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. Lovely Robert actor died and has been recast as this awful bloke. Hope he mellows 😢

I don't think that's fair. The Real Robert Snell was so lovely, maybe the editor wanted to modify the character a little, and New Robert has not had time to 'settle in' yet.

I don't mind the new Robert sounding different, but I do mind him having a completely different personality.

I hope that in due course we get a New Roy.
I'm willing to give NRS a chance.

I'll hand it to New Tony, he did a good job taking over from Old Tony.

I miss the 3 actors who have passed away. May they rest in peace.

Yes I definitely want a new Roy

Jennydarling was irreplaceable. Loved her and Brine together, and the way she said 'Oh Kate!' and 'Oh Alice'

I remember Chris playing Jesus, you're right @RegimentalSturgeon and the audience perving over how fit the crucified Christ was, it was in bad taste as well as disrespectful; whether you believe he was the son of God or not, he was a man who was tortured to death.

On another point, I wonder if sleuth Robert might become a magistrate? That might allow him some interesting storylines.

The actor Graham Blockey died a couple of years ago. We have NuRobert now

On another point, I wonder if sleuth Robert might become a magistrate? That might allow him some interesting storylines.

Or he might be accidentally killed whilst pursuing his ill-advised sleuthing …

He’s too old. You have to be under 65 to apply.

@Helenloveslee4eva
Thanks, I see he’s only been in for a couple of weeks that makes sense.
When you said old Robert died a couple of years back I wondered how I could have missed the change for that long!

Don’t like his new personality though.

Will there be an FASD storyline in the future do we think?

Will there be an FASD storyline in the future do we think?

I do hope not. It would be a harrowing listen. And I don't want Alice punished for her illness.

Do we know when Harrison's hearing will be?

When he and Fallon take over the pub, will Kenton & Jolene live there or move into Woodbine Cottage?

Kenton and Jolene will sail the seven seas in her pirate ship

How it is completely different? It seemed to me the SL around insisting on supporting Lynda for the cricket club thing was entirely consistent. Ditto being a bit tetchy with the B&B guests.

Logically there should be, given how Alice was caning it whilst in the early stages of pregnancy. But, given that so far Marthurr appears to be developing entirely normally it looks like the Ambridge health fairy has cast her spell again.

I was thinking about this too. I thought there maybe some hints that Martha was a bit different. I would love them to shine a light on this.

There's a good chance that Martha would be just fine, according to an article I read in the Lancet. One in 23 heavy-drinkers (two or more drinks per day, or five to six drinks per occasion) will have a child with FAS.

Martha seems to be just fine. It is Rosie who seems to be developing problems.

Is it just me or do others feel that the current SWs don't actually like TA or have any respect for its audience? I have been listening my whole life but I am seriously wondering whether to continue because of what feels like an attitude of "any old rubbish will do for those idiots" from the SWs.

I totally disagree.
Although your comments are similar to those used throughout the history of Archer's theads.
Anyone else remember TASWAMA or the archer's scriptwriters are misogynistic arseholes?

@MollyButton , you have a point but the re-writing of history, e.g. Miranda and Justin dining at Home Farm, is insulting to long term listeners like me.

The various changes of Editor must have had an effect. Once Vanessa Whitburn announced she was retiring, it did rather feel as if she was going through the motions for the last few months, understandably, as she couldn't set any big storylines off or introduce significant new characters, given that the new Editor might want to go in a different direction. Sean O'Connor did the job for three years, turned it into the Rob and Helen show (to an extent, anyway) and then left for TV. Hugh Kennair-Jones came and went in under two years. There were interim editors between all of those people and again after HKJ left. Now we have Jeremy Howe, who's been in post nearly 6 years, but has had to contend with Covid, the loss/retirement of many stalwarts in the cast and stringent budget cuts at the BBC.

I really would like to see a far bigger emphasis on farming storylines and the human stories that arises naturally out of farming and village life.

But they did dine - once! And Miranda has always seemed the type to rewrite history to suit herself.
I remember it as being very awkward especially as Jenny knew Lilian was or had been sleeping with Justin.

And actually I think the scriptwriting has been good - everyone complaining at how badly Harry was acted, when he really was supposed to seem smarmy.

OK. I generally like it but didn't like the Markie My Words bit.

No, I'm not keen on that storyline. I've decided to ignore it as best I can. It doesn't make sense.

Harry's delivery was extremely odd, and a conscious choice given that's not how the actor normally speaks in real life or when he was in Call the Midwife. I've wondered about opiate/painkiller addiction given he's supposed to have had a major injury and might have chronic pain.