Archers thread #180: Burgeoning backstories! Continuity, what’s that? 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 think it's a great idea for Helen and the boys to lodge with Tom, Natasha, Seren and Dippity*, 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 www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/5244480-the-archers-spoilers-thread-10-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.)

*Can't remember who coined this, but it's genius.

I was strongly tempted to use one or both of the posts suggested for the title of this thread on the last thread, but went for something a bit briefer. However, they're brilliant and will kickstart this thread very nicely, so here they are:

@Sidebeforeself: Beavers, bridge, bunny boilers and busybodies - it's all a load of bollocks!

(I couldn't agree more!)

@DeanElderberry: I don't usually speculate much on the appearance of characters, but do wonder what it is about Miranda that is bringing out the chest-thumping silverback in Brian and Justin? One little bridge game and the course of Ambridge rewilding is set. The face that launched a thousand beavers.

Over to you!

I think Elizabeth is fond of her pet Vince but mostly I think she was lonely and a bit desperate when they got together. Didn't she bonk Roy in a tent?

I rest my case.

Indeed

I genuinely don't think I would be still listening to TA if it weren't for these threads. I can't bear to listen to the panto feckery either but because some of you nobly will, TA retains me as a listener (for now anyway).

There’s a lost party shoe, a coach awaiting, ….“Ttraccyella, you shall go to the ball!” Or maybe Chelce, her mum’s knocking on a bit these days!)

Who will play Prince Charming: Rex? The dr’s son whose name escapes me currently? Ben - Oo yes bc then Cinders could be thingummybob’s sister.

How is it possible Vince has a school-age child? He never mentions her. I assumed he and Lizzie were equals in having (nearly!) grown-up children. What will happen to her if Vince moves into LL? It feels like the SWs have remembered his mum, but forgotten his youngest daughter. I imagine the private apartment at LL to be a fairly grand affair - didn’t Elizabeth have the kitchen remodeled to look exactly like the kitchen at Brookfield to make it more homely (I seem to remember Siobhan commenting on it when she first visited).

Just arrived in my inbox from the Courtyard Dairy. The Bull will surely be cancelling their Sterling Gold order …

https://www.thecourtyarddairy.co.uk/shop/buy-cheese/goats-sheep-cheese/jolene/

Cinderella is quite complicated in terms of props - and magic tricks - turning pumpkins into stage coaches etc. Something like Babes in the Wood would surely be more straightforward for a five-day turnaround. Of course anything is possible if you do it on the radio (Suggest how you might resolve the staging difficulties inherent in a production of Ibsen Peer Gynt cc Educating Rita)

I’m not sure panto works so well on radio

It's easier for Vince to have a school-age child than for Elizabeth to do so. Shelley is twelve, so was born when Elizabeth was in her late forties and recently bereaved. Vince won't have had to carry his child when he was in his late forties!

I think we might have to assume that Vince buys his daughters expensive presents like ponies (which is what he was doing when we found out that Shelley existed) but in the case of the youngest doesn't have a lot to do with her day-to-day care, leaving all that to her mother and paying hefty maintenance.

Bet he’s fiddled it so he doesn’t pay much maintenance

I dunno; I think he might be of the "only the best for my little princess" school of fatherhood: give her everything but any part of himself, sort of thing. In which case he will be paying for the riding lessons and the ballet classes and so on (but wouldn't want to pay for rugby coaching) and making sure she can be bought fancy clothes and holidays out of what he pays towards her keep.

The men I know like that only want the best for the princess when they provide it and seem to think the £2.50 a week they give the mother means she should be able to fund a life of luxury for the kid and turn a blind eye to how the kid lives when not with him

i suspect the sw have either forgotten about the kid or she’s suddenly going to be staying 50/50 and making friends with Keira and Poppy and Henry and Khalil

I’d actually forgotten Vince has an ex-wife!

I think he has three!

Didn't they all turn up for Steph's wedding in the Brookfield Events Barn, or something?

No, I think Vince's pride wouldn't allow that.

Bingo!

You beat me to it @Choccyp1g !

Oh fab everything's happening by Friday

The Fairy Godmother's going to be quite busy this week isn't she?

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, it suddenly does.

I don't think any of these people volunteering to play against Berwick Kaler has a chance; I think it will be his partner for years in real life, Martin Barrass.

Dunno about panto, the repeated appearance of three hags is putting me in mind of Macbeth.

He’s a real person?

I'm afraid my views on drag queens, which align with those of Germaine Greer, have somehow been transferred onto this pantomime dame storyline, so that the idea of Eddie etc clamouring to get dragged up repels me.

Another episode of absolute, unadulterated twaddle. I think I am going to give up TA. It's only this thread that keeps me listening.