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Archers thread #184: It’s a shambles! And we don’t mean Casey Meats. Discuss The Archers here.

992 replies

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/04/2025 12:03

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're looking forward to Morris dancing on the radio, 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.)

Right, to business. I can't say I'm delighted that the focus is on Rochelle and Casey Meats at the moment, because I'm not. All far too peripheral to Ambridge and too new. As I say ad nauseam, more farming storylines please, and where are all the long-standing members of the cast? The discussion about inheritance tax in The Bull the other night was a bit clunky, but what a refreshing change to hear two familiar voices, both farmers, talking about farming-related stuff, even if BBC balance meant they had to be challenged by two non-farmers, and even if it is months after the Budget introduced these changes. Ah well.

I was tempted to put one of my Dad's terrible jokes into the thread title as an oblique reference to George's coffin-making idea, but it wouldn't have made sense to anyone else. He loved referring to the cemetery as the Dead Centre of the island, so I was pondering something about Grange Farm becoming the Dead Centre of Ambridge. It could happen yet. Emma and Ed could provide willow branches and Clarrie could sit in the kitchen weaving them. Surely it must be similar to knitting?

Finally, if the SWs are lurking and looking for new storylines, it's been very dry recently and there have been lots of wildfires in rural areas. There was a bad one on Gaspmother Island a few days ago. Many farmers are very worried about this at the moment, as reported on Farming Today last week. But what am I thinking! This is a story that only works in a rural setting, so in the current incarnation of TA, it's not soapy enough. Hmm

Over to you!

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Godesstobe · 22/04/2025 13:42

I don't care how the Rochelle and the Abbatoir story pans out as long as it doesn't result in Rochelle being redeemed and spending the rest of her life in Ambridge. I very much do not want Freddie or Rex to fall in love with her. Happy for ithe SL to involve abbatoir arson and for Rochelle to do a Grace Archer as long as no animals are harmed.

Bruisername · 22/04/2025 13:44

She is way too old for Freddie thankfully

i fear she will be saved by the villagers though. I’d rather they got the torches and pitchforks out

Madcats · 22/04/2025 14:25

The trouble with having made Harrison a hopeless Cop, who wears his heart on his sleeve and who can’t keep things confidential, is that his chances of being successful undercover are remote.

I am not entirely sure what the culty vegans have planned, but Saskia sounds more like a social worker or school counsellor than somebody planning a protest!

I’m greatly encouraged at the prospect of Rochelle having to flee Ambridge for good, though. I might chip in £3 for her bus fare to get her started!

TheUsualChaos · 22/04/2025 15:07

I don't care how the Rochelle and the Abbatoir story pans out as long as it doesn't result in Rochelle being redeemed and spending the rest of her life in Ambridge.

Ditto. Sadly I think this outcome is exactly what the SW have in mind.

Abra1t · 22/04/2025 17:07

Madcats · 22/04/2025 14:25

The trouble with having made Harrison a hopeless Cop, who wears his heart on his sleeve and who can’t keep things confidential, is that his chances of being successful undercover are remote.

I am not entirely sure what the culty vegans have planned, but Saskia sounds more like a social worker or school counsellor than somebody planning a protest!

I’m greatly encouraged at the prospect of Rochelle having to flee Ambridge for good, though. I might chip in £3 for her bus fare to get her started!

Saskia and Harrison fall for one another when he is 'undercover' and he runs away with her?

I mean, there are some positives we should explore.

Bruisername · 22/04/2025 17:12

Saskia doesn’t sound like the sort to dress up as maid Marion

Nettleteaser101 · 22/04/2025 17:18

I think Rochelle will try and let all the animals out, slip and get trampled to death on lakey Hill just before they light the beacon. ( I don't suppose Lakey Hill is any where near Caseys Meats.) Oh and Sakias hair gets set alight as she gets push into the beacon. That won't happen though as the sw are a bit pants.

