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!

She was awful. And is clearly being set up as the love interest of whichever of David's sons was wittering on beside her. It washed over me.

Ah good! A public information film! Makes a change from melodrama

So if she’s on a scooter do we think 16? Or do you have to be 17?

It was Ben. I thought she was being played by the same actress as her mum.

All so critical! Excellent public service What To Do If You're Stung By An Invasive Alien Hornet information. It may save your life!

What's wrong with Martha?

Isn’t Martha at nursery all week? Perhaps she’s just tired and doesn’t need exciting activities and just wants some down time?

I don't think she had to take the blame so much as that she had to apologise for suggesting it had been done deliberately.

I was reminded of the polish cleaner, Yolanta's daughter who used to ride a moped. Can't remember her name. I think the mum went out with/or was married to, he who can't be named.

She was Albanian and her name was Ilona.

And she was a carer at the Laurels, not a cleaner. Other than that you’re spot on!

Can’t remember her daughter’s name though.

Rosa.

Her mother'sname was Elona, according to the BBC cast-lists.

Bloody hell, I was looking forward to catching up with tonight's episode but Zanab was awful. If the brief was to be instantly annoying then she nailed it! (she's going to be the next Mrs Archer one day isn't she?😩)

Unrelated to long-time-character newcomers to the village are always objectionable at first, especially if they are female. One or two, like Mrs Antrobus, improve after a while; others, like Lynda or Aunt Laura, mostly don't.

Remember how Joy was disliked as a newcomer?

I still dislike joy

Joy is another example, isn't she. I wasn't thinking about how the listeners feel; I was thinking about the locals in Ambridge. They took Mrs A to their hearts after a bit; I am not at all convinced they all think Lynda is wonderful, no matter how much the editorial team try to foist that line on us.

Joy still grates on me now, although granted she has mellowed and does have a very kind side to her which I like.

I just don't like this format of dropping in a new character in this way. Clearly ignorant and disliking of countryside yet no doubt will fall in love with Ambridge and one of it's residents. It's just a bit of a predictable cliche. And yes agree with previous comments about feisty! Again what a lazy cliche..new young female character, I know, let's make her rude and feisty, how original!

I’m struggling to think of many young female characters that couldn’t be described as ‘feisty’

and do all relationships have to start as hate to love? Why couldn’t she have been horrified at the thought of hitting the dog and then stopped to make sure he was ok etc etc

i also feel Ben is too old for her?

I genuinely have no idea why, but I didn’t hate Zainab or even find her that annoying. Quite liked her winding David up re invasive Asians. And Ben was ok when he was being narky with her, but irritating when he clicked into earnest nurse mode. Obvious meet-cute, and she may lure Josh out of the cereal cupboard for yet another competitive brother love triangle thing 🙄

Exactly, why couldn't she have just been nice? What's wrong with that 🙄
Do we know her age? I was thinking the scooter thing isn't due to being especially young, more something that will be part of her character. Don't tend to get country folk driving about on scooters.

So Mills and Boon - boy meets girl, get off on the wrong foot, dislike each other, misunderstandings, then realise they are made for each other. So predictable.

I thought Azras kids were both described as teens so would make her maximum 20 if she’d had a birthday since then I guess

Agree a real cheap cliche - although it works ok in Pride and Prejudice.

I'm up for a new young love SL in principle but I was hoping Ben and Chelsea would become an item.

Azra's son Khalil was described as a teenager last year by Adil, and her daughter Zainab was older than him (she was in her mother's confidence about the move to Ambridge and he was not yet, when Adil was talking about them) so Zainab might be any age over about sixteen.

Ben is 22.

I thought Ben was older. Maybe they aren’t so far in age. If she’s not at school I wonder what she is doing - maths at felpersham?