Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Radio/podcast addicts

Discuss your favourite podcast, radio show or The Archers episode.

Archers thread #183: The Scorekeeper's Apprentice. Discuss The Archers here.

986 replies

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 24/03/2025 12:46

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

Archers 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 like to share a hot tub with Mucky Mick, or other unusual views. Grin

Archers 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!

Archers 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 @TottersBlankly who suggested it and @BeatriceBatchelor who coined this lovely phrase. (It's led me to take a look at the Wikipedia page for The Sorcerer's Apprentice. I had not known before that the animation in Fantasia that goes with the Dukas symphonic tone poem is more or less unadulterated Goethe, and the story goes back to ancient times. You learn something every day.)

At the end of the last thread, there was an apocalyptic tone as we were all bemoaning the lack of continuity and farming storylines (especially lambing, which used to be a big theme at this time of year). Are there any reasons to be cheerful? (Not just Part 3 - another reference for the older listeners here. Grin ) Over to you!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 03/04/2025 18:02

Abra1t · 03/04/2025 17:08

Someone mentioned Caroline and I felt a real pang.

When Caroline Dropped the Wedding Cake.

The cake arrives

[Ian] “I promised Will I take delivery of his wedding cake with my own fair hands”

There’s already a problem with the cake, though. Rather than Eddie delivering it, they’ve had to entrust it to Joe (as Eddie had a last minute job). Will is not amused.

[Ian] “I’d be in a state if I thought my wedding cake was being transported in a pony and trap!”

Joe eventually struggles in with the cake – though it sounded like Ian and Caroline were more worried about Joe dropping it, than him feeling the burden on his 90+ bones. Seems he decided to carry all the tiers in at the same time rather than have to make 3 trips back and forth to the trap.

[Joe] “Clarrie put them in three boxes so it wouldn’t have hurt if I’d dropped one”

(eh?)

Anyhoo – Joe hands over the cake safely. So all is well …

Joe’s fixing the chandelier?

I thought Roy had said that it wouldn’t be a Del Boy and Rodney farce …

But all Joe wanted to do was have a look at it.

Caroline tries to stop him going up a ladder to do so.

[Joe] “Cause of all that health and safety nonsense?”

[Caroline] “Because I don’t want you spending Will’s wedding in hospital!”

Never one to listen, Joe tries to climb on the ladder that Caroline is already on. She manages to shoo him down before they both end up in hospital.

[Joe] “I just wanted to tell Will I’d checked the chandelier with me own eyes”

[Caroline] “You’re lucky it’s still there at all, if I’d had to hold onto it to steady the ladder!”

[Joe] “Sorry missus … Will’s last wedding turned into being a fiasco

The cake gets sat on

Ian and Caroline have opened the wedding cake boxes, and reckon it’s a stunner. Such intricacy.

[Ian] “Clarrie certainly knows how to ice a cake”

I’m still not clear why, but Caroline felt the need to pick up one of the tiers, and walk across the kitchen.

She slips. And comes down with a rather heavy bump. Onto the cake.

Oh dear.

[Caroline] “Never mind about me. Look at the cake. Oh Ian. What are we going to do?”

Ian blames himself for mopping down the floor after Joe’s muddy boots,

[Ian] “A wet kitchen floor is an accident waiting to happen, second rule in the chefs rule book”

[Caroline] “What’s the first?”

[Ian] “Don’t drop the wedding cake!”

Ian doesn’t seem too panicked. He has time to make up a new tier, though it’ll have to be sponge rather than fruit cake. He reckons the guests won’t notice (they’ll have had enough to drink by the cake cutting part of the day), and if Caroline makes sure that Nic and Will cut another tier, even they won’t notice. Though Ian is worried about the icing.

[Ian] “Icing a cake. It’s like a signature”

[Caroline] “Oh good lord, the top tier. Some people ask us to save it so they can use it as a christening cake!”

[Ian] “Well at least they won’t notice it was sponge until after the wedding … Do we even know Nic and Will want children, haven’t they got enough already!”

[Caroline] “I don’t know Ian. I can hardly ask them on their wedding day”

So Caroline will have to whip away two tiers – one because it’s sponge, and another to save for a possible christening.

