Archers thread #182: The Shit hits the Am! 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 be delighted to oblige your employer by cleaning up sewage spills without proper training or equipment in place of your normal duties, 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.)

Credit for the title goes to @echt. Can't think of anything much to say about current storylines. Credulity is strained to its limit on many fronts, unfortunately, but there are a few nuggets in the slurry. I did enjoy hearing Natasha's outrage that Fallon is doing obvious, sensible things at The Bull even though it might hit Terum. I thought Natasha was supposed to be an entrepreneur!

Over to you!

Here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fthearchers%2Fentries%2Fca3a325e-d35a-3f86-9e9a-dfca5ea15e56

That doesn't expand on the extent to which Tony's obsession with restoring the ancient Fergie had already caused Pat a lot of angst, not just because it was the MOST important thing in his world, but because a young female tractor fan had started to help him and admire his way with vintage farm machinery. Multiple things for Tony to agonise over.

Pat and Tony working together on marital problems was always one of the 'good bits' of the Archers - Bridge Farm went organic in the first place because Tony feared that Pat' s convictions (and her admiration for her sociology lecturer) was causing a rift, and suggested something that was congruent with her beliefs that they could work on together. Which put him up in my estimation, however silly he has been on other occasions. eg the 'little grey fergie' stuff.

I'm surprised that henry doesn't drive tractors yet.

'back in the day' when I was a young teen (90s) the young ones (weaker ones) often drove.

John's death is so central to understanding everything which followed at Bridge Farm - Helen's fragile state and dogged independence (or rather lack of it), Tom living in his brother's shadow and trying to fill that role (going into pigs and becoming the sausage king rather than having any chance of becoming his own man). There's a deep sadness that lies at the heart of Bridge Farm that no amount of grandchildren, new daughter-in-laws and business success can ever erase. Johnny's appearance appeared to offer a chink of hope - John's namesake existed and loved farming yet never challenged the remaining siblings for supremacy despite some initial uncertainty. Now he has been whisked away because actually Bridge Farm is more interesting with that destablising grief at its heart. It's also good to know there are somethings the SWs haven't forgotten or attempted to rewrite.

Well said, @LillianGish

They're mostly a lot bigger and more complicated nowadays, aren't they?

Thanks for link @TottersBlithely, that was interesting to read about John's life. All I knew about him was the accident and how Tony found him.

Also reminded me what a shame it is that Johnny left Ambridge, seemingly for good. He was such a breath of fresh air, a natural farmer and a wise head on his shoulders. But looks like they've decided to pave the way for Henry.

I would have thought Tony's tractors are fairly average size/power and straight forward to drive for multi-purpose use on a mixed farm.

If Henry has any farming school friends in his year group then they will have probably have already started learning to drive for a few months at least so it's understandable that he's feeling left out.

It's such a shame they've gone down this route.
I really wanted Brad to thrive at university and be able to make a better life for himself, could have done a good compare and contrast story with his and Chelsea's lives in the future, with him having landed a great job after graduation, earning plenty of money etc, showing how education can be a

way out, may be some issues with family being jealous of his success etc.
But it looks like he'll drop out and live a mundane life doing not much and wasting his brain.
I have a minuscule bit of hope that he'll access some of the university counselling services, through that realise he needs to prioritise himself rather than George's stupid drone, have the courage to tell Eddie and George to do one and continue with his degree.
I also want Tracy etc al to realise he's struggling and needs more than being told he's going to be fine just because he's clever.

I don’t get the impression that the BBC believe in social mobility tbh - and that’s across everything I’ve seen

Chelsea also has the potential to make a better life for herself, as she seems to have some real talent for hairdressing and a fair bit of get-up-and-go about her. After all, Vidal Sassoon didn't come from a privileged background.

O I don't know, you've got someone like Amol Rajan with his strong London accent presenting Today and Mastermind, that would never have happened years ago.
I have no idea what sort of background he comes from, maybe I'm projecting from his accent and he does actually have a middle class background, but he didn't go to public school and got to Cambridge and from there was extremely successful.

