Archers thread #168: Near to the Maddening Crowd? 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 to hear more of Harrison's strange little moaning noises, 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.)

Thanks to @OverArmour for the title suggestion!

Over to you.

I would happily see Debbie recast

I agree that it's useful to be able to distinguish who's speaking, and in the absence of Bert or Joe announcing 'Hello, David Archer', a distinctive voice is ideal. However, it's been so many years since we heard Debbie that I have no idea what she sounded like anymore. I certainly wouldn't be able to pick her out of a voice lineup.

Yes, I find Harry very tedious.

Especially with all his insights from being sober about 2 minutes.

Just popping on to say Justin is such a slimy bastard and I can't wait for Alice to prove him wrong!

I'd love Debbie to return to Ambridge or at least be more present, visiting from time to time. The Aldridge family need someone more level headed about. We don't hear anything about her life, just busy busy with top management job. Agree it would be hard to hear a different voice if they recast though. Does anyone know when she last made an appearance?

Debbie last made an appearance for her mother’s funeral, and turned down Brian’s offer of the managership of Home Farm. She also thought he was carrying on with Joy.

I'm pretty sure we didn't actually hear her voice then, though. The other characters spoke about her being there, but she was silent.

Yes, that's what I'm wondering...did we actually hear her then or have I filled in her voice myself 😆

You’re right that Debbie didn’t utter on air at the funeral, @Fink . She was allegedly there, though, as you say, and apologised on air for having rushed off straight after it in the 19 03 23 episode, then goes on as I half-remembered above. It’s my opinion that dere Debbie is a thundering see-you-next-Tuesday, but this seems to be a minority view.

I suspect the current Editor is trying to streamline things, possibly because of budget constraints [sounds off of loud hammering as Gasp demolishes fourth wall again].

But the actors are only paid per appearance, so having fewer characters isn't necessarily going to save them anything. I could understand that they couldn't afford Tamsin Grieg these days, who probably has few gaps in her schedule anyway (but many of us would definitely notice if they tried to rejoice her.) But they can't all be on megabucks.

I’m not a fan of Debbie but I would prefer she had been recast and not gone off to Hungary. I’m not really sure why Tamsin greig has sainted status tbh

Her voice is instantly recognisable, which makes her a good thing.

So is Justin’s…

If they got rid of all the characters various listeners (including me) never want to hear from again, and all the storylines involving those characters, it would be reduced to the theme tune and they'd be able to fit it into the continuity announcer's slot.

I’m not really sure why Tamsin greig has sainted status tbh

I’m not either - her delivery is very halting and jerky (similar to Pip’s) and I thought she was guilty of over-acting when she was back which was a surprise given how she is lauded on here. Debbie behaved very badly towards Brian when she was back and I was very glad to see her packed off back to Hungary. I would be happy for a recast and a realignment of the balance of power amongst the Aldridge girls.

Does that mean I'm not the only listener who always disliked Debbie's voice?

I'd still like her and the rest of them to be called 'Archer' mind you - they're not universally likeable but they're a much more interesting family that the Brookfield dopes.

There have been rare occasions when I've mistaken Justin for Oliver and vice versa - likewise with Harrison and Alan.

Speaking of …

Tamsin Greig

On today. Although since R4 embarked on self destruction recently its drama output has fallen out of my consciousness - so I may never get round to hearing this.

Well, I wouldn’t have cited Burns or Alan precisely because they.do sound far too similar at first [whatever the auditory equivalent of ‘glance’ is]. Don’t think I’ve ever confused Oliver with anyone else - but how would I know for sure, eh?

In contrast, my version of TA would be hours long, but with only a brief theme tune. The Sunday omnibus would have the usual weekday Barwick Green.
Debbie is a favourite character and I love hearing her voice.

Keira, IMO, will be a mini-me of her mother, but not as bitter. Emma is fairly intelligent, I think, but lacked academic ambition. I'm probably comparing her to Ed.

Poppy will have more of Clarrie in her, and won't be as badly affected by the loss of her mother as her elder half-siblings. I think she'll have a sunnier disposition than her downtrodden grandmother.

Harrison has a Lancashire accent, whereas Alan and Johnny have Yorkshire accents. That they might get confused amazes me as the accents are distinct, but I'm a northener. (I was always a bit puzzled as to why so many people from West Yorkshire lived in Wetherfield, but that's not TA).

My voice does not sound like Monty, Bess or Holly, so don't dare suggest it.
I struggle with Hildarogden and Enasharples, but they are mother and daughter, and largely silent on air.

Woof.

There’s so many SL that have been poorer for the lack of Debbie and as the only reason she doesn’t appear is because Tamsin Greig is too busy/expensive then they should recast

the aldridges are by far the most interesting family and the Aldridge/carter marriage shored that up!

I've come across kids who would do precisely that, just because having the alcohol is more important to them than the taste.

Not sure about the funeral, but we heard her voice fairly extensively around that time arguing with Brian.

I wonder whether our dislike is dependent in part on how well acted they are? And also whether that affects the storylines they have? I don't like either Alice or Helen but don't want them to disappear because the actors are good. I was wondering whether I'd at least grow to tolerate bloody Pip if they replaced Daisy Badger, but then thought about some of her SLs and decided the answer was No. But then I wondered whether they'd ever have contemplated making the likes of Alice go around being worshipped so uncritically by her parents, or proclaiming herself the Only Lesbian In The World, and realised the answer is, probably not.

But why when he has left the party?

I confuse Oliver and Jim. And I confuse Oliver with my RL friend Oliver, which means I probably think better of TA Oliver than I would otherwise.