The Archers spoilers thread #10: Can't wait for 7.02pm? Join us here!

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Spoilers thread for The Archers. All Archers listeners are welcome here, whether you post on our main Archers thread or not. There's just one rule: please keep all spoiler-related discussion in this thread and do not spill the beans on the main Archers thread.

Last thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/5071889-the-archers-spoilers-thread-9-cant-wait-for-702pm-join-us-here

Right! Round up of all spoilers I've found for the next few weeks.

5th January – 10th January 2025
05 Jan David receives some interesting information, and Jolene makes a rash decision.
06 Jan Brad has a confession to make, and there’s backtracking at the Bull.
07 Jan Harrison finds himself in a delicate situation, and Lily takes matters into her own hands.
08 Jan Leonard faces an emotional day, and there’s a surprise for Ben.
09 Jan Harrison reaches a crossroads, and there’s good news at Brookfield.
10 Jan Emotions run high for Fallon, and Henry is on a mission.

Writer: Shaun McKenna
Director: Peter Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Ben Archer…. Ben Norris
David Archer…. Timothy Bentinck
Henry Archer…. Blayke Darby
Jolene Archer…. Bufffy Davis
Kenton Archer…. Richard Attlee
Ruth Archer…. Felicity Finch
Leonard Berry…. Paul Copley
Harrison Burns…. James Cartwright
Justin Elliot…. Simon Williams
Brad Horrobin…. Taylor Uttley
Tracy Horrobin…. Susie Riddell
Khalil Malik…. Krish Bassi
Kirsty Miller…. Annabelle Dowler
Lily Pargetter…. Katie Redford
Fallon Rogers…. Joanna Van Kampen
Inspector Norris…. Bharti Patel
Scarlett…. Beatrice White

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 5-10 January
Leonard is knocked sideways by some emotional news and all does not go well when he faces a difficult day with the Brookfield family standing by his side. Harrison has to fight to keep his emotions in check when he faces a challenging callout, but then receives a surprising offer from his superior. Lily takes matters into her own hands when Brad tells her he's struggling, Jolene makes a rash decision at The Bull, and Khalil's mouth runs away with him.

12th January – 17th January 2025
12.1 Justin faces a dilemma, and plans forge ahead for Ruth.
13.1 Joy isn’t herself at all, and Helen considers her options.
14.1 Rex is left confused, and Neil has questions.
15.1 The verdict is in for Kirsty, and Brian finds himself out of his comfort zone.
16.1 Emotions run high at Beechwood, and Adam offers the benefit of his experience.
17.1 Mick’s feelings are hurt, and Tom faces a tricky negotiation.

Writer: Liz John
Director: Jessica Bunch
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Brian Aldridge…. Charles Collingwood
Helen Archer…. Louiza Patikas
Tom Archer…. William Troughton
Ruth Archer…. Felicity Finch
Neil Carter…. Brian Hewlett
Susan Carter…. Charlotte Martin
Justin Elliott…. Simon Williams
Miranda Elliott…. Lucy Fleming
Mick Fadmoor…. Martin Barrass
Rex Fairbrother…. Nick Barber
Joy Horville…. Jackie Lye
Adam Macy…. Andrew Wincott
Azra Malik…. Yasmin Wilde
Kirsty Miller…. Annabelle Dowler

19th January - 24th January 2025
19 Jan The Carters debate the next step, and plans come together for Joy.
20 Jan Vince hatches a plan, and alliances are tested for Stella.
21 Jan It’s a life-changing day for one resident, and a seed is planted for Emma.
22 Jan Freddie faces an uncertain future, and Pip’s evening takes a surprising turn.
23 Jan Josh attempts to stir the pot, and Elizabeth considers her options.
24 Jan Disaster strikes for Joy, and Ben fears he has overshared.

Writer: Katie Hims
Director: Pip Swallow
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Brian Aldridge…. Charles Collingwood
Ben Archer…. Ben Norris
Josh Archer…. Angus Imrie
Pip Archer…. Daisy Badger
Neil Carter…. Brian Hewlett
Susan Carter…. Charlotte Martin
Vince Casey…. Tony Turner
Emma Grundy…. Emerald O‘Hanrahan
Joy Horville…. Jackie Lye
Zainab Malik…. Priyasasha Kumari
Elizabeth Pargetter…. Alison Dowling
Freddie Pargetter…. Toby Laurence
Lily Pargetter…. Katie Redford
Stella Pryor…. Lucy Speed
Fallon Rogers…. Joanna Van Kampen
Nelly…. Jill Baker <<<<< Professor, Dr, Mrs, Ms or Miss Bun the Baker's Wife/Daughter?

That is an interesting combination of actors. To save anybody else the effort of googling Claire Skinner was the mum (Sue) in Outnumbered.

I THOUGHT I heard that Womens' Hour are also doing something (per the continuity announcer) this lunchtime and were inviting questions, but I've not looked hard enough to find the date/time.

Many thanks for that, @TherapistInATabard! I hadn't seen that. Clive! Oh dear.

The Archers: Truth and Lies
Claire Skinner stars in David Payne's drama written to mark the 75th anniversary of The Archers. Ambridge is in shock as a mysterious police detective arrives, determined to get answers to some challenging questions.