If she was going to be successful with hair then she should be full time at a big salon in Felpersham working her way up, not cutting hair occasionally in people's kitchens. That's just going to keep her on minimum wage.

Lower middle class background, You are probably basing your guess that he's from a working class family on his non-RP accent.

Yes I did make that incorrect assumption because of his strong accent, not because he doesn't have an RP accent, there are plenty on the BBC who don't( they have neutral or slight regional accents), that's why I said I didn't know what his background was.

Another one who started off years ago with a much stronger accent than he has now is Chris Mason, but a quick Google shows he's the son of teachers so not working class.

Certainly the BBC wouldn't be alone in organisations that have issues with social mobility, it's extremely common and an issue across the whole of British society.

But higher education is a primary way out and it's a real shame that Brad looks like he's going to close that door.

I meant how they portray it in drama

I remember an episode of Waterloo Road where they told the brainbox that Oxbridge wasn’t for her and she’d be much happier somewhere else. That made me really cross as anyone watching would be influenced by that

Ah sorry, I got hold of the wrong end of the stick completely!

I agree that type of thing is so negative, it would be so easy to turn it the other way.

Chris Mason's accent is regional, but not WC. I've not warmed to AR (or EB) on the Today programme.
It's a shame that women from a WC background don't get the prime jobs.

Oxbridge isn't for everyone, and I don't think it would have suited Brad. If the Waterloo Road school was anything like the school I went to, Brad wouldn't have been encouraged to go there, but someone like Alice would have.

I hope that Ben or someone steps in and gets Brad sorted.

Have we chatted about the financial aspects of Brad running George's business? Presumably it's making a little money - who's getting that?

Is Chelsea not still at school/college?

<makes note>

Oxbridge isn't for everyone, and I don't think it would have suited Brad.

It would have suited him a helluva lot better than being stuck at Number Whatever, The Green, with non-comprehending Horrobins, Grundys breathing down his neck, and being forced to work for his imprisoned relative’s business. Surely?

I live in one of those cities. The students look just like Brad, there are half a dozen versions of Mia on every bus, and a dozen more in every cafe. Pubs, open space, holiday jobs … He’d love it here, probably immediately.

I like Amol Rajan and I'm delighted with how he is hosting University Challenge. Poor Jeremy Paxman had very understandably slowed right down in the last series he was able to present because of his Parkinson's and the immediate increase in pace when AR took over was very obvious - but he is (to my ears) making a real effort to be clear as well as fast, which he doesn't always manage on Today.

Years ago he presented a TV documentary about social mobility. He interviewed some very bright, ambitious, hard-working students and graduates who hadn't gone to Oxford or Cambridge and came from lower income families. Most, if not all, were from minority ethnic groups as well. The bit I remember particularly was when the camera panned across a group of BBC staff at Broadcasting House at foot level and they were almost all wearing suede Chelsea boots and skinny jeans, or whatever the acceptable middle class uniform was at the time. His interviewees were filmed wearing joggers, white trainers and so on instead. It was hard to avoid the conclusion that AR is an outlier. There was an incredible amount of snobbery when he started presenting UC because he wears gold jewellery as well as having a strong London accent.

Which could be a big mistake. I know plenty of farming families who have owned land for generations who have nothing approaching an RP accent.

I know a young man who reminds me a lot of Brad - very academically able, diagnosed with autism, badly bullied at school, WC parents with no experience of higher education. He was encouraged to apply to Oxbridge by his state school. I must admit I doubted he would get a place because of his total lack of self confidence, but I was wrong. He was successful and it has been transformational for him. For the first time in his life he found his tribe and made friends. He is unrecognisably happy and confident and chatty. He graduated last year and joined the Civil Service Fast Stream in a specialist role. His parents and siblings are bewildered but very proud.

So, that could have been a potential SL for Brad.