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 started listening regularly some years after moving to the UK, just because it happened to be on at the time that I was often driving to the yard from work, and it developed into a habit. Now that I've left the UK, I use the Sounds app to get my R4 fix. Often still on the way to the yard.

There was a production of The Mikado (I think - it was definitely G&S) a good many years ago. A young woman with a beautiful singing voice (Lauren?) was introduced on the excuse that Tom was dallying with her at the time, and she got one of the leading roles. The other leading role for a young woman went to whoever Tom's main love interest was at the time - Kirsty? Tom himself had the main juvenile male role. Eventually it turned out that the two young women had worked out what Tom was playing at, and the joke was on him somehow. How we all laughed.

I was regularly taken to G&S as a child as my parents loved it and my Dad in fact did a lot of amateur theatrical stuff, including G&S. I enjoy it too, up to a point.

The Ambridge performances are not my favourite thing, but they're not my least favourite either. It's always a bit tricky, though, hearing actors pretending to be amateurs trying to be actors.

It was Waggoner’s Walk in our house too, and I don’t think I ever heard TA until I moved to London and got a job working with someone who was a dedicated listener. We used to listen to the lunchtime repeats together and bonded over Brian’s affair with Caroline. We stayed good friends long after I’d left that job. Sadly she died a couple of years ago so thank you, N, for introducing me to TA.

Radio 4 was always on in our house when I was a child so I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know The Archers - I wouldn’t say my parents were devoted listeners, but since it was on twice a day they often heard it and so did I. I started listening in earnest as a student because it was a reminder of home and have listened ever since - including on Long Wave when I first moved abroad when it would infuriatingly be dislodged for long periods by the ball by ball cricket commentary. Being able to listen on the Sounds app at whatever time is convenient has transformed the experience - there’s now no reason to ever miss an episode (in the old radio days this was unavoidable) and having this ready made community of fellow addicts to compare notes with has made me listen more attentively than ever. I’m just wondering as I type this if this is in fact what is causing the problem for me now - I have become over-infested! I tuned into the Emma Freud podcast for the first time yesterday (the episode with Neil and Susan and the SW for the foundling story) but I found it strangely disconcerting - listening to the Neil actor talking about using the Stanislavsky method for his take on Neil! Worst of all was the host’s fawning acceptance and total failure to ask any questions about why his background had never been touched on before (despite replaying Christopher’s birth scene and Susan’s initial rejection on her son). Having the interview conducted by someone with seemingly no background knowledge at all just felt like a blatant attempt to rewrite history. The throwaway comments about Neil cross-dressing this week sent a shiver of horror through me - will we be having a podcast episode where Neil and Susan discuss how this has in fact been going on for years behind closed doors? Does nothing we have listened to before count for anything?

using the Stanislavsky method for his take on Neil

Gosh - really? In that case I commend him for applying that much effort, but it’s a shame he’s ploughed all that dedication into a frankly preposterous SL. And yes, as for the cross-dressing…..

The Home Service/Radio 4 were always on in the kitchen when I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s and so I grew up listening to TA, although my mother wasn't a particular devotee. (The programmes I remember most were Round the Horne which I loved but didn't understand, and Sing Something Simple which I hated.)

I really became hooked on TA at university in the early 1970s. I'm not sure why - perhaps it was on at a time when I was often in my room getting ready to go out. My friends considered it a barely acceptable eccentricity.

I've listened almost continuously ever since. My DC used to complain that they weren't allowed to speak when it was on in the evenings when I was giving them a bath after getting home from work. They eventually convinced me this was bad mothering so I switched to listening to the Omnibus (although often missed it because we were busy at weekends). There were always one or two colleagues at work who listened and we used to dissect the SLs and characters on Monday mornings.

I didn't listen to Ambridge Extra (or whatever it was called) because, after all, there are only so many hours in a day) and was annoyed that I missed some key developments as a result. And I didn't listen at all during COVID as I hated the monologues.

Now I am retired I mostly listen to the 2pm slot if I am in, although as Radio 4 is on pretty continuously in my kitchen, I may hear the evening and/or the Omnibus as well. I am often only listening with half an ear.

Since turning 70, I have been conscious of wanting to keep my little grey cells functioning and I have stopped listening at all over the last week as I swear I could feel my brain rotting! I am waiting to hear from this thread whether it is safe to resume or whether TA is now irredeemably broken and I need to call an end to 70 years of listening. I've never been some who likes much routine in my life and listening to TA has been very much an exception.

I also listened to the fawning "Neil" episode. I am going to cut the actor some slack (as he really is quite a bit older than his character). He seemed genuinely affected by the storyline [whilst most of the rest of us were crashing around our respective kitchens, shouting at the radio].

I did have the tail-end of the omnibus on today; DH laughed at a couple of the jokes!! I blame his upbringing, living next door to an am-dram diehards who remained family friends despite many house moves.

Here's hoping we have a "normal" week....

