Archers thread #173: The Fall of the House of Grundy? 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 wish we were hearing more of Pip, 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.)

I chose the thread title to echo one I used three years ago, which is here if anyone fancies a trip down Memory Lane: www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4320618--Archers-thread-130-The-Fall-of-the-House-of-Aldridge-Discuss-The-Archers-here. That was the thread where I caused all sorts of confusion at the start by not starting it before the old thread filled up, but others stepped in, fortunately.

At that point I see Ruairi was heading off to London to start his degree, which he has now finished, with none of us any the wiser about what he studied or where. Perhaps this will finally be mentioned now he's graduating.

And now, over to you!

I can never quite decide how realistic I want it to be. It would be good if they were sound on the actual law, but sometimes it would be difficult dramatically to follow real life procedural timelines. That would be endlessly, boringly drawn out. Maybe IRL if the police were having their arse handed to them by the CPS it would be quick, but somehow I doubt it.

Same goes for illnesses - they seem to go from diagnosis to death fairly quickly (Rob, Siobhan), but sometimes can park a character for a long time, like Jack Woolley and his dementia.

While I can forgive ridiculously short prep times for am dram etc, it's beyond irritating when they can't get basics right: eg the tallest sunflower. Especially when it involves people acting out of character.

BTW, when is Ian going to suffer PTA burnout?

I suspect the PTA will suffer Ian burnout first.

😆😆

Babylon ha ha.
I think that Alice should be done for being drunk in her car with the keys. She could have woken anytime and driven,even 6 m9nth ban maybe, but that dosnt excuse George, 5 O have him bang to rights.
I think Emma had the same letter if we go by the cop out SWs.
I hope Eddie sr does somthing that gets him into real trouble, he is so annoying with all his get rich quick ideas that never pan out and seem to cost him more in the long run and blames everybody else but himself.
I think George will get probation and carnt be allowed to live with either parent so he gos to live and help out the nice lady who brought Bartleby( cant remember her name, sorry!).
Will they let out Phillip on early release, that would make a good up to date story line, we would at least hear more from lovely kind Kirsty then.

I was talking to friends recently who were saying it’s now routine for trials to be listed in 2926… 🙈

@harriethoyle I do hope that's a typo!

No rush then😀

I mean of course 2026. The justice system is not, yet, THAT fucked 🤣🙈

lol @OnlyFrench i just noticed 🤣

I do the same typo. For me, it’s because the 9 on an iPad is got by flicking down on the o, whereas for 0 you flick down on p. May be numerical order but feel counterintuitive

it does feel a bit like Eddie is being written to give a certain narrative. He does have a point that the lawyer should be trying to get in mitigations to try and reduce the sentence

Why assume she isn't?

I don't think that that works, because George fully admitted it to Will also. Emma should get credit for finally telling the cops.

If neither she nor Will are charged, I look forward to hearing Harrison's reaction.

Of course she will. The plea in mitigation will be given at sentencing. One difficulty in constructing a plea in mitigation is that George, despite Eddie thinking the Grundys are hard done by, comes from a stable, supportive and loving family.

Oh yes @ClockwiseHoneysuckle im positively rubbing my hands with glee in anticipation of Harrison’s mewling!! Funny how someone so desperate for a beybey doesn’t recognise the intolerable conflict of loyalty Will and Emmur were placed in, by dint of their parenthood…

Well, if ‘not getting into Oxford or Cambridge’ can be considered worthy of comment, I’m pretty sure ‘biological and step parents’ complicated interconnected sex lives before and soon after I was born’ will be highly persuasive. George will be feather-bedded at Meg’s (@Devilsadvocat ) in time to carve a pumpkin in Harrison’s likeness.

Well true - although Will wasn’t very forthcoming on that. I would hope she is!!

perhaps Harrison’s reaction will be what loses him his job?

although it would be delicious if Will and Emma aren’t charged but during Emma’s verbal diarrhoea she mentioned Harrison attacking George and that’s what gets him sacked. Hoist by his own petard!!

I couldn’t believe the Oxbridge excuse - surely that shows what a small minded and petty person he is

there is so much the lawyer could use for George but I suspect a dysfunctional childhood counts against you when you are working class (and for you when you are a higher class)

you don't happen to have a link for that do you?
very keen to find new ways to use up apples!

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2003/nov/02/foodanddrink.shopping

It's below the main recipe.

oooh thank you
I may just make this tonight
at 7pm maybe

I know that in reality, the decision not to prosecute Will and Emma is a plot-driven one made by the SW. But if you are look at it from a prosecutor's point of view, they've got a clear case with George - his original witness statement and subsequent confession leave no doubt. On the other hand, for Will and Emma prosecution are going to have to rely on George's testimony (or Emma's admission?) of what he told her on one date and that the delay was a deliberate attempt on their part to obstruct justice - that sounds harder to prove, but I'm not a lawyer.

Of course, we might be about to get the surprise that unlike Will, Emma is to be prosecuted, then we'll know it's all about the SW's desire for drama! That said, I was moved by the drama of Emma and Ed trying to keep it together when it's all falling apart.

I think it's pretty well written. Of course the lawyer is (or should be!) working on mitigation for George, but that Will wouldn't feel it was his place to badger her and wouldn't dream of calling to discuss it sounds spot on to me. He has always (as far back as I remember) looked up to authority figures and not felt able to question their judgment when it goes outside his own area of expertise. He is written as an old fashioned yokel who knows his place.

there is so much the lawyer could use for George but I suspect a dysfunctional childhood counts against you when you are working class (and for you when you are a higher class)

Not necessarily - a friend had an awful family background (involving the traumatic death of a parent) and it counted for nothing, despite him coming from an otherwise stable and solidly middle class family.

Maybe it only helps when you are a celeb

... or better still, the child of a celeb.