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!

@KingsleyBorder , You said I was suggesting topical insert for something that was not, in fact, topical.
I didn't say you were suggesting topical insert for something that was not, in fact, topical.

I don't think there should be a topical insert. The story has been around for a long time

Okaaay.

@KingsleyBorder ,I don't think there should be a topical insert. The story has been around for a long time
does not say you were suggesting topical insert for something that was not, in fact, topical.

@MerryChristmasToYou @KingsleyBorder that’s enough now.

I didn't read Mere's comment as taking a swipe at anyone Merry’s comment, did you mean?

Spoilsport.

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
[passes combatants rolled-up copies of the Radio Times, observing mildly that, while it might not be the action of a sportswoman, exactly, it is possible to conceal an empty beer bottle in the centre, which livens things up no end]

The Real Duke went out one day
To shoot with several people, one
Of whom had never used a gun.
This gentleman (a Mr. Meyer
Of Rabley Abbey, Rutlandshire),
As he was scrambling through the brake,
Discharged his weapon by mistake,
And plugged about an ounce of lead
Piff-bang into his Grace's Head —
Who naturally fell down dead.
His heir, Lord Ugly, roared, "You Brute!
Take that to teach you how to shoot!"
Whereat he volleyed, left and right;
But being somewhat short of sight,
His right-hand barrel only got
The second heir, Lord Poddleplot;
The while the left-hand charge (or choke)
Accounted for another bloke,
Who stood with an astounded air
Bewildered by the whole affair
— And was the third remaining heir.

I feel very like the third remaining heir: I am bewildered.

Deleted to avoid getting involved in the ding dong. I responded to a comment which I thought was general and not aimed at anyone.

@funnelfan , I'd like to be able to post without having someone accuse me of something I didn't say. I couldn't leave "and I’ve followed it myself for years actually, did you mean to sound so patronising?" unanswered when I feel it was uncalled for.

This isn’t aibu.

@funnelfan , I'm well aware that it's not aibu? I can read. Did you mean to sound so patronising?

swat, swat, BIFF! swipe, WHAM! ...ZAP! My RT's all battered

Yes, I did, for which many apologies. Are we in a post-Christmas reaction or something? Is it the freezing weather? Tempers seem a little frayed.

Perhaps we will have a stunningly wonderful episode of The Archers tonight to cheer us all up!
[glances over at Spoilers thread]
[sighs]

I come to this thread to get away from the teenage squabbling at home!

i’m not very hopeful gaspode but will persevere a little longer

This sounds spot on!
It also means it would be folly for the BBC to allow Susan to comment realistically, although I'm sure she's up in arms now after the prog. I would imagine BBC lawyers would argue against mentioning the subject on TA at all.

With all the references to rain in recent episodes, I wondered whether they'd put those in as very topical inserts. But perhaps that was just a lucky guess on the part of the SWs.

Tempers seem a little frayed.
Am I supposed to leave "did you mean to sound so patronising?" unanswered when I feel it was uncalled for?

I made a post based on thinking that the BBC 'would not go there' regarding commenting on the issue on TA. I did not deserve the response I got.

The Radio 4 programme The Great Post Office Scandal was excellent IMO.

[glances over at Spoilers thread]
[sighs]

Is that not itself a spoiler?

Well, it's how I usually react, so I think I can get away with it!

Of course you're OK to answer. But there comes a point, when there's been enough to-and-fro-ing between the same two posters, that I roll my eyes at anything either of them posts, and it certainly doesn't contribute to my thinking that either of them are in the right. In usenet days, there'd have been a clamour of of "please can you take this to email?"

Oh Denise you're being a proper fucking bitch just stop it already! 🙄

Also agree that Alastare's WoahWoahWoahWooah was way too over the top!

I thought he was falling off a very high stepladder and bringing the could shelving unit down on himself

I'm finding the way Denise says Alistair really grating. As is their flirting - cringe. surely having people who have turned out because they are a friend rather than wanting to do it is disappointing as well? Poor John.

Why would Natasha put their money into Henrys trust fund and not her own kids? They all seem to live on a different planet financially. How much money could they make on 10 acres? Helens going to hate it of course

on the plus side, no Henry and Helen tonight but unfortunately their SL still clearly the main event

And just when you think the SL couldn't get any more stupid, it suddenly does. And no, Helen won't like it.

Helen won't like it, but for once she'll be right, it's a stupid idea. How can a couple in Tomntash's situation (who are probably already in debt because of Natasha's credit cards, though that hasn't been mentioned for ages) afford to plough money into a small scale farm where a) they won't get to keep the profit and b) the profit will be impossible to measure anyway because they intend to use the land to graze cattle as part of a larger project in the whole business, not a stand-alone enterprise?! And they think that it's a brilliant idea which will benefit both boys ... when Natasha came home to find Tom dozing I half thought it must be a gas leak which had messed with both their minds making him drowsy!

I've been looking forward to Tom and Natasha messing up running the shop for ages.

Not this rubbish.