Archers thread #166: Choppy waters in Ambridge! Look out for the red flags and 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 love to be married to Harrison, 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.)

Another thread started in great haste, mid-packing! Over to you.

I listened to the John Finnemore thing, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g - and was surprised to find it required more concentration than I’d anticipated. I was multi-tasking so probably didn’t get the full benefit, but it seemed very detailed and - grown up. Much more high brow than TA!

Anita Rani is often on TV - regularly on Countryfile and the One Show. That's her in the black dress. I sometimes catch a bit of Countryfile and find her very personable, but not really a heavyweight interviewer/presenter. I rarely listen to WH and I doubt that will change any time soon now Emma Barnett has left, so no idea how she does there.

Anita Anand is married to the science writer Simon Singh, I've just discovered. Wikipedia says she does TV presenting as well as radio, but not anything I've seen. Familiar R4 voice, though. I can't stand Any Answers so can't comment on that, but she's OK on PM. She's the one in the blue top.

Yes she’s ok on PM

she isn’t the inane Anita who doesn’t listen to the answers and just rote reads her questions

Nuala McGovern frequently mispronounces words or stumbles so much it's as though she's reading the script for the first time. She is appalling and I can't believe she was given the gig after her attempts at maternity cover. Anita Rani is not much better. I, too, long for a proper journalist.

Any Answers is Anita Anand. All the As. on R4 now doing PM.

Anita Rani is the 'Oh [venerable WH guest]. you are so beautiful, your outfit is stunning, ooh I love your shoes'
(Me: Well that's helpful isn't it. It's radio and I want to know why VWHG is on and I don't give a flying flapjack what she looks like.)

Well, at least the question of whether Fallon's dad is still at the Bull has been answered!

Aha … Is Impecunious Jason stealing Casey Meat to sell on the side? One way to fund a ski trip.

Is he about to plan a heist on LL?

I don’t want Freddie hurt!

It certainly sounds that way. And given the way TA often seem to link two stories together, I wonder whether the mention of Marky this evening wasn't accidental and he's involved higher up the stolen meat chain.

I hope Jason doesn't feed Freddie into the sausage machine.

Anita Anand is one of the presenters of the Empire Podcast , with William Dalrymple. It's very good - the combination of posh Scot with a family tree bristling with imperialists and London woman with all her family roots in India works well. Her very genteel presentation style and her astute observations are a good mix.

Topical insert about bread ale

So some meat rustling going on. Seems like a remarkably high tech operation for what sounds like it should be a bit more focused on people management! I don’t think any business is going to receive an external order and not check it - controls and processes and all that joy.

I guess we are hearing Jason because he’s fundamental to the upcoming SL. Clearly easily bribed. Maybe it’s Markie who is in control of all that.

Is Lillian contractually obliged to do that laugh a certain number of times a week?

A nice change not to have only bridge-engendered storylines tonight!

I’m already mildly looking forward to Jason’s reaction when he finds out Who Freddie Is.

(It must be quite difficult for the poor boy if he feels obliged to keep his identity a secret out in the world. LL and teenage incarceration. Complicated.)

Would anyone not know who Freddie was? I’m from a very similar community and if you didn’t know someone else would tell you quick enough.

I missed that. What was the answer and why?

Jolene referenced a new barman being a bit slow but I thought Wayne worked in the kitchen anyway, not behind the bar?

She also said Wayne had missed some
meat from their delivery recently to Vince.

The new barman is presumably in the post Chelsea turned down.

That was excruciating . I don't know who has the more irritating voice - Fagash Lil or ole pirate Jolene. They're painful to listen to.

They're both quite irritating, but preferable to the bland dullness of (say) Elizabeth and Shula. And bloody Kenton!

That’s it! I didn’t think I was quite right!

It was awful. I haven't had a near death experience or a miscarriage and I found that upsetting. I'm also entirely unconvinced by it.

Larkin came up with those last two lines and wanted something to hang them on.

I'm thinking the iffy meats orders are an employee selling on the side. Possibly ski-trip for the kids man?

I also agree with @UnintentionalArcher about the rubbishy re-writing of Harrison.

The 🔮 says that Jason is a red herring but will be unjustly accused.

I too share other posters' despair at the current crop of WH presenters.

Agree on both counts. Jason too obvious.

Will it be Burger Bill?

Freddie will show his true lack of understanding of Jason by accusing him

if Jason is a delivery driver it would be far more likely his routes are more severely impacted? Surely the meat is packed and sealed in boxes before it goes to be loaded