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!

I'm so fed up of hearing Lynda and Pa Malik. Oh in case anyone missed it it's Ramadan.

Helen is so bang out of order getting Clarrie and Susan in on a non work day to break the news- and then telling Pa Malik anything at all.

Was there a frisson there between Pa Malik and Helen? Is he a bit of a charmer?

Is he going to be the new Brian?

I am so glad that they reminded me yet again why I so dislike Lily.

Just sayin'.

And why did Lynda decide to consult Lily about Freddie as if Lily were his keeper or something? Where were they?

Yes that was very odd and infantilising

i I don’t want to be unfeminist but there’s a reason why sport is split by sex. I applaud mixed sex if it is for fun but if Lynda wants to be competitive she needs to consider the make up of the other teams.

my colleague went to Lords to watch some mens match and they had a women’s match before hand. He said it took him a while to realise if they reduced the boundary and the wicket length a bit it would have been a lot more exciting.

The absence of Adam and Ian is really noticeable. Helen would normally be pouring out all her woes to Ian.

just listened to this absolutely enraging
back to the cities, brown people !!!!

and followed by loads of people saying Emma Barnett was strident, aggressive,a harridan etc for interviewing a politcian

I think the sw handled it really badly though as the Ramadan stuff was really shoved down our throats

whereas today it was a bit more subtle.

Does Lily know anything about cricket?

Lily knows everything about everything.

Is this a precursor as to how lower loxley will be run in future

Yes! It’s unthinkable that Adam would not have been involved in some way in the Great Bridge Farm Sewage Spill. Where is he and what is he doing? It’s almost as if the SWs have forgotten he works at Bridge Farm now. He didn’t need to actually appear, but he needed to be mentioned.

I have a feeling she was in the team for about a month. Back in 2017 or so she and Molly Button were the new hope for cricket in Ambridge, along with Anisha who would make a good bowler. But then Lily got caught up in revision for her exams, and could no longer be bothered.

Why has no one asked any of the Maliks if they play cricket? They are virtually every scene at the moment - except the cricket ones.

SW afraid of being accused of stereotyping?

Oh, as if 😂.

WHY has no one punched Lynda effing Snell in the face yet? I think the programme makers think she is beloved. What are they on and where can I get some?

Were I to say what I would like to befall dere little Lily I would probably become a PBP.

Wasn't there a previous storyline about trying to get Adil in the cricket team, on the assumption he must be good?

Given how almost every cricketing storyline goes on about whether they can get enough players, you'd think any new resident in Ambridge would be added about their batting and bowling experience almost before the removal van has left the property.

(I was asked last summer if I could play, so the fact they're always looking for players seems realistic.)

It’s a fair point: why wasn’t Adam shit-shovelling? He’d know a thing or two about insurance, too, having had a flood himself as well as managing the Home Farm estate for years.

Equally Ian must have plenty of time on his hands in the Winter months and could have helped devise a practical, cost effective, menu for The Bull.

Perhaps they also tried to sneak around the Gill’s house and are currently trapped in a soundproof cellar!

Completely agree re Helen having a talk with them on non-paid for time. She is rather odious.

Why doesn't she offer them a job share until business picks up. Seems obvious me .

Gravel delivery on a Sunday? Highly unlikely…

Afternoon tea on a Sunday to discuss redundancy? Extraordinary…

And Helen saying she must give Pa Malik something for his trouble? Sounded like she was going to rustle up £1 from her handbag rather than paying him properly for half a day’s work. And she was very indiscreet referring to the difficult conversation she wanted to have with the ladies.

So many things that were just slightly off in that episode. It’s all in the detail- I know scriptwriting isn’t easy but this is still meant to be a professional show. Yet, episode-after-episode reaches the standard of a Creative Writing evening class…

They seem to struggle with the Sunday episodes because this isn’t the first time something has happened on a Sunday that is highly unlikely to happen outside a weekday

maybe Helen needs to spend more time focussing on the business than wringing her hands and fretting about what to do. She is truly pathetic

Why was Pa Malik there at all? And then Helen who knows nothing about him thinks it's fine to let him use farm machinery.

Why weren't Tom Tit 'n' Tash there to supervise the gravel delivery?

Well we all know the sw have a very loose understanding of how insurance works so letting him drive the tractor was clearly risk free🙄

he was there to pick up some treats to break Ramadan with. I’m sure his family were really pleased that he just disappeared for the day

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime

Yes where were Lynda, Freddy and Lily having the cricket conversation? I couldn’t decide if they were in a car or a spa.

Definitely a frisson between Pa Malik and Helen. But didn’t we think the same after his encounter with Kirsty?

I could listen to him say omelette all day.

Does anyone know why Helen can’t drive a tractor - is that relevant to John? Or is it too menial…. Thinking about it, Pat doesn’t seem to tractor drive either…