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!

I thought that at first but it was actually Adam and Ian’. Methinks.

Helen finding out was delicious.

@Bruisername - Borsetshire, perhaps? But can we agree that they are all awful and richly deserve each other? Though if Brenda foments utter chaos and then strolls off back to her real life, I shall smile.

@GluggleJuggle , She said 'and Ian' not 'the inn'.

@Bruisername , think Dorchester and Dorset(shire).

Skipped the Brad bits - finding that all a bit dull - you'll have missed a vital clue to a major SL.

And I don’t like how Brenda operates We've known Brenda since she was born. We need an ambitious, successful, female who has ventured outside ScAmbridge. The return of Brenda is a welcome one.

@Gonners , but she's an Archer, well-acted, well-written, and a character we love to hate. Without her, there'd only be dull Tom, and he and Gnasher need the interaction with Helen for the SLs. Succession would have been dull if it was the tale of a father and an only child.

Bruisername
Is it borchester or borsetcher?

Borchester the town and Borsetshire the county. As Scambridge says, Dorchester and Dorsetshire.

I need to relisten for the vital clue then! Oh and for the deliciousness of Helen and Gnasher. Ho ho ho!

Great to be reminded of Amside.

Hang on I listened to the Brad bits and I don’t remember a clue to a vital storyline unless dormouse boxes are a clue. The way Kirsty spat out “dormouse boxes” so crossly really made me laugh.

If Helen was smart she’d have persuaded Brenda to buy Beechwood as an investment and carry on renting it to her. Kirsty’s happy, everyone’s happy.

Is Brenda going to come back and be NewLillian then? I can’t picture what there is for her in Ambridge really unless she falls in love with someone but I can’t imagine who.

Brenda was before my time but I’m liking her immensely already

I'm enjoying Brenda but she gives the impression she's trying to lord it over the locals "I barely know what timezone I'm in - Dubai this week, Miami last week" ... glad you like my expensive cashmere coat that you couldn't possibly afford, Kirsty. How awful for you being married to a slave master - you should have got yourself a higher class of criminal, a Russian oligarch for example (I may have slipped into paraphrasing here). And on and on.

And I don't think she bested Natasha who was friendly to Brenda until she realised she was being condescending and then calmly made her exit. I know we all think Tom's a tit but Natasha loves him and their daughters and the life they're building on the farm. Can't help wondering if Brenda's life is quite what she's making it out to be.

And wasn't Helen gloriously Helen in her tantruming?

I think Tom and Natasha should have told Helen they fancied the house but Helen is a right selfish madam. As Natasha said someone is going to buy the house so Helen should get used to that idea.
It makes me laugh that Helen keeps saying "my home"and acting like she is being evicted with out notice.
Dont know who Brenda is but eff off trying to sort out the carpet rail, she is just there to see how the sales going, the house is nothing to do with her, she is just doing Roy a favour. Also if she is such a big thing why has she come to Ambridge to sort a house sale for Roy.
Shouldnt she be in a board meeting some where. Its a bit fishy to me.
I wish Brad whould man up and tell everyone to leave him alone.

Here you go, @Nettleteaser101:

Brenda

And if you scroll to the end of this there are some clips of important moments in her history:

Who’s who

Obviously neither of these is completely up to date - but you should get some idea of who she was in Ambridge in the past.

Thanks @Totters, I only started listening seriously to TA about 5ish years ago, so when people come back from years ago are mentioned, or story lines from back when, Im a bit in the dark. I should go on the BBC Archers Web page more often.

It does help! But also, if you’re really interested I’d recommend listening to archived recordings of episodes from past decades (someone else will be able to direct you to the best source) and also getting hold of a decent Archers’ history book.

I think this is the one I have which has proved the most useful and enthralling:

The Archers Archives by Simon Frith & Chris Arnot. I daresay other listeners may have other favourites.

I missed yesterday so just listened to it. I’d have said Helen was a piece of work if not for the fact that her reaction was entirely predictable. Me me me me me me me.

Oh, and Natasha, you haven’t been 'gazumped' - you haven’t even put in a formal offer on the house afaik.

The way they were talking sounded like they had

i I don’t think I can bear Brenda if she is just going to be generic business person with lots of money

Helen is absolutely unhinged! I would be furious if I were Natasha and had to put up with my husband trying to appease his irrational and selfish sister like this.

And Kirsty and Helen’s friendship seems very superficial. H is only K’s bestie when K is supporting her. She really doesn’t like the shift in the balance of power that the house sale has brought to the surface. Interesting…

Everybody has to appease Helen. Everybody in the world.

I really wish Natasha would rip her a new one.

It's a shame it's radio, really, because I'd enjoy seeing their differences settled in a cage-fight.

Helen is absolutely unhinged! I would be furious if I were Natasha and had to put up with my husband trying to appease his irrational and selfish sister like this. Absolutely! Tom did try to warn her, but no-one who hadn't been listening to The Archers since longer than Natasha has been on it could have predicted (or even comprehended) that. As it is, that was classic Helen behaviour with classic Tom appeasement and refusal to call her out. The fact is that as a result of their weird dynamic and inability to discuss things sensibly, they have both lost out on the house. Helen because she didn't know if she wanted it in the first place and Tom and Natasha because they failed to get their ducks in a row and make a proper offer for fear of upsetting Helen - I'm sure Kirsty wouldn't have even entertained another offer if she'd been proceeding on a proper offer from them. I'm wondering if Beechwood has gone to another buyer to set up Tom and Helen for a battle over Bridge Farm.

I was out last night so I've only just heard it - that was one action-packed episode. I am so enjoying Brenda - she's really well acted - a tiny example, the distaste with which she enunciated 'te rum' when 'café' was corrected. Helen doomed herself at that moment. I hope B is the purchaser of Kirsty's house and that she stays round for a while.

Already the battle between Helen and Natasha promises great joy, and Brenda hasn't even met Lilian yet. What goes around comes around, and although we've had a long wait for the Tucker revenge, I now hope that for once we really will have the Best Christmas Ever.

shes such a vile idiot - honestly how can she be so self centred. Self centred enough to accuse Tom of being selfish

*Skipped the Brad bits - finding that all a bit dull - you'll have missed a vital clue to a major SL. I’ve listened to the Brad bits twice and missed the vital clue!

I've been worrying about Brad being bullied by George (and Justin) into doing stupid and dangerous things, including neglecting his studies, but the mention of the return of Mia (is it Mia?) gave me some hope - she is still his friend and she has always been protective.

George and Justin are really the same person in different life-situations, aren't they?