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 have, it was years ago and done for Rajar, can't remember if a researcher knocked on my door to ask if I would do it or if I was approached via the post. Filled in a diary for a week detailing times I listened, what station etc.

Feedback is off air at the moment.
It or I must have switched timings, because I hadn't caught it for months.

Two of the most recent December episodes covered Archers scam week. (They are still up on the website). The first week was full of listeners asking 'what was that ridiculous tripe!', covering most of our angles.

The following week was mad. I don't know whether actors/recording staff do the voiceovers, but they all sounded a bit deranged. "Oh, but we loved the story"...."Wasn't it lovely that they all found sanctuary in a barn so close to Christmas".... bleurgh!

I wonder if the actors are ever embarrassed to say their lines? If they aren't they should be

This thought has crossed my mind more than once over the last few months...

Thanks. Maybe I'll be asked one day.

RAJAR’s interviewers call at 350,000 addresses every year, which means that the chances of your door being knocked on is about 1 in 60.
Because interviewers do not knock on every door in a street (in practice, it’s every fourth address), the chances of your street being selected in 1 in 15.
On average, each person on the survey represents 2,000 others who live in the same area.

www.rajar.co.uk/content.php?page=taking_part_in_the_survey

The guy who knocked on my door was so happy I said yes! Tough job

Reworkings of A Christmas Carol, Tom Jones A Foundling, and Cinderella. Is a scriptwriter just working through their book shelf for plot inspiration?

Wonder if Game of thrones is next on the shelf

Dragons in Ambridge?

Bring it on!

During one of the lockdowns I used to listen to DumTeeDum and they interviewed a fair few of the old characters like Nigel and Kathy. My "take" from their comments was that they used to be able to influence and suggest storylines in the past but the newer editors so offended when they complained about the "off" characterisation that the characters went AWOL or were pushed off roofs.

I caught last night's episode at lunchtime; I wish I hadn't.

At this stage I wouldn’t be surprised

If I could bring myself to use the mystic sigils, I'd use "like" for this post. But I can't, and anyway there isn't one that means that, so you'll just have to pretend that I did.

It’s utter madness. I presume the panto will be held in the barn and it will be a roaring success. Vince’s Fillipino work force will give it a standing ovation and Vince will be brought over to the good side.

So when I went to see Ian Mcellen in panto they started by asking who in the audience wasn’t British and then said they were in for a wild ride but at least they could say they’d seen Gandalf on the west end stage!

my non British DH is totally baffled by panto.

i think Vince’s staff perk may be discriminatory because all the Brits will snap the tickets up and could be argued it’s aimed at them

I am reasonably British (ancestors in Yorkshire in one particular church regiister going back to 13-something) as well as pretty-much not (other ancestors from about fifteen different countries and more than a one ethnicity) and I am definitely baffled by panto; why do the British have such a love affair with it? Is it a throwback to the days of Music Hall or something? I haven't the faintest idea – but then I don't "get" Punch and Judy either.

@Madcats yes, wasn’t it Graham Seed’s contention that he was pushed off the roof because he made the point that it would be vanishingly unlikely that Nigel would educate his children at a State School. Oh for the days when the character and plot inconsistencies were on that scale!

There are some blinking good words in this post Totters!! I learn a lot from you erudite lot!

I am British and I ran screaming from Punch & Judy when I was 4, and have only seen it once or twice since, not willingly. I am also not a fan of panto. I do understand its traditions and history, but I don't feel any need to participate.

A professional panto is very different to a village panto put on in 5 days

a bit like junior school plays - unless you have a child on stage you really wouldn’t choose to watch it

Although to be fair, that happens all the time. I regularly think what on earth are you [random character] doing there?

True - but in that case it felt a bit like he was stalking the teen boys and then invited them in his car…

I thought the village hall booking debacle was rather like Barry Kripke booking the Athenaeum for his birthday when Sheldon and Amy wanted it for their wedding. I was picturing the pantomimers scrubbing out barrels of irradiated grease to appease the awful Vince Casey.

I digress, but it was more diverting than what actually happened.

A new low tonight.

I’ve not been listening but every night seems to be a new low at the moment!!

I think tonight definitely was a new low, apart from about fifteen seconds during which Tony rather sorrowfully told Susan that one should be grateful to have a sister, and was clearly thinking about Jennifer as he said it.