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!

The name is Sikh, @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle . I can't remember what Mick said Mr Gill's first name was but I registered it as something short for Parvinder.

I've been watching the 1981 Tinker Tailor ... adaptation muddyford, hence why Hywel B is at the top of my mind. It made me realise Ben Wishaw's voice is a copy of HB's. It also stars Michael Jayston, another lovely voice.

While I'm on this side-quest I realise I'm actually visualising George as Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange.

Are the producers of TA and its old audience just in a hate relationship now? Like Dr Who?

I don't expect the Maliks thought they were going to Islamify Ambridge!

Yes, Feedback was quite an eye-opener, and not in a good way. But I can't say I was surprised. Frankly I have found some of the comments on here pretty offensive and was expecting someone to say "This is a Christian country!" Perhaps they did. If so, I'm glad I missed it.

Isn’t that typical of feedback though? Gives the sw an easy ride ultimately whereas the reasonable arguments get lost and can be ignored

Gonners
was expecting someone to say "This is a Christian country!" Perhaps they did. If so, I'm glad I missed it.

Technically I suppose it might be, not that you can really tell. I mean, more people if asked would say they were Christian than would say any other religion:
according to Wikipedia Religion (2021) was
46.5% Christianity
37.8% no religion
6.0% Islam
1.6% Hinduism
0.8% Sikhism
0.4% Buddhism
0.4% Judaism
0.6% other
5.9% not stated

I am not sure less than half means it still is Christian. And I am not sure I care, because to me religion is about individuals and their relationship or lack of it with their own god or gods, and I don't see a country as an individual.

From the absurd Eddy to the sublime Akram.

One of my all-time favourite TV series. The film with Gary Oldman was OK but the TV series knocks it into a cocked hat. Fabulous cast, not a duff performance in there.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime

Technically I suppose it might be, not that you can really tell. I mean, more people if asked would say they were Christian than would say any other religion:
according to Wikipedia Religion (2021) was 45% Christianity ...

I believe (ha!) that this is based on the census and the number is therefore meaningless. I mean, I was christened (I assume this because I had godparents, though I have no idea where it took place beyond "probably Cornwall") and my younger sister was both christened (in Singapore Cathedral) and confirmed - the latter because she was at a boarding school which organised it, and she went along with it because she liked the idea of prancing around in a white dress in Gloucester Cathedral. We remain staunchly god-free and that question on a census is always answered as "none", but I bet a lot of people tick the Christian box. I have no idea why!

Spot on. What a pity Eddie didn't fall into the raw sewage and drown in it. He really is utterly loathsome.

On the other hand, spending time with Jim is going to be very good for Brad. Excellent idea of Freddie's.

I agree that Eddy was revolting. All that cheeriness while treating Brad like dirt. Glad to see that Brad was quietly having none of it. I hope.

Eddie is loathsome. What was sublime about Pa Malik?

Allow me, too, to take this opportunity to re-state my loathing of Eddie.

I wonder whether Helen has checked out the insurance for the cheesery. Will she dare to admit to Clarrie and Susan that there was no need for them to do all that cleaning?

Perhaps they need a Clarkson-alike to come in and buy a farm as a tax dodge, then annoy the locals by starting all sorts of businesses without getting planning permission and coming up daft ideas about marketing nettle soup.

Agree with absolutely all of this, and what a good episode. Jim and Brad have excellent duo potential.

I've always assumed that we're supposed to think of Eddie as a cheeky chappie/amusing rude mechanical, but I've always found him vicious and self-pitying, so it's very validating to see people here feel the same.

@IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle for me, Pa Malik has an absoutely delightful voice and I would happily listen to him all day long. [I was going to say I'd be happy to listen to him read the phone book, but I presume that's a highly outdated phrase that would make no sense at all to newer generations.]

I’m not sure some Archers listeners are terribly nice people …

Indeed. Although I did agree with later contributors about how awful Emma Barnett is as an interviewer. She's one of the reasons I don't listen to Today anymore.

I was in work yesterday and several of my colleagues are fasting for Ramadan. They'd think I was bonkers if I announced I was joining in.

How lovely that Brad is going to be The Scorekeeper's Apprentice. Plenty of scope for Brad to confide his academic struggles to Jim and for the Prof to offer encouragement.

I think what Eddie said sums him up. George is going to do it for us! What has Eddie ever done for his family really. He is a horrible loser who relys on everybody's niceness and charity. He thinks the world owes him a living. Has he ever had a proper job? Have the Older Grundys never lived from hand to mouth. He should be ashamed of himself. He should also leave Brad alone.

Eddie did have a job at the cattle market (in Borchester).

It's a tribute to the Eddie actor, but I hate that wheedling tone in his voice when he's trying to persuade someone to do something which is purely in Grundy interests rather than their own, and the way he just ignores or rides roughshod over what might be important to them.

On another note, go Freddie! His solution for Brad was inspired and showed real empathy. Not sure that the likes of Tom would ever have thought of it.

Freddie is showing himself to be his father's son.

Although I did agree with later contributors about how awful Emma Barnett is as an interviewer. I think she's about the same as Nick Robinson, but he's a man.
I ❤Freddie.
*Tom would NEVER have thought of it.

I should add, I like Nick Robinson. EB is OK but I don't like the chatty vibe she has. AR is only just about tolerable.
The new presenter might be good.

Brilliant for Freddie to think of that. Jim will be good fir Brad (if he goes along with it)

Eddie can get in the sea. Am assuming he has reluctantly accepted Brad is retired from the drone business.

Love Pa Malik's voice too. The fatherly love in that last scene nicely shows Eddie up for what he is.

Christian country? There is an established church with monarch as head. That is why UK is a Christian country. Until it's disestablished.

Just to put it in context, it’s not as if Eddie sits at home doing nothing - he’s always working somewhere, at something; often two or three things at once. And he has as much right to follow a portfolio career as any conservatoire educated composer, or banker turned landscape painter turned reiki healer. It’s true some things have failed, but really his problem is poor organisation and a belief that illegitimate ventures offer more than the more or less regular income streams he’s managed to carve out for himself.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/6jxVtMJBfPx0hzTFbtQKGx/eddie-grundy