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!

Also baffled by the big Muck post. When I read it I thought I must have blacked out while listening, but if so I wasn't the only one.

@Gonners I like Hannah! I think she’s a much under used character

I agree Hannah has potential as a character we could usefully hear more of. Her main advantage is that she doesn't have much of a personality or life atm, so there is scope to develop her - if it is done carefully. She's a capable, independent woman and it would be good to hear more about her professional life at the pig farm.

And, of course, the SWs will think she needs a love interest. I just hope they don't want to turn her into another Kirsty and make her a victim.

Neil and Hannah had quite a long and unhurried conversation given the missing pig

I still think Joys got a carefully crafted mask and is actually a class A bitch underneath it all.

is it normal to ask someone out who is just visiting their mum? The Kirsty and Rex convo seemed odd to me.

and Rosie being introduced to Stella’s family - will make the break up even more fun 🙄

PS Happy New Year all. Let's hope Neil and Brian both see the year out.

@Godesstobe I loved it when she was casually shagging Tom. She was in charge, comfortable in her own skin etc

@Bruisername is it normal to ask someone out who is just visiting their mum? The Kirsty and Rex convo seemed odd to me.

It was odd. Kirsty was well in her cups by then. The younger generation seems to be much more up for a casual shag than mine ever was. Not that Kirsty is that young, as she reminded us.

But isn't it being set up by the SWs as Kirsty and Rex getting together because they are friends and love each other as friends but still haven't thought of each other that way? Oh and throw in a bit of jealousy to make them realise. Corny or what?

Happy New Year Radio Comrades.

I wonder what 2025 will bring to Ambridge. It's the hope that kills you ...

But isn't it being set up by the SWs as Kirsty and Rex getting together because they are friends and love each other as friends but still haven't thought of each other that way? Oh and throw in a bit of jealousy to make them realise. Corny or what?

Except that we know that Kirsty does think of Rex in that way. She spoke to Helen about it. It was clear she was conflicted rather than straight up interested in him, but she'd already thought about it at least.

When Kirsty was saying to Rochelle how wonderful a mother Joy must have been, Rochelle sounded like she was agreeing in a sarcastic tone.
Hoping we find out the backstory soon.

Hannah used to be extremely rude to Neil when they worked together, I find her imteresting and well acted, I'd like her to have more storylines.

Yes Rochelle said ‘baking cakes, something else and telling stories’ so Joy is clearly lying or exaggerating

i I don’t believe for a second that they had a happy home until the dad walked out.

I really like Hannah too. She doesn't suffer fools, but is genuinely kind, and thankful for kindness shown to her. I'd like to hear more from her.

Kirsty and Rex sitting in a tree....

Rex feels more like Kirsty's new Roy. A vacancy has definitely opened up since he moved to Bulgaria. Maybe he'll move in as her lodger once the house sale goes through.

Sounds likely, we just need a houseboat disaster/large hole in the keel to instigate this.

Perhaps someone could drive a car over the parapet? George isn't available, sadly, but Mick is.

Rochelle's tone drives me bonkers. Deffo got a sarcastic vibe with the "makin' up stories" (also i think i know why i can't stand her and Joy with all their northernness - they have the same accents as my horrible SILs. Urgh. Nice to your face, slag you off as soon as your back is turned, and everything ends with 'pet' so they sound as though they're being gently teasing rather than bitchy ol' harpies)

oh sorry... Maybe Joy's husband left because she was abusing him?

Liked Neil/Hannah/Susan, very gentle. Are we still sure that George left the wrapper and that Hannah didn't fit him up on that?

I'm sure. George has form for dishonesty and refusing to admit wrongdoing, Hannah doesn't.

Happy New Year, everyone, by the way!

I think Rochelle was being truthful when she said her childhood was idyllic, but also using the "making up stories" bit to justify to herself why she's getting quite annoyed at the thought of Joy telling all of Ambridge about her wonderful DD, when R knows that J knows she's been anything but!

All of Joy's conversations with her daughter have suggested a concerned but hurt (in the past) mother, all Rochelle's answers have suggested she's the one who did wrong.

Joy's 'story arc' (sorry) to date does indicate that Rochelle is the one with the dark past, but I thought Rochelle was undeniably sounding heavily ironic with her 'idyllic childhood' speech last night, although tbh most of her utterances seem to come with invisible, distancing speech marks. Obviously much more to come.

Kirsty and Rex - could they make it any more obvious that there’s a seething unspoken attraction between them? The stricken silence from both of them when R thought they were a couple said it all. Not that anything’s likely to happen, I don’t suppose.

And Hannah…..the character transformation fairy's really done a job on her, hasn’t it? Once so irredeemably blunt and unpleasant, now so nice. I prefer this new, softer, vulnerable version.

I think it will come out that Joy was bad and Rochelle’s issues stem from her mothers treatment

Yeah! #team Rochelle 😄

It would make more sense dramatically - Joy has built this reputation for being super lovely etc etc and it will turn out she was anything but. People will then struggle to believe Rochelle and she will end up feeling angry about that.

Rochelle and Pip ? Hmm

Joy's way of speaking, her over clear delivery irks me while I find Rochelle's voice has a more natural flow to it.
I wasn't keen on Joy when she first arrived, (many in Ambridge weren't) but when she and Mick were using the hot tub til late hours and Helen asked her very kindly to not use it after 11pm so her boys could sleep, Joy went way over the top saying that she should never have bought it, that she's such a silly woman to have thought the hot tub was a good idea etc causing Helen to appease her and that confirmed my dislike of Joy.
I do bear a grudge for years .