Apparently his use of the Stanislavsky method pre-dates this preposterous storyline @Ambridge and dates back to the time when he first took on the role and gave himself a backstory (which didn't involve him being a foundling!) which then found its way into various books about The Archers. This was the half-cocked explanation to answer listeners' queries as to why the two stories don't match up. If Emma Freud were any sort of an interviewer she should then have asked if that were the case, then why didn't his background (which was apparently common knowledge to all his family) raise itself at more opportune points in the story - Susan's initial rejection of Christopher, Emma's uncertainty about George's paternity, during the hullabaloo about Helen's decision to use a sperm donor etc. Or why not give the foundling storyline to someone we know less about - Stella, Hannah or even Joy? Pantomime week has been a load of old tosh, but Lynda's productions generally are (apart from the one which led to Kathy's rape). They are stand-alone affairs which add nothing to the actual plot - you can literally switch off and miss nothing. Neil the foundling is an attempt to rewrite history - and for what? You might think the podcast would try to answer those questions, but listening to the SW wittering on about how great it was to write about characters with a hinterland and about how what you write now would live on because TA goes on - like real life - I was just left shaking my head at her lack of self-awareness and Emma Freud's failure to pick her up on it.

I remember Kathy’s awful rape but not what led to it exactly?

Kenton had bogged off to New Zealand after expecting Kathy to look after his daughter while the child was over here, and Kathy was mightily fed up with him. She whinged on and on about this to Owen, who was then the chef at Lower Loxley Hall Orangery, at the same time as encouraging him to take a part in Lynda's Christmas production of A Christmas Carol, which he did. He was clearly taking "romantic" interest in Kathy, which a lot of people realised but she was oblivious to, and seems to have thought that she was encouraging him (which she wasn't); this culminated in him raping her (which is not romantic at all) on the floor of the village hall after a rehearsal of Lynda's production.

I don't think the panto/play can really be held to blame, since they also worked in the same place.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvglp4n5jyvo

Vince is that you

So decided to listen as I was hopeful that it would be back to some form of normal

sadly Harrison was there and an actual bomb wasn’t dropped on him. Although was v happy to hear he’ll be leaving early. The actor got to practice his sad voice though

does a farrier have less free time than a policeman? I suppose Harrison is part time

a new drop in character - they must be getting through the annual budget quickly. His praise of the panto and Lynda listing out all those she should thank🙄. Can see the cricket team is going to lead to lots of cameos this season. And there being a misunderstanding around intentions after Lynda’s coffee invite

but whilst I found it an irritating episode it was at least irritating in a way I should find it iyswim

The theme to Sing something Simple sends shudders down my spine!

questions:

Who is that Laurence guy from “Wicket and Stump”? Why has he come to Ambridge? Why are TA trying to introduce as many new people as possible? Are they going to phase out all the established residents?

Who would phone their husband when they know he’s in a meeting just to talk holiday plans?

@Bruisername DH’s ears pricked up at the announcer and he said “a bomb on Harrison?” In a tone of happy anticipation

He must feel as gutted as me!!

laurence was advising them what it would be like in the new league. He is chair of another club in it or something

edited to add that the phone call was odd unless she had to book that second. Good thing she didn’t

Haven't heard it yet, but I know from the spoilers thread that Laurence is Rupert Vansittart, who is quite well known. As far as I can recall, he always plays the same type, so I'll look forward to seeing whether he breaks that duck (as it were, given the cricketing context) in TA.

I thought Harrison had already gone.

Optimist!

I'll believe he's actually gone when we hear on air that Fallon has filed for divorce.

does a farrier have less free time than a policeman? I suppose Harrison is part time

A farrier with a three-year-old and an alcoholic ex who isn’t always up to wrangling the brat really isn’t in a position to commit to the captaincy, I wouldn’t have thought. Although everyone else seems to get lumbered with ruddy Maaarthur when plot requires him to be at the cricket all Sunday. I recall her playing on a tractor at Grange Farm last year, but sadly nothing happened.
Hadn’t Burns gone back to full time? If not, he’ll be sitting around a lot in Yorkshire with nowt to do but twiddle his truncheon.

I do hope Lynda is not going to have an affair with Rupert Vansittart!

Incidentally, as another army brat, I now have an earworm of the 2-Way Family Favourites intro:
"In London it's 12 noon, in Germany it's one o'clock, but home and away it's time for two way Family Favourites"
🎶Da da DAAAH da da dah...🎶

Did his boss really have to call on Sunday night? Surely that’s a Monday morning job

Fair point on Chris

lynda having an affair would be very out of character wouldn’t it? I think he’s going to misinterpret her intentions (oooh, a woman is being nice to me, she must want to have sex) and make a pass and make Lynda all flustered and she’ll blame herself and tell Robert and he will be cross because she will put it badly but they will make it up

but Laurence will be annoyed and make being in the new league tricky for her

I did wonder if the attraction between Lynda and Laurence presaged the sudden decline and decease of Nu-Robert. Obviously there would be a period of mourning but perhaps he’s being set up as the caring ‘friend’ who will drag her back from despair?

Lynda having an affair would be inconceivable. Surely?

Your idea is better, @Bruisername !

I loved Laurence's "that's very interesting" comment to Tom. I assume it was intended to convey "that's not in the least bit interesting and neither are you"

Ooh Rupert Vansittart is it (haven’t heard it yet), love him. He’s the one in Four Weddings who’s getting very drunk and looking for Carrie isn’t he.