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!

Much more likely that Neil's dreaded Dad is someone whose psychopathy has skipped a couple of generations to George....
Except I don't believe in that sort of shit and I trust the SWs don't either. But Susan might.

In my mind Vince is short, overweight and slightly balding - definitely not cricketing material (or Elizabeth material for that matter).

I feel bad that I'm beginning to be really fed up of beavers. I like beavers.

Pip is irredeemably awful.

Doesn't Kirsty come from Southport? Or am I mixing actress and character?

Nearby. Annabelle Dowler's from Formby.

Oh I don't know. When you read on ABIU and Relationship threads about the type of man some woman put up with and even want to hang on to in real life Rex has a lot going for him.

I can’t imagine a cricket club choosing a captain without being familiar with him on the pitch. But then I may have missed his reliably turning up for every match, scoring a few runs, performing well in the field, and maybe bowling an over or two.

it was mentioned that he hasn’t played for the team

which begs the question, what ridiculous SL do the sw have planned with him moving to ambridge?

I thought he lived with Elizabeth - maybe he could build a penthouse flat on top of the abattoir?

Er this is why Southport

In my innocence, I thought it was because that was where the steps on which Neil is being said to have been found had been situated. I don't really see how the records office would help him find a mother who was not identified at the time as far as we have been told. And apart from making it possible to find out if Nelly Bannister, the woman who according to this myth found him, had died, I don't see what that records office would have to offer them.

No, Vince and Elizabeth still maintain separate establishments, as far as I’m aware. No surprise if the SWs want to move him into LL though.

At least we may be getting to hear a bit more about LL. I can't wait. 🙄

It will be a change of scene. We'll have Elizabeth angsting about him moving in - or perhaps he'll buy one of the many amazing properties on sale. Not Beechwood though - I imagine he's a cut above a plebby executive estate that isn't good enough even for Helling.

Maybe Vince will buy Home Farm farmhouse. It's not as if the Gills will be missed. He can make them an offer they can't refuse.

With Southport being in the news it seems an odd pick. And why would the mystery response they got be sending them to the office - unless they were just given a name?

well Brian being reminded of everything he lost maybe is to put back in our minds the existence of home farm

There was a very big hint on the podcast at Home Farm farmhouse coming back into the script soon.

Welcome! Don’t be afraid to jump in with wild theories and opinions 😀

I would prefer the sw didn’t touch any of the old properties as I just don’t think this current crop is competent

I’d like to hear from Home Farm.

Ugh Pip is unbearable.

I think Henry and Jack will say they want to move into Bridge Farm; Helen will be so adamant she cannot do that, that she will move in with Kirsty. Then, oh I don’t know, Joy will be terribly judgmental about the bairns not living with mam she’ll have a big go at Helen and everyone will see the real Joy at last. She will be morto and leave Ambridge, so Helen (or Vince, can’t decide) will buy Joy’s house. 😂

Apart from Jenny getting upset about a broken statue(?) and the kitchen, Home Farm really did get written out of everything. (I like Stella, though, so I'll happily listen to her for a few weeks/year.)

Like Bruiser, I am concerned that the current combination of scriptwriters will do something dreadful to the place.

We're already dealing with a "but it's MY HOUSE" storyline with Helen and Tom at Beechwood, so I don't think that Vince/Lizzie will be buying it. Thinking back to when Beth and Ben were together, I pictured Vince's abode as being "Footballers' Wives", rather than Grade 2 money pit.

I wonder if the plan with Vince is that he oversees the running of Lower Loxley under Freddie? Does Freddie still live there? I think he might notice that his boss has moved in.

I wonder how many people listen to the Emma Freud podcast; I've managed 3 or 4.

aside of the ridiculous idea that a team is going to choose a captain who has never played at the club - this is clearly just a stupid move to get Vince in the programme more.
No. Thank. You.

In my mind Vince is big pig of a man so for him to suddenly transform into Ian Botham’s agile little brother is all wrong in my mind.

Why hasn’t he taken an interest the team before - they could have been playing in multicoloured nylon shirts with “Casey Meats” emblazoned diagonally across the front and replaced Fallon’s “teas” with gala pies and bacon butties.

Vince's voice sounds very overweight and unhealthy to me.

(Query: does a very big hint constitute a … spoiler? I haven’t listened to the podcast - can’t stand the dragging pace of the things - so can’t tell whether its slant is I wonder if this will happen, ie main thread, or Guess what's going to happen?, which is essentially a glorified teaser.)

Tentatively - is the entire point of BEAVERS to awaken Pip and Josh, and maybe eventually Ben to their respective levels of evolution aka dependence upon a farm that realistically can only support one of them (plus any family) harmoniously? I mean, you’d have thought Beechwood is mine! Begone scoundrel! would have done it - but if it takes BEAVERS I’m all for it …

I worry that all this talk of panto tickets and a coach outing is foreshadowing something either grim or melodramatic about the journey. Particularly Susan and Neil making a fairly last minute decision to ditch the car and grab some of the last coach tickets.

@DogwoodTree , Oh! Yes I can see that happening with a few episodes of wondering who got deaded and who survived.