Archers thread #183: The Scorekeeper's Apprentice. 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 like to share a hot tub with Mucky Mick, 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 @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. ) Over to you!

Clarrie certainly seems the obvious choice but suspect they will find some last minute solution that they both get to keep their jobs after all.

I didn't even realise Mick was talking at first, he sounded completely different to me. Or have I just brain bleached all his previous scenes?

God only knows. I imagine her as one of those middle class Mums who sends a few emails and is sure to tell everyone in earshot how busy she is.

She doesn’t even seem to have a handle on the financials.

all I’ve heard her do is try and get sales (fair enough) and when she went on holiday Adam had to cover her for some reason but I get the impression he was a bit baffled

Why does any doctor live in a village then? Maybe she felt it was a good opportunity, maybe she fancied living a more peaceful life in the countryside. I like the Maliks and find them an interesting family.

Me too @SallyWD. A Dr is always a really useful character for the SWs anyway and I like the fact they've brought some teens with them.

I also appreciate the fact they've introduced a Muslim family. There has been so much dehumanising language used about Muslims recently that it's important to show Muslims as normal families living normal lives.

Totally agree @SallyWD, I'm not Muslim but I've mentioned on here before that I have loads of Muslim colleagues (actually, many are also my friends) and it really isn't a big deal.

Talking about Ramadan and how friends are preparing for Eid is a totally normal part of my day at the moment. Just as I might talk about Easter with a Christian friend who is observing lent to a greater or lesser degree. Why should The Archers be any different?

I suspect that many people might be afraid that emphasis is given to Muslim worship simply because "Christians" seem much less likely to have anything in particular to do with their religion than Muslims appear to. I put "Christians" into inverted commas there because I know many people who would tick "Christian" on a form asking for their religion but have not set foot in a church for ten or twenty years or since their wedding, whereas people who tick "Muslim" on such a form are a lot more likely to have had something to do with that faith during at least the past year, and mostly far more often than that.

Christian is a default position in this country and is very often meaningless. Muslim requires thought and intent.

I don't want to discuss anyone's religion. If a Christian had been telling me as much about their religion as the Maliks have I'd be just as uninterested. I find the Malik children rude and their parents dull.

The best way to have a Muslim family is to not have them really mention it tbh. The only character I expect to go on about their religion is Alan tbh because it’s his job

now if they were a vegan family I would expect to hear about it a lot

i wonder what happened to Denise’s ex after he was booted out

Yes, good point. She keeps talking to the accountant, but those numbers would be within her own reach, you’d hope.

Christian is a default position in this country and is very often meaningless. Muslim requires thought and intent.

I don’t know, I suppose both religions have both ‘types’ and a spectrum at that. I’m still not interested in whole storylines about it though. Mentions, yes, as is normal in daily life.

Off at a slight tangent, but can you imagine Helen on Dragons' Den? She'd be one of those aspiring entrepreneurs who reel off a rehearsed intro with props and then fall apart as soon as a Dragon asks a taxing question like 'What was your gross profit last year?' There would be tears. One of the less tough Dragons would say 'I really like you and you're very impressive, but ...' A tougher Dragon would have raised eyebrows and would say straight out 'This is really basic stuff that you should know ...'

I'd pay good money to see it, actually.

Oh yes! Suggest that to the BBC! Maybe they could do an Ambridge special, Eddie could pitch and maybe Fallon and her vegan tea room.

Helen would of course think the dragons are dreadfully mean to her for not investing. Tony and Pat would wring their hands and worry that the whole experience will be too much for poor Helen.

Agreed. The BBC would, of course, have to keep a very close eye on the cheese knives in case Helen got really stressed ...

There was a comment about absence of certain cast members on #182, so I can't resist; I now have 24 weeks of castlists up until 11 April 25.
Distinctly missing in action we have Ian & Denise (and probably a few others I have forgotten about).
Appearing for just one week we have - Jill, Josh, Pip(!), Will, Chelsea, Alistair, Paul, Adam, Stella
2 weeks - Chris, Kate, Elizabeth, Hannah
Interim stats might be too spoilery, but...
...appearing 14 weeks we have Helen & Joy, closely followed by Susan, Kirsty and Emma at 13 weeks each.

Back to the dairy
I would have thought ice cream and yoghurt etc is reasonably seasonal, so the Dairy OUGHT to be gearing up for some big new flavours for the Easter holidays, not making their staff fearful they'll soon be on the dole.

I find the fact they are losing all these orders really odd as they have longstanding relationships and I don’t think buyers would end the contract so quick

Something like this, maybe (one of the first hits on Google for ice cream Easter eggs). https://rubyviolet.co.uk/products/miss-rubys-ice-cream-easter-eggs?srsltid=AfmBOorFkSGt9uqlBSWkRn5d_1hrdTXT_aDKrfEbc-3d-jfuIS9hoxnD

Or these, probably a bit healthier. https://www.healthyfood.com/healthy-recipes/frozen-yoghurt-easter-egg-pops/

A doctor is really useful to START interesting plotlines about Jim's skin cancer and Neil's dodgy heart, and then abandon them.

I thought she did more with Tom and the Kefir but also I was wondering if they were thinking about the fact she ran the post office, shop etc

When the issue first came up I thought they would job share but I guess that would cost too much employer wise

I say give it to Clarrie - she gif the best

Clarrie did the best interview by far , Shame Helen is changing the goalposts as it suits her

i was really hoping they'd both decline to apply.

As long as the dragons don't mention shop bought custard they should be ok!

I have been assuming that eventually someone will have the amazing brainwave to make it a job share.

I think they're only mentioning it so much because it's Ramadam. It's the highlight of the Muslim year.