Archers thread #170: The scriptwriters have cast a Paul on proceedings! 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 Drunk Alistair, 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 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radioaddicts/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/radioaddicts/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. I was tempted to try some sort of complex riff on chocolate names, given @PedantScorner's lightbulb moment - Paul's sister is Cara Mack! - and all the nonsense in last night's episode about coffee creams, but I couldn't be bothered, beyond thinking we must all be Cadbury's Fruit and Nutcases for listening at the moment. Let's hope the SWs take a walk along Quality Street or we'll have to put a Bounty on their heads!

And over to you ...

Emma will be weighing that against her obvious dislike of Alice..

I can't imagine what Emma thinks she can do to keep Alice
out of prison and no one any the wiser as to her son's crimes!

She’s not thinking though, is she - she’s just desperate to keep George calm and comfort him. I was quite worried he was going to hurt her when he tried to get the phone off her.

Maybe she thinks if she can persuade people to write very forgiving victim impact statements or something? I've no idea how much sway those things have, but she might be thinking it's possible.

If they re-run Emma scurrying round the village asking everyone for a massive favour, I shall probably scream.

Yes agree. She was trying to buy herself time

Excellent episode. Top acting, but have to give it to George.

I wonder if he'll end up in gaol so the actor can go off and do other things, like Rauraaridh or Debbie.

It's Ruairí, a fine Gaeilge name. Making fun of Irish spellings could be seen as xenophobia.

Making fun of Irish spellings could be seen as xenophobia.

Myles na gCopaleen did it frequently (when it was neither popular nor profitable). And quite right too.

And can you be entirely sure it isn’t the widespread inability here and elsewhere, including the TA prod team, to spell Ruairí correctly, that isn’t being made fun of?

[Sniff!] Rauraaridh doesn't even look like Gaeilge.

No but it does look like a misspelling (possibly even accidentally) of Ruairidh or Ruaraidh. There are multiple different spellings.

I appreciate that's different to Ruairi, but if Ruaraidh is the name someone knows, they might not know Ruairi is correct for the character.

I've written so many variations of that name now it doesn't even look like a word 😂 (and it's my brother's name).

It looks like a deliberate misspelling to me [Sniff]
I wouldn't have commented otherwise.

My toes have not fully uncurled from the last time <shudders>

Well! Well!! That was rather tremendous wasn’t it? I’ve got a horrible feeling George will think there’s only one way out of this, and will confess all in a suicide note.

I’ve realised that when I think of Alice, I picture Zara Tindall (sp?).

Yes I know.

It's been common on these threads to have fun with the names of characters. e.g. Nob/Knob/Emmurr, etc.

I think it was supposed to be all instinctive to comfort her distraught son. She was very rationale before the phone and will be again the next day I think.

That was good - I was out last night and have only just listened. There was a slightly scary bit when I was afraid the SWs would go over the top and get George to strangle Em to stop her telling his secret (and I didn't like the implied threat to Poppy) but all was well.

dum de dum de dum de dum

Great episode.
I think Emma's conscience will hold strong.
I predict a Sunday cliffhanger.

Do you take that as a threat to Poppy? I have never taken it to like that when someone says ‘but you swore on soandsos life’

yes there was a bit where I thought the doormat was going to be for hiding Emma’s body. That really would be jumping the shark

do we know if the actor does a lot outside the archers?

Sorry it’s Keira not poppy

to me that was more highlighting that he’s still a child

Great episode last night.

@TherapistInATabard , yes, me too.
@MrsLyndaSnellMBE , I agee.
@echt , the comparison doesn't work for me.

a bit where I thought the doormat was going to be for hiding Emma’s body

😂😂😂

That was a great episode. I’m actually excited about the next one for the first time in months!

They need a George thought to maintain the Grundy wheeler dealer stories. He’s juxtaposed with Brad in the same way as Ed and Will.

(love the Alice/Zara - it’s all those ponies! Although Alice is still dark haired in my head)

Well they confirmed some of the points around the cider and him drinking

did he really only buy one small bottle of cider? I assumed he had bought a 4 pack or something