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!

If I’d just moved my boyfriend in and he sulked at me for days after I argued with my daughter I’d be telling him to fuck straight off again. It’s actually creepy how invested he is in Rochelle.

And the BBC wonders why people think they have a nepotism problem - wives, children and now double act partners (must be a quiet time of year for a professional dame so nice to earn a little). I though jasper carrott was a low…

but honestly, in the past 12 months we’ve had
the stupid read along
scam week
a Christmas carol
This panto nonsense
fallon and Harrison’s suitcase mix up at the hotel

speaking of that farce - the MP never came through for George then

I am sitting this week out. I’m grateful to this thread for keeping me updated but Lynda, panto dames and in-jokes between thespians is a bridge too far for me.

Oh, well remembered, @Bruisername

I don’t know how it works in real life - though I imagine it probably takes some time for decisions to be made.

In TA I guess the SWs won’t change George’s state unless there’s drama to be got out of it. I just hope he survives, one way or another.

This is getting past bonkers now. Vince being so completely nasty to Joy, resulting in a five day panto. How on earth are people supposed to take time out of their busy loves to learn lines and rehearse in five days !? And a panto dame just happens to being doing nothing at all in a local B&B in winter and ends up getting stalked by Joy. And the men are all queuing up to join in? I don't think ai can take this much longer. The programme I have know and loved for sixty years is just a parody now. In fact, it's like a pantomime.
just stop it, SWs, and start writing proper drama, not Whitehall farce.

I'm going to wait until I can sit with the episodes on the computer and skip through the panto bits (or just read the BBC write ups).

Apologies for sounding ageist, but why do we keep having all these elderly, "retired" actors dragged into Ambridge for a fortnight? A bit-part for a new grad should be the way to go (far less risky than giving them a part in a play and realising that they can't "do" radio. I can only assume that these luvvies keep cornering Jeremy Howe at parties/fundraisers.

I don't like Mick (so I am blaming him for the panto SL), I didn't like Sykesy, but i would happily see Hayley and kids return to the village somehow.

I wonder if they get paid for their cameo parts? Or if the payment goes the other way?

Is it possible that the SWs have given up? Is it being written by an early rubbish version of ChatGPT?

ThoroughlyModernNotMillie
I can't stand panto, been once in my life and hated it, so I'm not up on who's who in that world, but if this actor has done panto in York for decades, how do people know about him in the Midlands and talk about him as if he's famous across the country?

He's done other things too during the rest of each year; he was on the telly in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Spender and used to turn up in theatres around the country in various productions.

Nettleteaser101
Why is Mick so upset about Rochelle, he like the rest of us , don't know her really so he should have minded his own business.

I think Joy has decided Mick is angry that she "drove Rochelle away" but what has upset him really was being told that he had no idea what he was talking about because he doesn't have children of his own. Joy probably prefers not to realise that it was her own cruel words that drove him into wanting to leave, not her daughter's frankly loony behaviour.

Yes agree on Joy - I think she is very self centred and has a hero/martyr complex so doesn’t like it if her actions cause someone unhappiness etc. hence her over reaction to the panto trips cancellation

A partcular low point last night was Mick and Berwick writing down undisclosed sums for 'negotiation'. What on earth was that about?! How will Joy feel when she finds out? And if they needed to have the amount kept secret, surely the easier way would be to just cut the scene short while they were mid-discussion.

I wouldn't pay to be in TA anymore. I might have done as a birthday present or something a few years back. I'd be embarrassed to be in it now.

Caught last night's episode after a while away.

It's a bit late to be doing panto isn't it?

I was just thinking that they rely on the local hostelries guests for SL these days - and then I thought that sounds a bit like crossroads….

I thought they said Derek!

Why is Vince being such an arse?

And I'm betting the village hall is already have going to been booked for the Great Ambridge Wellness Event?

The village hall was booked by the council for the month according to Rochelle so she asked Ruth for the barn. Where are they doing the panto?

whatever happened to the well mess event?

Either that or they'll find that Vince has booked it, so they can’t have it.

It's so terrible. I'm enjoying this.

What the hell have they done to Vince? Is he supposed to be the pantomime villain?

Ah, maybe they'll end up doing the panto in the barn too?

Oh definitely!

Not listening but, if the village hall is booked 24/7 for the Friday, they could try:
Ruth and David's barn (ill equipped and probably not busy now that Rochelle has stropped off)
Grey Gables ballroom
Lower Loxley's extensive wedding and conference facilities
The events room upstairs at the Bull

Is it any better yet?

I stopped listening. Utter garbage.

Isn't there a poly tunnel that was used at Grey Gables?

I shall be relying on this thread for updates for the rest of this week.

I really thought we had escaped the tediousness of a pantomime/show this year…but bloody hell they have tricked us. SWs ..let me spell it out for you ..NOBODY CARES!!!