Archers thread #162: ‘This is like talking to Lassie’ – how right you are, Fallon! 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 think cowhide-covered walls are a great idea for a cafe with vegan and vegetarian customers, 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.)

Title comes from one of the better scripted conversations of recent weeks, when Fallon said ”Harrison, this is like talking to Lassie! Just TELL ME”. So true of so many conversations on TA where you just want to shake them and yell 'Just TELL US, and quickly, so you don't get interrupted before you can say the important bit', but of course they rarely do and days pass before the conversation resumes. @TheBell suggested putting it in the title, so thanks for that.

@OverArmour had a great if more obscure idea, paying tribute to a Peter Greenaway film: The Policeman, The Drunk, The Vet and his Lover. That will do very well as a starting point for the new thread. Will Alistair leave? Will Denise tell John she's leaving him? Will Paul learn to be less noisy? Do any of us care?

I do care a little about Harrison and Fallon. I want Harrison to get a grip and realise he needs a paying job more than the captaincy of the cricket team. I don't care at all about Harry but I think he's been brought in purely as a plot device so with any luck we can all forget about him very soon.

Over to you!

Yes @WitcheryDivine I agree. Poor old Stella sounding distinctly teed off... unsurprisingly! I suspect FR is a spoilt little article 🤣

Even if FR were the most entrancing child in the world - what Stella actually wants is romantic dates and exotic foreign holidays. Child free.

In fact the SW deserves a BOOP for so exactly portraying the Brookfield heiress’s long-standing sense of entitlement; I really can’t remember the last time Pip centred Stella’s needs or desires in her event planning or domestic demands. I’m looking forward to the most spectacular break up.

Brilliant observation - I completely agree.

This too! It will be interesting to see what happens to the World's First Lesbian after the break up.

Well Stella will be painted as a wicked witch and Ruth will be gunning for her

maybe the sw are giving us an educational piece on why you shouldn’t introduce a new partner into family life so quickly

Yes and then poor little FR will be losing a second parental figure in a year (or so, can’t remember when Fairbrother shipped out).

Pip is a dick, that’s been masterfully written this week. Having Hannah on hand to eye roll at it the other day was a nice touch.

It's the total self-obsession and the low level emotional blackmail. "oh pleeeeeeeeeeeeease come this weekend, FR wants you there!"

FR doesn't give a rat's ass 😆

i cant bear the gravellyness of Justin and Miranda’s voices Isn’t that just older voices? Part of the territory along with grey hair, wrinkles and crepey skin?

I didn’t hear last night’s episode. Don’t know whether hearing Stella will overcome my reluctance to hear Pip and let me go to Sounds.

I was momentarily stunned at Pip’s nonchalant admission that she basically wanted Stella around at the Easter Egg hunt/decoration because she can’t manage Rosie on her own. Then I remembered it’s Pip, so standard awful behaviour. But honestly. Yes, 5 year olds are hard work but I imagine there would be plenty to keep Rosie occupied at the Lower Loxley event and at that age it is easier to distract them with games or little tasks.

It is very annoying when parents try to foist their children onto their friends. The worst habit one of my friends had was putting her then 2 year old on the phone to ‘speak’ to me whenever I called her for a chat.

No don’t think so. I can’t think of any other old person on TA or in real life who has a voice that irritates me in that way!

More and more clear what a poor decision Stella made getting together with pip. Not only is pip hithertoo heterosexual, which situation Stella has been burnt by before, she has a small child and her mum is Stella's friend. Not to mention pip is a terrible twat. Stella will rue the day!

@Eastie77Returns aargh I have a friend who is much the same, except she has the toddler video call me. Toddler then stares blankly at the camera, while both of us wonder how quickly we can get out of this situation without mortally offending friend.

hahah @MiltonNorthern she will

No it's the voice of a lifelong smoker.

Nick Robinson's voice, grrr. I know he had throat cancer, and recovered, but his throaty voice is awful to listen to, and he drops it at the end of sentences so you can't hear what he's saying, and I can't bear to turn the radio up to catch the end. There are so many actors who speak 'in their throats' these days, whatever happened to diction training in drama school?

Ah, that's good. At least I don't have that to look forward to.

Does Lilian have the same voice?

Jim's got a gravelly voice but we love him so don't mind.

I was momentarily stunned at Pip’s nonchalant admission that she basically wanted Stella around at the Easter Egg hunt/decoration because she can’t manage Rosie on her own.

Especially when she's got hundreds of Rosie's grandparents/uncles/cousins around (and possibly schoolfriends, but...) some of whom might even already be planning to go to LoLo.

Then she could spend 1 on 1 time with her girlfriend rather telling her her main use is as a nurserymaid.

Jim and Lillian do have a slight gravel but listening to them doesn’t give me a sore throat

I thought pip was suggesting Stella stay for some sexy time. I can see Stella running a mile

I can see Stella definitely cooling on being Rosie’s second mum…..

I find Nick Robinson's voice fine. He did sound sore when he started on the Today programme. He's a lot clearer than his babbling colleague.

I think it’s a bit unkind commenting on Nick Robinson voice when he’s had throat cancer.

Pip and Stella were never going to last.Its a set up for a few yeas in the future ..”Remember that time when Pip was a lesbian?”

Brookfield is going to need better heirs. We can’t just have Fat Rosie in line to inherit. I guess it’s still early days for Ben but how old is Josh now?

Quite a dull visit to Ambridge but I’ll take it. Better than Markie and the Pirate (low benchmark these days). Hannah is so lugubrious. Hearing her attempt to flirt was pretty painful. Chris is barely going to notice her even after spending an hour in the nets with her. She is bound to end up being a lesbian with Stella.

When I had similar treatment the priority was to remove the cancer, and the doctors said next priority was to try and save the voice. Nick is bloody lucky, as was I.

I don’t mind Nick Robinson voice - I don’t think it sounds gravelly and cough inducing like Justin and Miranda.

So anything happen? Worth a catch up listen or should o leave it to luck tomorrow