Archers thread #181: Panto Week's behind you! Was that the nadir? 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'd enjoy playing badminton with Derek Fletcher, 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 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4636789-the-archers-spoilers-thread-7-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.)

Will it be onwards and upwards for TA now, or do we fear even more of these special weeks (Martin and a Christmas Carol, Scam Week, Panto Week) and sudden reinventions of long-established characters (Neil)? I for one have had enough of all that. I want a quiet period of change counting in the village shop, farming talk with suitable sound effects and village gossip over coffee at Terum or a pint in The Bull. Slowly developing storylines featuring the full cast, not a subset for a few weeks with no mention of the others, and all behaving in character. Not holding my breath we'll get any of that, though!

Over to you.

Why not? Lots of Muslim women do don't they, even in the UK? When I went to my GP a couple of months ago I saw a woman doctor who was wearing one, I presume she was British as she spoke with a very British accent.

@WagnersFourthSymphony Your paying? I’m not and haven’t noticed a difference.

I don’t think either of them has mentioned whether they wear anything on their heads or not. Most Muslim women I know don’t tbh but obviously many choose to do so.

I'm very ashamed to say I am. It was either that or all the cookies and adverts. I was one of the freeloaders with an adblocker, but it's the cookies I most dislike.

It's only this thread that drew me back and I'm beginning to doubt my sanity - not on account of your collective wit and brilliance but because TA never fails to disappoint.

why do all major dramas in Ambridge involve water (The Great Flood, Geeeorge's attempt at "helping" Alice....) - is it to metaphorically or conceptually counteract the fire in which Grace died all those year ago??

Also Kirsty swimming in the Am with the dead fish led to the downfall of the House of Aldridge.

Just one word " YUK".

Some more words. What about the sacred Borchester Blue. I can't stop crying.😿

Sewidge Farm...

Can we please have 'When shit hits the Am'. Very witty @echt.

I thought that was a great episode, lots of drama and a topic that is a genuine rural issue. The state of our rivers is something I worry about, especially when I see flood plains covered in soap suds from biological washing powder overspill.

@WitcheryDivine, I agree. Loads of my colleagues are Muslim and very few choose to wear a hijab in the office.

I said there's no reason to suppose they do. Equally, there's no reason to suppose they don't ... though the subtlety of TA scriptwriters being what it is, I'd have expected some comment - perhaps from the ghastly Susan - to flag it up. Or (more likely) some conversation between Chelsea and Zainab about hair/scarves/scooter helmets.

Good point. If there's a mass food poisoning event after people have a valentine's meal at the Bull, there could be a good fight between those blaming Borchester Blue, the veg boxes or Fallon.

I’d hope some Health & Safety bod would act swiftly to prevent any Bridge Farm produce being released for public consumption.

It’s awful for the BF Archers but it can only have been shock that made them think they should still be delivering food … 🤢

(I seem to remember this was @PseudoBadger’s specialist subject? )

@TottersBlankly It’s awful for the BF Archers but it can only have been shock that made them think they should still be delivering food … 🤢

This would be a terrific way to get rid of 80% of the villagers! The only question would be where to start ...🤔

Obviously Bridge Farm have no risk log.

Time to do some a risk assessment I think.

Wouldn't Bridge farm's insurance cover costs?

Or the water company?

The UK water companies have a lot to master for.

I know illegal discharges by water companies into waterways are a huge problem, but are tidal waves of poo as a result really a thing?

We only saw the aftermath but around 20 years ago we visited a playground near my DB's house the day after some very heavy rain. There was raw sewage everywhere to a height of about a foot up the slide.

Oh jeez.

Anyone else think Pat pronounced the first syllable of "sewage" quite oddly, like syoo? Maybe it's regional. I'm an RP speaker and I'd say "soo".

Also disgusted by Helen making a judgement about which cheeses haven't been splashed and so are fit to be eaten!

I thought Pat sounded incredibly unwell

Yes, we were wondering if Tony was going to have a heart attack due to exertion or Pat due to stress...

Yes. It sounded like an absolute tsunami coming all of a sudden. I would have expected more of a slow seepage unless a dam had broken. I had something crackling in a frying pan at the crucial moment and couldn't quite hear to work out what the hell was going on.

I have heard people pronouncing it that way, I don't think it's specific to a particular region, but possibly an older person thing( although I'm quite old and don't say it like that). I'm in Wales and it isn't a Welsh thing, so it's nothing to do with Pat's Welsh background. I think it could also be a bit of a "trying to be a bit posh" way of talking. I've heard people using it when saying words like "suit, suitable".

I say soo. Vaguely RP but have lived North and South. I think it's trying to sound posh like suit said 'Syoot' as mentioned above.

I don't think it was regional; I thought she used the RP pronunciation. Sue-age as in the legal term, rather than soo-age as in the female name. I wouldn't speak of a soo-er, either.