Archers thread #172: Come on, Clive! Spill the beans and put us all out of our misery. 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 Clive sounds deeply misunderstood, 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/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.)

Fete over, cricket season over - can the Flower and Produce show be far behind? I don't think I've heard a mention of it this year. Have I not been paying attention?

In any real village, preparations for the Christmas show would already be under way, but not in Ambridge, of course. I am probably in a minority of one in regretting this.

With any luck, though, by Christmas this incredibly protracted tale of Alice, George and the crash will be behind us at last. Do we think Clive's really gone? I don't believe it. We won't be rid of him that easily. Will he go to the police himself? Will he attempt to blackmail his family or extort money from the Aldridges in return for information that would secure Alice's acquittal? Do we care? I find I don't really, unfortunately. I did enjoy hearing Clive for those few brief exchanges but I've had enough now. Unrelieved nastiness is not really what I want from TA.

Over to you!

Thanks Gasp

Thank you!

If Clive spills any beans he won't get a job in Fallon's service station vegan café. Such a shame, as he'll probably be applying when the ads go out - plus maybe offering to give yoga demos to rival Spiritual Home's!

Thanks!

I struggled to remember anything much of last night's episode, which tells me something.

I was waiting for Joy to offer to buy George a fruit cider to celebrate, or him to ask for one, and for that to get her cogs whirring…

In any real village, preparations for the Christmas show would already be under way, but not in Ambridge, of course. I am probably in a minority of one in regretting this.

Complaints that, in the real world, preparations for the Christmas am-dram extravaganza would have been under way for months are a seasonal feature of Archers discussion forums, but I don’t think that necessarily correlates to an appetite for yet more of the ghastly Snell-woman bullying her neighbours and spouting self-aggrandising BS.

Thanks for the new thread, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

iratepirate
I was waiting for Joy to offer to buy George a fruit cider to celebrate, or him to ask for one, and for that to get her cogs whirring…

But he dislikes fruit cider and made that very plain to her; he bought it only because it was on offer and was the only alcohol he had enough money for, and he said this more than once (after trying to buy something else on Susan's tab and on tick). So why would she offer it to him, or why would he ask for it?

Yes, alright…I’ll rephrase that I was hoping that when she was offering celebratory drinks, something would spark a memory.

I’d like the end of this nonsense storyline. I couldn’t care less about Clive or the fact that someone’s found a “potted history of Ambridge” book in the store cupboard somewhere.

Thank you @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

Re the Flower & Produce Show, ISTR that Azra inherited Ardil's allotment, and under Lynda's supervision while clearing the overgrowth, discovered some hidden garlic, which Lynda declared was worthy of a prize at the show, and she should on no account eat them...

I was too! I was expecting something along the lines of "Did you want fruit cider like last time, George?", having remembered he bought it but not remembered the specifics as to why.

Oh and thank you for the new thread, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g!

I also remember that.

It seems strange to have the Village Fête and then the F&P so soon after.

Of course, in most villages, the Fête would always be the 2nd Saturday in July or whatever, to keep it in line with other local villages (you wouldn't want it the same day as Penny Hassett) ans other events (there doesn't seem to be a Borsetshire Agricultural Show, but they'd want to avoid that, too.) Regional marquee companies would be aware of all this, and bands etc all get booked up ages I advance. There would definitely not be any late-in-the-day date switching, unless it was something like the death of a monarch.

Thanks as always @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g (< for the F&P show!)

Thank you for the new thread.

Let's hope we reach the end of the Bridge of Doom saga before the end of this thread.

Gosh, I’m behind! Thank you, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g!

Thinking about it, I’m not sure I mind that actual Archers are now only bit parts in The Unruly Horrobins Show.

Just checking in.

There are some local country shows. Wasn't it at one of them that Meg met Bartleby? And another one where Henry met Rob?

I agree that the village fête should be on a fixed date every year, but it's in line with everything Lynda organises that it's done at the last minute yet implausibly wonderful.

Thank you, Gaspode.

yes, garlic update please SWs

Thanks for the thread. I’m losing the will to live, this had potential to be a great storyline but it’s gone on too long and the introduction of Clive has made it seem farcical. Only this thread keeps me interested!

What a downer Brad is. It's not Mia's fault he doesn't the initiative to go away for university.

Stupid boy …

Wow- talk about slow radio. That was mind-numbingly dull

I hope Brad is reconsidering the decision to go to Felpersham. Could he go on a gap year and reapply? Surely he’d walk into almost any uni with his grades. He just comes across as so wet and weak, you want to shake him. Moving away could be the making of him.

Re. the Aldridge favouritism debate. I always thought Debbie was Brian’s favourite and Ruari eventually became Jenny’s preferred child. At any rate I recall her saying he was the best of all her children. It was quite bizarre to hear Kate say Brian loves Alice more than her.

Brad came as wet, weak, drippy and sour faced and resentful that Mia isn't as wet, weak and drippy as he is.