Bruisername · 03/04/2025 19:16

Well my finger hovered over the off button when they said mick was on but thought I would persevere. I dislike him even more now I find he can’t even cook a meal for himself. And blubbing over joy - he’s so lame

evidence of gossiping I suppose as Jolene heard Joy was away

Of course everyone but Brad can play decent cricket🙄

Rex and Rochelle were cringe - are they 12?

Rochelle and Vince 🙄

I didn’t realise Rochelle is vegan. Interesting job at the meat factory

Hortus · 03/04/2025 19:37

I didn’t realise Rochelle is vegan. Interesting job at the meat factory

Haha neither did I!
Why would anyone vegan want to work at a meat processing factory? Surely at some point she's going to have to deal with meat, or see animals going in and know what they're there for, or see carcasses etc. How does she square her vegan beliefs with making her wages from animals being slaughtered? What job will she do there, presumably if Vince is looking for new staff it will be something on the production line, unlikely to be an office job.
Another bizarre storyline.
Also if she's getting a job it looks like she won't be leaving any time soon unfortunately.

RegimentalSturgeon · 03/04/2025 19:45

I would assume she’s planning some form of sabotage.

Bruisername · 03/04/2025 19:51

Not again

Abra1t · 03/04/2025 19:53

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 03/04/2025 18:02

When Caroline Dropped the Wedding Cake.

The cake arrives

[Ian] “I promised Will I take delivery of his wedding cake with my own fair hands”

There’s already a problem with the cake, though. Rather than Eddie delivering it, they’ve had to entrust it to Joe (as Eddie had a last minute job). Will is not amused.

[Ian] “I’d be in a state if I thought my wedding cake was being transported in a pony and trap!”

Joe eventually struggles in with the cake – though it sounded like Ian and Caroline were more worried about Joe dropping it, than him feeling the burden on his 90+ bones. Seems he decided to carry all the tiers in at the same time rather than have to make 3 trips back and forth to the trap.

[Joe] “Clarrie put them in three boxes so it wouldn’t have hurt if I’d dropped one”

(eh?)

Anyhoo – Joe hands over the cake safely. So all is well …

Joe’s fixing the chandelier?

I thought Roy had said that it wouldn’t be a Del Boy and Rodney farce …

But all Joe wanted to do was have a look at it.

Caroline tries to stop him going up a ladder to do so.

[Joe] “Cause of all that health and safety nonsense?”

[Caroline] “Because I don’t want you spending Will’s wedding in hospital!”

Never one to listen, Joe tries to climb on the ladder that Caroline is already on. She manages to shoo him down before they both end up in hospital.

[Joe] “I just wanted to tell Will I’d checked the chandelier with me own eyes”

[Caroline] “You’re lucky it’s still there at all, if I’d had to hold onto it to steady the ladder!”

[Joe] “Sorry missus … Will’s last wedding turned into being a fiasco

The cake gets sat on

Ian and Caroline have opened the wedding cake boxes, and reckon it’s a stunner. Such intricacy.

[Ian] “Clarrie certainly knows how to ice a cake”

I’m still not clear why, but Caroline felt the need to pick up one of the tiers, and walk across the kitchen.

She slips. And comes down with a rather heavy bump. Onto the cake.

Oh dear.

[Caroline] “Never mind about me. Look at the cake. Oh Ian. What are we going to do?”

Ian blames himself for mopping down the floor after Joe’s muddy boots,

[Ian] “A wet kitchen floor is an accident waiting to happen, second rule in the chefs rule book”

[Caroline] “What’s the first?”

[Ian] “Don’t drop the wedding cake!”

Ian doesn’t seem too panicked. He has time to make up a new tier, though it’ll have to be sponge rather than fruit cake. He reckons the guests won’t notice (they’ll have had enough to drink by the cake cutting part of the day), and if Caroline makes sure that Nic and Will cut another tier, even they won’t notice. Though Ian is worried about the icing.

[Ian] “Icing a cake. It’s like a signature”

[Caroline] “Oh good lord, the top tier. Some people ask us to save it so they can use it as a christening cake!”

[Ian] “Well at least they won’t notice it was sponge until after the wedding … Do we even know Nic and Will want children, haven’t they got enough already!”

[Caroline] “I don’t know Ian. I can hardly ask them on their wedding day”

So Caroline will have to whip away two tiers – one because it’s sponge, and another to save for a possible christening.

