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!

@BoreOfWhabylon "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"

My mother continued to listen to that for years and in the late 60s, my dad and I used to place secret bets on what time they would play "Leaving on a Jet Plane".

I wonder if New Robert’s change in behaviour is a fore-runner to him developing dementia (Lynda: “Oh now I realise that the signs were there all along but I thought he was just a bit grumpier these days…”). Then Mr Wicket and Stumps will be there for Lynda during and after his decline/demise…

(As an aside, I do love Rupert Vansittart. He’s an excellent comedy actor and he has such a lovely voice!)

If I was Fallon I’d be doing a victory lap of the garden that Harrison is going to drip off sooner than expected. Their relationship seems to be limping sadly along and needs putting out of its misery.

I don;t understand why Forlorn is suddenly so keen on spending time with Harrison. Also, how can she plan to go on holiday while she'd running the catering at The Bull? Another mislaid post-it note, perhaps: the adhesive isn't what it was.

I know the police is a 24/7 job but would a secondment really start on a Friday?

twiddle his truncheon. I hope that's not the obvious euphemism.

I do hope Lynda is not going to have an affair with Rupert Vansittart! Sounded a bit like that, didn't it? Can't bear Robert being cheated on.

Lynda having an affair would be inconceivable. Surely? Absolutely.As unlikely as mounting a panto in 5 days, being inundated by scam victims, Justin fancying himself as a reformed Scrooge, Neil cross dressing.

Did his boss really have to call on Sunday night? Surely that’s a Monday morning job It saved us all the angst of a booked holiday needing cancelling.

Off you trot then Harrison. This week is off to a good start so far!

He's playing the same part, on first impressions.

Any wagers on Fallon getting pregnant again this week?

twiddle his truncheon. I hope that's not the obvious euphemism.

‘Thumbs’ I felt to be too complicated for’Arrison, what with them normally coming in pairs. Where your mind might have gone is outwith my bailiwick.

Well, at least it's calmed down a bit:
1 random back catalogue disrupter - Yay!
2 Harrison - dear god I'd almost forgotten his existence - is about to go off into the dark blue yonder with a cargo of angst. What was all that kissy kissy noise? Really? Fallon, are you faking it or have you simply lost your character mind?
3 Cricket. I mean, it's February and cricket needs a whole lot of practice and preparation, unlike - say - pantomimes.

I was looking for a satirical thumbs up logo but there isn't one. This will have to do 👍

I must be the only person who actually likes Harrison, though I detest the way his character has been distorted to serve particular SLs. Especially the ridiculous emergency posting bombshell.

Cue Fallon being pregnant and having a secret termination. Which Harrison finds out about on discovering the open bottle of Quick-Aborto in her knicker drawer when he's back for some R & R. Also unannounced.

I used to like Harrison. And then he started being whiny and controlling.

I too thought Harrison had gone already.
Getting back to cross dressing and Tracy's lost (now found), shoe. Most men have bigger feet than women unless like me (size 7 ),Tracy has bigger feet. So I can't understand why Neil was trying on her shoes, unless he has dainty feet.
Linda wouldn't dream of having an affair but she would like very much the flirting which might get her into trouble.
We never used to listen to TA when we were kids, but as there where 8 kids in my family, you wouldn't hear the radio anyway. I do remember Sing Something Simple which was horrible because we were waiting for the telly to come back on so we could watch Sunday Night at The London Paladium.

I'm another one who found Sing Something Simple excruciating and can still hear the opening song.

@Gonners @BoreOfWhabylon later when i was in the Army myself, it used to drive me bonkers (partly because of my job - nudge nudge wink wink) that they would give out the BFPO number AND the location, and i knew that some Russian coughcounterpartofminecough would be noting it all down on a map on a wall with a chinagraph pencil, thanking uncle bog and all at number 73 for letting us know that Sara and husband were posted with the REME HQ at BFPO 40 in Rheindahlen....

</rant>
but yes, fond memories of listening to 2 way family favourites wherever we were, including UK

i am still having a few days off the Archers. May resume next week

ETA: Rupert Vansittart - every time i see or hear him i'm afraid i shout "RUN! He's a slitheen!!"

Did the Russians have an equivalent radio programme for their troops, @Brefugee ?

i could not possibly comment 😎

I detest the way his character has been distorted to serve particular SLs. Indeed. Distorted to such an extent that they are now essentially having to write him out.

Thought last night’s episode was pretty dire. Why are we getting this dull and implausible cricket trivia? Why was “Laurence” introduced only with his first name while the others used their surnames? Will he have some backstory reveal where we all gasp when his surname is announced?

Agree that the fadeout smooching will probably augur a pregnancy. We haven’t had one for a while. Sigh.

Another accidental pregnancy for Fallon would be pretty poor story writing tbh

Surely Fallon has made sure she's got herself sorted with the most effective contraception possible after her last accidental pregnancy?

If I'd had Fallon's recent experiences I'd have encased myself in concrete from the waist down, just to be sure.

Harrison was being sent 'up north somewhere wasn't he, not Katmandu? Why can't he play cricket at the weekend and then drive up in the evening/early Monday morning. I expect he's on compressed hours if he is stuck in a Police College, so he might even just be working 4 days on/3 days off?

Of course. But going "up north" in the Archers( probably a couple of hours drive) is the same as going to Australia and means you can never get on the motorway to come back again to visit and you never get any break from work whatsoever. In Harrison's case that's perfect so we never have to hear his hangdog tones again.

Harrison is leaving the force field that is Borsetshire - like Shula in Sunderland, Phoebe in Scotland, Johnny on which ever leg of his round the world crewing experience he has reached, all the Tuckers in Birmingham (except for Roy in Bulgaria), Lee in San Francisco, Ardil in wherever he left for - it's like leaving Albert Square in a taxi. He's off the books.