Bruisername · 22/04/2025 18:05

This site is driving me nuts - interesting threads started and then the OP disappears so obviously fake

peoples reading comprehension is so poor - is that really the case in society at large?

this thread is the only sane place here!! Even the squabbles are civilised!!!

Gonners · 22/04/2025 18:09

Saskia sounds closer to Brian's age than Harrison's. She sounded like something of a mum-substitute for Rochelle.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 22/04/2025 18:40

Bruisername
peoples reading comprehension is so poor - is that really the case in society at large?

I dunno, but a while back it was said that tabloids used a vocabulary of about eight hundred words to fit into what was thought to be likely to be their readership's vocabulary (in the latter case, they would also have a specialist vocabulary of their interests or job, but the tabloids didn't use specialist printer's vocabulary).

TottersBlithely · 22/04/2025 19:24

I’m sure I wondered, last time it came up, why an adult with no small children to feed would have fish fingers in the house. Everyone told me I was ridiculous, but it still seems weird to me.

Brefugee · 22/04/2025 19:30

haha - we have no small children and i will be away next week. DH has written Fish Fingers on the shopping list - he always has a fish finger sandwich for his dinner at one point while I'm away.

Not sure why that is A Thing - we often have a FF sandwich for lunch at the weekend.

Back to TA: I think the way Saskia talks to Rochelle sounds like a coersive controlling partner. Awful.

JanFebAndOnwards · 22/04/2025 19:32

Bruisername · 22/04/2025 17:12

Saskia doesn’t sound like the sort to dress up as maid Marion

This wins the thread!!!

JanFebAndOnwards · 22/04/2025 19:34

Yes Rochelle is stuck emotionally as a scared 15 yo, masking some of the time as a sensibleish 40 something

Bruisername · 22/04/2025 19:42

Needs must - Helen doesn’t NEED to tread on her brothers toes and live with him in his new house

freddie is so wet

talk about joy rubbing Rochelle’s nose in it - however inadvertently. They really dragged out Helen telling joy about bumping into Rochelle. And how odd to invite Helen round me expect Rochelle to cook. And as a mum to primary school kid she would definitely be having fishfinger leftovers on a regular basis

How does Rochelle get around? How far is this commune🙄

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/04/2025 19:44

TottersBlithely · 22/04/2025 19:24

I’m sure I wondered, last time it came up, why an adult with no small children to feed would have fish fingers in the house. Everyone told me I was ridiculous, but it still seems weird to me.

No small children in my house but we like the very occasional fish finger sandwich so keep some in the freezer.

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 22/04/2025 20:00

This storyline is cobblers.

Even Peta and Compassion in World Farming wouldn't be targetting a well run abattoir. The activists would make more sense if they were targetting a make up testing lab.

I could go a fish finger sandwich how. Ironically what I've got is a Guardian Feast vegan meal cooked by my husband- pickled new potatoes with curd rice.

Gonners · 22/04/2025 20:07

@Bruisername How does Rochelle get around?

Broomstick?

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 22/04/2025 20:09

Has Harrison met Rochelle?

Choccyp1g · 22/04/2025 20:14

Well, Rex is the only taxi in Ambridge, so that might be interesting.

GingerEden · 22/04/2025 21:46

Gonners · 22/04/2025 20:07

@Bruisername How does Rochelle get around?

Broomstick?

😆😆

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 22/04/2025 21:55

I've got nothing to add to any of this but you lot are on a roll! Keep it coming.

OP posts:
Nettleteaser101 · 23/04/2025 04:53

We always have fish fingers in the freezer and it's only me and my DH.

muddyford · 23/04/2025 05:22

Same here!

Blueyseviltwin · 23/04/2025 06:39

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 22/04/2025 20:09

Has Harrison met Rochelle?

So Harrison's undercover job is chasing vegan cults.

This is the worst storyline. I just want a nice bit of rural life.

I also cannot get past what a ridiculous choice it is for Helen to live in a normal detached house with her brother rather than a farmhouse with her parents where her son can be with his goats.