Thank you!

Sidebeforeself · 03/04/2025 20:29

I only have one thing to say about the storylines at the moment … “ITS TOTAL AND UTTER SHITE” .
Thankyou for listening to my rant.

Gonners · 03/04/2025 20:38

Sidebeforeself · 03/04/2025 20:29

I only have one thing to say about the storylines at the moment … “ITS TOTAL AND UTTER SHITE” .
Thankyou for listening to my rant.

😁I think rants are usually more than 5 words long, @Sidebeforeself. I disagree, though ... total and utter shite would be more entertaining. At the moment it's just plain dull.

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 03/04/2025 20:43

I like Rochelle. She might be a scheming gold digger, but it could be an interesting storyline. I think she comes across as both vulnerable and potentially devious.

If she has got her sights on Vince that would upset Freddy, which would be a pity but the wrath of Elizabeth would be worth hearing.

I hope the SWs continue with the re-staging of the Malik wedding photos. It's so utterly absurd I want to hear how it pans out.

Bruisername · 03/04/2025 20:55

If only they hadn’t killed off constanza. There could have been some ‘hilarious’ photos of them as the bride and groom

TumbledTussocks · 03/04/2025 21:18

Well they clumsily reminded us she was vegan for a reason.

Bruisername · 03/04/2025 21:25

Good point

Sidebeforeself · 03/04/2025 21:40

@Gonners I know but I just need to have a lie down..

MorningCoffeePlease · 03/04/2025 22:28

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 03/04/2025 16:56

I think Clarrie made (an inevitable) lemon drizzle but it was dismissed by Gnasher as sub par.

Which was odd. One the few actually funny comedy moments was When Caroline Dropped the Wedding Cake before Will and Nic's wedding. Said cake having been baked by Clarrie and meeting with much approval from Caroline and Ian.

I remember it as not that Clarrie's lemon drizzle cake was sub par, but that it went a bit stale because the tearoom was not getting any customers at that time?

stilldumdedumming · 04/04/2025 08:53

Maybe I didn’t make up the Rochelle communal living/activism. I am vegan and I absolutely could not work at an abattoir. I am not militant at all. I just do what I think is right. Other people can do what they like. But I think most people would not work at an abattoir through choice. I worry how it affects people especially on such an industrial scale.

Bruisername · 04/04/2025 08:58

I think a lot of meat eaters would happily work in an abattoir tbh. And if you are going to eat it then you shouldn’t really be squeamish about it

I'm vegetarian and I wouldn’t work in an abattoir - although wasn’t there a thread on here once by a vegan being asked to go to an interview at an abattoir by the job centre? Or was that a troll

AzurePanda · 04/04/2025 09:02

I don’t think many women would be keen to work in an abbatoir let alone ones who are vegan.

Bruisername · 04/04/2025 09:04

I would imagine you would find more women in the packing part

Atichen · 04/04/2025 10:46

Can't speak for vegans but I'm vegetarian and have worked in a fish factory.... it was better pay than the deli counter at the supermarket and I needed the money

stilldumdedumming · 04/04/2025 12:01

Well no, meat eaters shouldn’t be squeamish but they are! I imagine there’s a difference between packing meat and killing animals. Maybe I could pack meat - but I would have to be desperate!

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 04/04/2025 14:58

MorningCoffeePlease · 03/04/2025 22:28

I remember it as not that Clarrie's lemon drizzle cake was sub par, but that it went a bit stale because the tearoom was not getting any customers at that time?

That was my understanding as well.

BeatriceBatchelor · 04/04/2025 17:35

Eddie sinks to new lows. Saying his 70 year old wife should work at the chicken factory because "needs must."

Ambridge · 04/04/2025 19:24

Rochelle seems to be getting mighty friendly with Vince. Just saying.

TottersBlankly · 04/04/2025 19:39

As I said a couple of days ago … She is one evil something.

And I’d forgotten Elizabeth’s heart. Even if she is imperious it will put a strain on her. This isn’t the way I want Freddie to come into his inheritance.

TottersBlankly · 04/04/2025 19:42

Although it can’t be an accident that Muck’s vegan supper was mentioned in the same episode as her meeting the owner of an abbatoir. As someone mentioned above, I’m not sure she really does want a job there.