Archers thread #179: Beavers, livestock, ferrets, but nododo! 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'd be happy sharing a hot tub with 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 title started life with @JanglyBeads, whose autocorrect turned 'Oh no, nor do I!' into 'Oh no, nododo I!' on the last thread. For reasons of cowardice/prudence/lack of inspiration and the character limit, I haven't included @BeaLola's even more mysterious autocorrect - her phone had her asking Abdul if he'd always wanted children instead of Neil. Perhaps one of the mooted beavers can be Abdul.

For the first time ever I've added a poll to the OP. Over to you!

Well, it might be a good thing if anyone was paying attention to this shoal of carp.

You're right, of course. Never mind the absence of student listeners, I doubt there are even masses of listeners young enough to have student offspring.

@WagnersFourthSymphony "You're right, of course. Never mind the absence of student listeners, I doubt there are even masses of listeners young enough to have student offspring."

Now, now, Wagner, that's the sort of comment that will get the Archers closed down. Perhaps this chat should start side conversations about primary school application strategies and which is the best baby travel system etc to give the impression of an inrush of 30 something listeners. Although that might be unduly encouraging....

Final warning for Harrison then? Or was he already on one?

What’s he done now!!

He was insubordinate to the Inspector. She was bellowing "Sgt Burns, don't walk away from me!"

A decent-sized group of my acquaintances from university listen to TA. Those of us who have children are all younger than student age. We're in our late 30s- mid 40s (I was at university for a long time!).

I also found Scarlett's voice unconvincing, but then we just watched a Ben Fogle programme where he went out to meet a couple who had grown up with very rough upbringings on council estates (drug addicted parents, foster care etc.) and they both had remarkably RP-adjacent accents. Maybe Scarlett is just manifesting a desire to be someone and somewhere other than she is.

Ladybugger
Kirstie and Rex deciding to just tell Khalil, a teenager they don't really know, about their illegal beaver plan

I don't think they did decide to tell him anything; he emerged from behind the log pile having earwigged their converssation and already knew about their illegal beaver plan. What they did was try to get him onside so he wouldn't blab.

Worse than that: he was driving, and I bet he had the car keys in his pocket so she would have been stranded.

Oh I hadn't clocked that fact - hilarious!

Why did he strop off?

I'm sure his boss would be glad to see the back of him

I believe that rogue introductions of beavers is not unknown, precisely because of the expense and hassle of doing it through official routes. There are some colonies which have become very well-established and numerous, so not that easy to keep track of.

Why do they constantly depict Harrison as outraged at absolutely basic stuff about the law and police powers? Even he is not so stupid as to be unaware of just how difficult it is to get a child taken into care.

This. I hate the distortion of his character to suit some SL that will undoubtedly have him kicked off the force.

I agree that he'll retrain as a social worker. This will be on the basis that he simply had one 5 minute conversation with a child, but will be framed by the writers as if he's always wanted to do it and he's going to be the saviour of all the troubled children of Borsetshire.
It's all ridiculous because as pp said, that child no way meets the threshold for removal, he hasn't got a clue.

I think being a Social Worker must be a soul destroying job for anyone wanting to Make a Difference to a Child.

BOOP for Tracey being an all round good egg.

I like Tracey and love the way she handled the replacement chef situation. She’s refreshingly honest and practical. Compare and contrast with Jolene and Kenton who seem incapable of dealing with anything in a straightforward manner. If Wayne is a permanent, full-time employee I’m not sure why they allowed him to just go on holiday for 6 weeks at the drop of a hat.

I still think Harrison will be drawn towards fostering and can already hear him trying to bully Fallon into it “there’s so many kids out thurr what need an ‘ome luv”

Harrison is alternately a nasty piece of work and a sentimental twerp and the sooner he's transferred to a junior parking enforcement role on Benbecula, the better.

Maybe a conversation about how helpful TA is in helping us understand our GPs?

Otoh, I wouldn’t be unhappy if Ma’am decided she’d had enough of city living.

I thought the Scarlett actor was ok really. I mean it's radio so diction matters and that's quite hard to wrap with a convincing accent I should think.

I work with ex SWs who are great, but I have met a fair few unprofessional blabber mouth ones - so Harrison should fit right in.

And yes, how has he got to Sergeant without understanding anything about the world or policing!

"I work with ex SWs who are great, but I have met a fair few unprofessional blabber mouth ones - so Harrison should fit right in.

It took me a moment to realise you didn't mean scriptwriters there. In my defence, I do have a stinking cold.

So did I !! I was about to type out a long list of questions for @stilldumdedumming to ask them!!!

And me.

A home for retired scriptwriters would be quite a thing. All sorts of incongruous and implausible things would constantly be happening.

I expect that John Finnemore could create a series of very amusing sketches based on it.