice. I’d like to think that his character will live on with a new actor, rather than a new middle-class-Toby type character brought in.

I think Oliver might step in and fund Ed's training and equipment out of entirely unnecessary guilt.

Merry Christmas, everybody! Hope you're all having the kind of Christmas day you want.

Merry Christmas everyone

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g
I think Oliver might step in and fund Ed's training and equipment out of entirely unnecessary guilt.

Since he has already given Ed one business to run, which Ed managed to run into the ground and had to sell, and then allowed Ed to continue to rent at a low rental fifty acres of land which had been necessary for that business to use on whatever scheme took Ed's fancy after that, and housed him free for a year and then at a much reduced rent for a further eight years, I really don't see why Oliver should feel any particular obligation to Ed!

I do think that Oliver has done more than enough for the Grundy family.

He has. However, there's no logic in Oliver's dealings with the Grundy clan.

I was extremely surprised when he went on championing the whole family after Caroline's death, given that she had strongly objected to them renting Grange Farm and had hated the way they ruined her possessions. I expected that he would remember that, but apparently not.

Sprout flavoured crisps?😝

A huge farmhouse kitchen with an Aga and no other cooker for use in the summer? Get away! Except we know that Brookfield has had both for decades; that has been on air. They also have access to the Wedding Barn across the yard which we know has a kitchen attached to it. That whole SL sucked swamp through a straw.

My first thoughts too...

Clutching at straws here - all gas powered, and some problem with the gas supply?

I agree with the incredulous supposition that Brookfield would have been totally helpless in the partially cooked turkey drama. Where was David? Where was Josh? Where was Joy? Surely if there had been such a disastrous turn of events their strident voices would have been heard.

And the Jill/Stella issue just quietly laid to rest in a single sentence. And an entirely predictable response from Alice to Chris's daft idea of a pony for Martha. Plus to top it all - what a surprise - Alistair is caught out needing assistance with an emergency surgery and Denise is on hand and he calls her beautiful (cringe).

Sorry, SWs not the most outstanding episode I've ever heard.

Denise is starting to get on my nerves. She has Paul's "exuberance."

Bloody Alice! Its all about her!
I thought the pony was a lovely idea its not as though Alice lives in a tower block of flats with only a balcony, she works at a stable and has if I remember had her own horse there. Chris is a lovely dad and he deserves better than Alice, I for one hope they dont get back together. It seems that Alice caused all this trouble when she was drinking but she has forgotten all about that.
If it wasnt for Martha I dont think amy of Chris's family would have anything to do with her especially Susan.
Denise is annoying I think thats where Paul gets it from.
Im sorry that we wont hear from Roy anymore. RIP.
I think kirsty might see Erick now and again but she has had so little air time we wouldnt know anyway. I too hope she has a baby.
Happy New Year everyone. 🎉🥂

I am a long time lurker on this thread and a long time archers fan (although I always listen to the omnibus, hence the lurking, always a few days behind!)

but I had to come on when I read the news about Roy/ Ian. So sad. He was so young, and Roy was such a sympathetic character. I have been hoping for a happy ending for him ever since he imploded his life with Elizabeth.

tbh I’ve never really got over Nigel’s death! And Jenny’s still feels very raw. I’m glad that Robert is still alive in the archers universe, but every time Linda talks about him I feel so sad.

I am now relying wholly on Kirsty and Ardil to get together to restore some cosy stability to ambridge. Presume Ardil’s sister will move into Brian and Jenny’s old cottage next door to Kirsty (and Roy) and the much trailed burgeoning romance can actually begin?

It's not the same for me without Jenny but we carry on listening😄
Had the dog swallowed a Christmas sock?!

@Alwaysdieting Chris buying the pony wasn’t the problem, it was not telling Alice. He was massively taking the piss there. He just assumed he could stable it at The Stables, and do you think he’ll be going there daily to groom and kick out? Or will he expect Alice or one of the staff to do it? Is he going to pay for livery? What a clod he is.

howdyho
Had the dog swallowed a Christmas sock?!

That was what they said.