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!

The kitchen at the Wedding Barn seemed one obvious candidate; there would have been lots of seating as well.

For storytelling purposes would it not have been better for Josh to have been at the stables and for their oven to have broken?

Yes.

But Brookfield would not have stirred a finger to help Josh.

But it's true! And I do frequent the Feminism boards, as I am a believer in human biology

Men are stronger. It's physiology. They remain stronger than women the same age as them all through their lives.

I had quite good upper body strength in my late 30s and early 40s, because I had done gradually increasing weight training - otherwise known as having 2 DCs when I was 34 and 38 respectively. Once they were too big to lift up, my upper body strength reduced considerably.

Now I am considerably older and even weaker However, I was never at any time in my life fit enough or strong enough to become a tree surgeon, even had I wanted to...

This is why I questioned Emma working on her own so needing her own wood chipper. I know a female arborist, a slip of a thing and like all others who work with trees, she is never ever on her own. It's always teamwork.

No appropriate topical insert on the current E.coli outbreak? Perhaps it’s insufficiently fluffy for the season - but in reality it would surely be all Bridge Farm were talking about. And Grey Gables. And the Tea Room. And the shop and pub. Awful for the suppliers and the consumers.

E. coli outbreak in Britain linked to artisan cheese

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cabaf70e-8cd3-4018-890c-e5cc65b4a9ce?shareToken=b8d80bb22e42c13c026fe4836df0279a

@TottersBlanklyIntoBimboCore This is true. Although I think most probably the Christmas episodes aired when this news broke were probably written weeks ago and script writers, actors etc are off on their own Christmas break currently so hot topical news is missed. Maybe some mention in the early new year?

I can't remember when we last had a topical insert, i.e. a last-minute change to an episode to insert a reference to a huge news story which even the residents of Ambridge would have heard about. The Queen's death?

Anyway. Denise and Alistair - messy. 'AIBU to transfer back to my old job? It means working literally side by side with my old boss, which would be great as we always got on very well - but actually a bit too well, if I'm honest. He's single, I'm not, but my 'D'H has a hobby that takes up a huge amount of his time and he doesn't seem to notice if I'm there or not these days, whereas my boss frequently tells me I'm great, and how lovely my hair is, and things like that. Oh, another thing I should perhaps mention is that our DS works there as well and doesn't know how bad things have got between me and his Dad... '

I think I know how this would go on the Relationships board here.

I definitely don’t expect SWs to predict unanticipated real life events.

It’s just that this particular ongoing event makes all the ridiculously over-complicated shenanigans filling the 12 and a half minutes seem crass and stupid. Or at least unsatisfactory.

Perfect illustration of my complaint, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g.

I cannot imagine how the SWs have arrived at this point in veterinary life. It’s beyond ridiculous.

Does Ed still have the tractor which was a previous business idea? How much did it cost and how much is it worth?

At what point any did the Texels become a paying hobby rather than a profitable business?

I suppose there is a fine line to be drawn between escapism into the world of Ambridge and reality. But as I recall it doesn't always follow logically eg World Cup football matches and the Eurovision Song contest are included and even - I think - some unexpected real-life news items seem to be written in at the last moment whilst others are not.

Wasn't Ambridge a Covid-free zone during lockdown or am I mis-remembering those strange times?

Sums up my feelings exactly. Thanks for the link to the story in The Times.

Ridiculous to think the current e-coli outbreak in real life would merit a topical insert, especially as the BBC lawyers would never allow it.

I hope the sw don’t use it as inspiration for next years big SL. I don’t think I could bear hearing Helen

i do feel the sw are losing their way a little but then I hear scenes like the Brian/kate one yesterday and am hopeful they can pull back.

the Alastair/denise stuff is just bizarrely done. I know I said a while back that a good affair was in order but this isn’t what I meant! Brians affairs were so good because you heard all the parties involved - including poor Jenny. In this case if the husband turns up he is a total unknown and the injured party is going to be Paul - not sure I can face his reaction.

I hope the sw don’t use it as inspiration for next years big SL. I don’t think I could bear hearing Helen

Haven’t we already had a Dairy contamination SL? So you’ll probably be spared, @Bruisername !

Surprised Emma hadn’t made sure it was paid. There’s a reason why so often the wife does the admin.

Maybe Paul is aware that his parents marriage isn't a good one, and wants to see his mum happy... Maybe Denise's husband won't be heartbroken.
Maybe now Denise and Alistair have both laid their cards on the table, she'll end it with her husband before starting anything properly with Alistair.
He brought her a tomato for her sad sandwich, their fate has been written in the ... the... salad bowl of love.
I enjoyed the Brian and Kate scene too. Maybe Kate is a tomato for his sad sandwich. But a non-romantic one...

He brought her a tomato for her sad sandwich, their fate has been written in the ... the... salad bowl of love.
I enjoyed the Brian and Kate scene too. Maybe Kate is a tomato for his sad sandwich. But a non-romantic one...

Thank you @PuppyPerson That made me laugh out loud! 😂

Does anyone else inwardly groan at the return of Denise? I find her voice extremely irritating. The thought of listening to her and Alistair canoodling is 🤢.

Possibly just me 🤷‍♀️

I feel like she had a personality change. I liked her last time, she was down to Earth, normal, professional - not that we heard much of her, but that was the impression I got anyway. Maybe it’s rose tinted glasses (rose tinted hearing aids?). She got an award for her excellent professional performance and was good enough to be parachuted into a different, struggling practice, and was shy about wearing Chelsea’s bold bright pink evening dress.

The woman who has come back is giggly and - like her on-air son - A Bit Much. And can’t say the name Alastair. She enjoyed staying in basically a student house, including attending a house party of twenty somethings.

Maybe she’ll settle into her stride. I hope so.

Helen would be more likely to be thinking that it had reduced the competition a bit. It wouldn't be her problem, since the cheese in question is from a named dairy that is not hers.

Apologies if this has been already mentioned, but did anyone pick up on Ed saying his protective gloves for tree surgery need replacing? Cue a finger-chopping accident? Hope not!

He's a Grundy. All his equipment for everything will be make-do-and-mend, or bodged in some way.

Wonder if Harry turning up early was also to throw Alice off. He’s inserting himself into her life pretty quickly with the Chris thing etc. Weird to so quickly have a coercive relationship situation after Helen though.