Archers thread #178: Ambridge or Scambridge? 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 fancy Mucky Mick, 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.)

The scars from Scambridge week will take some healing. Most of us felt we were the ones scammed - where was The Archers we know and (very occasionally) love?

Anyway, onwards and - almost certainly not - upwards. Will it be the best Christmas ever in Ambridge? Do we still care? Over to you!

Bruisername
did she drive to the house?

I'm not sure how else she would have got to Ambridge on Christmas Day at lunchtime.

HotCrossBunplease
I think that Rochelle was a victim of domestic abuse who refused to listen to Joy’s concerns about her partner.

She seems resigned to her abuser having their children on Christmas Day. And we have heard he had them on a previous occasion, too. I think after Helen I can do without that particular nightmare.

Yes that’s what I was thinking. It seems really odd

But did you not hear Joy’s reluctance to respond positively when Rochelle said they were with him?

I do agree that it’s a bit repetitive of the Helen storyline though, especially given how close Joy and Helen are.

Why would it be odd for Rochelle to have driven there @Bruisername?

I think it possible for Joy to have disliked Rochelle's partner Benny – or him to have detested Joy! or perhaps Joy to have disliked him because he detested her – without him having abused Rochelle. Even on Mumsnet frightful MILs are a more common complaint, I suspect, than abusive spouses.

I don’t know - just seems odd for her to jump in her car and decide to visit for the first time. And if she’s just out of prison/hospital would be surprised if she had a car

not sure I would be keen to leave my kids with adult called Benny

Is this not going to be a dot cotton situation where Rochelle is the complete opposite of how Joy tries to portray herself

Eh? What's wrong with being called Benny?

Benny from Crossroads, Benny Hill

I’ve never known an adult Ben go by Benny who hasn’t been an unpleasant person. Probably just my issue - unless the sw know the same Bens as me!!!

It's possible Benny and Rochelle split up a long time ago and Joy's strained relationship with Rochelle is nothing to do with him. It could have been over any number of things, including a later partner Joy thought was bad for the children and/or Rochelle, neglect of the children, benefit fraud, theft from her employer, shoplifting, drug or alcohol abuse, driving under the influence, gambling, stealing from Joy, disapproving of Rochelle's career or parenting choices, the list is endless. Joy might have been an interfering mother/grandmother. Rochelle might still be holding a grudge about things Joy did or didn't do when Rochelle was young. We know nothing about her father, do we?

PS Benny Andersson from ABBA.

Benny Higgins- chair of The National Galleries of Scotland and chair of the Board of Directors of the Edinburgh Fringe. He's always seemed pleasant when I've met him - albeit not often- but he's passionate about arts in Scotland.

Joy and Rochelle, it's a bit strained and odd they're skirting around instead of having a proper catch up as there's clearly a backstory.

So John has had to move out of the family home to make way for Ali-stare and De-knees. Not nice. Paul sounded very unhappy and lonely.

I’m assuming Rochelle has lost custody of her kids due to falling foul of the terms of her parole or something along those lines.

What was the Group though that Joy asked about? "Are you still with the same group?" Was she in a cult? Al Anon? Jehovah's Witnesses?

I thought she was referring to a support group.

@WombatCowgirl What was the Group though that Joy asked about?

Bennie and the Jets?

I'm thinking something like a cult? Was that in Stroud or were the dc in Stroud - loads of green groups around there?

Erm just to go back a day - how come the BBC Singers were performing in St Stephen's????

I love Joy and am fascinated to find out about her past.

I like Joy too. She is oddly human for Ambridge.

JanglyBeads
Erm just to go back a day - how come the BBC Singers were performing in St Stephen's????

We were told a little while back that they had been booked to perform somewhere quite nearby but the roof of the hall fell in or some such, and Alan swooped in and asked them to come to St Stephen's instead since they had a free evening.

That's how he was able to book them at less then two weeks' notice.

We know nothing about her father, do we?

My guess is that he was deaf.

After a while, anyway.

Yeah, BBC Singers needing to perform Xmas Eve in a random village church because they couldn't get another venue short-notice is too ridiculous for words. The £30 tickets, otoh, would be quite fine.