Sally Griffiths ..... Claire Skinner
Emma Grundy ..... Emerald O’Hanrahan
Brad Horrobin ..... Taylor Uttley
Hannah Riley ..... Helen Longworth
Lilian Bellamy ..... Sunny Ormonde
Harrison Burns ..... James Cartwright
Brian Aldridge ..... Charles Collingwood
Clive Horrobin ..... Alex Jones

This sounds as if it might be a reworking of An Inspector Calls.

He's a pain in the posterior, that's for sure! You'd be very welcome to put this on the main thread, where you might get more of a response. This is for spoilers, though we do get drawn into a bit of discussion too, inevitably.

Ok I’ll grab my coat and put my wellies on.

Must say I tend to stay off the main thread at the moment. There seem to be some posters that genuinely hate The Archers, virtually every character and the scriptwriters, and I find the genuine negativity (not the pantomime dislike, I mean I love to loathe Tom!) rather spoils it. So I lurk here!

To be fair, @BrightYellowDaffodil, many of us have been listening to TA since before most of the scriptwriters were born, so it’s not surprising we feel proprietorial towards characters and are quick to excoriate poor or lazy writing. It’s because we love the show, not because we hate it!

It won’t be long before I’m in that position (<mutters darkly about everyone looking 12 these days>) and I’m quite happy to criticise sloppy writing. I’m still baffled how the agricultural editor didn’t know how a bridle worked when Shula’s horse had a problem one day! But I find some of the endlessly negative comments from some posters just suck the joy* out of TA.

*pun not intended

Claire Skinner is also married to Hugh Dennis, who turned up as the vicar Peggy wanted to conduct her funeral recently.

Another mini spoiler. The last sentence adds something we didn't know before. Esme, I assume.

^Daily Mail Weekend Magazine Archers Update - December 7th-12th
There's a crisis at the surgery, and panic at the Stables as Shula plans a visit - and is Josh heading for heartbreak?^

Well … Esme isn’t in the cast that week - I’ll assume it will be Josh breaking up with the unheard woman in a band (I forget her name). Convenient for a Christmas encounter under the mistletoe with Ms Mulligan?

Good thinking. I'm sure you're on the right lines there.

‘Nina’!

And another one:

Total TV Guide - December 14th-19th
There’s wheel drama in Ambridge this week, as the annual Tractor Run chugs on to Tony’s mental landscape, trailing neat furrows in its wake. But his plans to wow the competition go awry when Tom delivers harrowing news. Can Tony plough on under the circumstances? Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas in The Archers were festive spirit not as rare as snowflakes in August, with Helen worrying about the gloom settling over Bridge Farm, and Emma fretting about both George and Keira. While Esme impresses with her farming know-how, Jazzer is unimpressed when Eddie turns turkey salesman, and over at the Village Shop, Susan is finally back in charge - but thoughts of celebration prove a little premature.

Ouch! for the plays on words in that.

Yes, someone had fun with that!

Clive!! George isn't in that cast list so he's either dedded or imprisoned.

I'm hoping Nina's first mention in aaaages yesterday does indeed mean she and Josh break up. I do feel the writers forgot she existed and just wanted Josh to get with Esme asap. But tbf I'd forgotten about her too.

Has Nina ever spoken? If not, she's probably an imaginary girlfriend.

I usually dislike the new characters. I like Esme but I think that's because she'll marry Josh.

@BrightYellowDaffodil The 'I hate every character, the SW are all crap, and I never listen' comments get to me. I was at the receiving end of some unpleasant posts on there.

I wonder if the unwell youth at the Stables have influenza or Covid and will pass it on to a 'beloved' aged character who then 'passes' after a 'hospital vigil'.
Or a food poisoning storyline that involves wherever they got the food from - dodgy birds at the abattoir?

Could be that Markie comes back, and George saves the day but is hospitalised.
And while we’re waiting to hear if he lives or dies we have An Inspector Calls.

Indeed. I guess the eventual hospital vigil could be for an elderly character who isn’t in that week’s cast? Though it would be a bit of a break with tradition - they usually get to say a cheery See you later, or whatever, before shuffling blamelessly into eternity.

I’m slightly concerned that Lily won’t be able to get on her plane on the 17th. I need her escape to happen before I bore myself to tears in the longing for it.

I guess Leonard will be the egg volunteer?

And, oh, of course - hygiene may be temporarily lacking at the surgery, making it a hub for disease spreading.

What if Akram and Azra decide to move to Pakistan, (maybe with Khalil) but Zainab declines to go. That would leave her alone in Ambridge - to take up with Ben.

@FondantFancyAnyone The 'I hate every character, the SW are all crap, and I never listen' comments get to me.

Well, I don't much care about any of the "main characters" (apart from presumably-soon-to-be-written-out Brian ... and Jakob 💕obviously) and a lot of the scriptwriting is frankly awful, but surely the whole point of soaps is to be divisive?

I was hoping it might be Ruairi teaching timid Paul to drive - but they don’t seem to be in any cast lists together for the rest of the year.

Quite how a rural vet nurse manages without their own transport is a mystery …

Oh - Zainab’s scooter …

<Checks cast lists>

No - doesn’t look as if any Malik or Donovan will be being vigil-ed over any time soon.

I think Paul has a bicycle - so useful in an emergency during a rural winter.