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!

Ok, everyone. Lottie. What's the SWs' plan for her?

She's not been introduced to us as a "proper" character unlike, say, Azra. But after first appearing seemingly just to have a chat to Pip, she's reappeared three times (I think) and hasn't been necessary for any of these. She had a plot-free night out with some of the younger ones (Ben?), could perfectly well have been a silent plot device for the boring hen do and Adam and Ian could have done their playground countering without her.

So ... why is she there?

Birthday caterpillar cake for Ian? I don’t know why I expected him to have a more refined palate.

re WhatsApp. I have recently had reason to create a new group chat for people whose numbers I neither have, nor have any interest in holding. I created the group, copied the link to the chat and then circulated that to those who have asked to join, via the email addresses they signed up with.
Ian could have easily done that and just had Ms Teacher send the link via whatever school app, email etc they use to communicate to parents.

re Quoting posts. I find it v difficult to do that via my phone, which is how I catch up with this thread. I also don’t often have the time nor inclination to redact the quote to the section I reply to; I am more than happy for those not agreeable with that approach to scroll past.

I also thought of Rochelle during the Susan/Joy exchange. I think either she’s in prison or she’s dead. Given the way this SL has been dealt with, I think I’d prefer for it to stay unknown.

Very glad the cider bottle has come to fruition.

I found the Mia / Brad break up very realistic and can understand sensible Brad coming to that conclusion.

Peach roulade sounded like it wasn’t a regular item of stock.
The village shop business model intrigues me. How do they end up with random odds and ends of stock; ie fruit cider on clearance. Does that have a short shelf life and a slow turnover?

@iratepirate , he loves Angel Delight too so although he might have a chef's palate he can appreciate junk food.

Re:quoting, the quoted post is usually quite long, so I try to just answer the relevant bit, like in the previous sentence,

@JanetheObscure , to be a 'school mum' friend for Ian and Pip.
I believe she is a single mother and we have some singletons in Ambridge.

A friend used to work at the factory which made Angel Delight. Having heard him talk about it, the thought of it makes me feel a bit queasy.

Birthday caterpillar cake for Ian

Where was Helen? Will she be cross Lottie was invited and she wasn't?.

@TottersBlanklyIntoThePhysicGarden East-West Rail ,(if it ever happens) will be too late for you!

Birthday caterpillar cake for Ian? I don’t know why I expected him to have a more refined palate.

Maybe because he’s a very talented fine dining chef!

Caterpillar cake tastes awful, and Ian is too old to have had it as a kid.

If Jack has ambitions to lead an anti-litter campaign in the village, why does Joy have to supervise him rather than his mother?

Helen's got cheese to watch.

I can’t imagine Ian loves the caterpillar cake but it’s obviously a sweet tradition they are in for xander

How old is Jack?

I’d guess at around 8yo @Bruisername but I’m sure Asking will be along with the facts.

Quite, @HotCrossBunplease

When I drive across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire there have been signs for the groundwork for several years. EWR if you are in the area, East-West Rail.

They said on air on Monday that Jack is eight. He was born (I checked) on 21st May, 2016, and since Helen's waters breaking was the cliffhanger on Friday 20th, we were told on Sunday evening that it was Saturday morning.

He’s a weird kid

Why does nobody in Ambridge travel anywhere by train? There must be commuters living in the village. Plenty of stories they could be involved in.

I’m still scarred from that embarrassing riff on Brief Encounter with Lilian and ?Paul, so I’m happy to never have another train scene! @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

Nawal Gadalla, who wrote that episode, was terrifically proud of it, in print.

I had initially pegged Lottie down as a single white female style stalker who suddenly turned up and took over Pip's life, still holding out hope

I think pip is the needier, clingier one and more likely to go swf!!

I was in Buckinghamshire the other day but the works I saw were probably HS2Nowhere.

Sounds like George is going in the Am (continuity announcer)

@JanetheObscure Lottie's narrative purpose as a school mum friend to make Adam feel jealous and excluded from Ian's new world.

Balloon's gone up. Phew. At last.

Thank goodness it’s coming out because it’s getting too much. At least Neil and Susan are bringing some common sense to the conversation. Feel bad for Emma. It’s so hard seeing your child scared and alone even if it was due to their own actions

where was Poppy with will away?