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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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Madcats · 23/04/2025 14:52

I’m a bit puzzled why Freddie thinks that Rochelle is good with people; she has just been flakey and pushy and dowright stroppy as far as I can see! Her obsession with getting to the slaughter area would be ringing alarm bells for all but the daftest dullard.

If the school contract is important, Vince would be there for an hour or two, not at his mother’s bedside.

I still can’t figure out what the vegans plan to do and am past caring.

Bruisername · 23/04/2025 15:04

Free the cows!!!

and take them to the commune? And then what? Or do they think they can escape and live wild?

CaptainMyCaptain · 23/04/2025 15:14

Saskia mentioned chaining themselves to machinery.

Bruisername · 23/04/2025 15:21

I don’t really want to hear about the inner layout and workings of the abattoir in that much detail tbh

Godesstobe · 23/04/2025 15:24

When Mick went to what he thought was Rochelle's address when Joy was in hospital, did he go to Benny's house or the commune I wonder?

Although Joy has been in TA for some years now, she has always felt like a random extra character to me because she has never had an important relationship with any of the established characters. Living next to Helen is her biggest claim and apart from that she has been inserted in the shop, fete, Ben's problems, etc in a way that has always seemed forced and arbitrary. Joy's important relationships are with Mick and Rochelle, two other random, unconnected characters.

I don't really have the words to express how completely uninterested I am in all three of them. As others have said, it feels as though they are in a separate, free-standing programme.

MissMarplesNiece · 23/04/2025 17:40

"I still can’t figure out what the vegans plan to do"

I saw a news item a couple of weeks ago about hidden cameras in an abattoir that had recorded acts of cruelty towards animals going in for slaughter. Maybe filming is the only intention.

DeanElderberry · 23/04/2025 17:53

I thought I heard a reference to chaining themselves to something, but maybe I read it here or imagined it. I have been imagining Rochelle grabbing a knife and holding Freddie's VIPs hostage.

DeanElderberry · 23/04/2025 17:55

Preferably with Vince there, and someone who knows F's trustees so that he can save the day, will fame and respect, and get his inheritance.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 23/04/2025 17:56

Godesstobe
When Mick went to what he thought was Rochelle's address when Joy was in hospital, did he go to Benny's house or the commune I wonder?

When he wanted to invite her to Joy's Surprise Birthday Party, not when Joy was in hospital and he was told Rochelle had already visited her, but yes, that's an interesting speculation: if it was the shared house, either Rochelle was thrown out quite a long time ago or their policy is always to deny her existence. Which would be interesting either way. At least as interesting as the rest of the SL, anyway. And I think Benny is living in Stroud, or we've been told her was.

MissMarplesNiece
Maybe filming is the only intention.

I am fairly sure Saskia stated that they intended to chain (handcuff?) themselves to the machinery.

Bruisername · 23/04/2025 17:57

all they want Rochelle to do is give them access so they can perform a protest

i just hope they get it over and done with quickly

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 23/04/2025 19:15

JudyCoolibar · 23/04/2025 11:08

and why did Joy say she'd been at Casey Meats?

Maybe so that Helen could start a few conversations about how it is odd that a vegan is working in a slaughterhouse?

I'm wondering about the furniture situation. Is Kirsty taking over Roy's furniture and leaving hers for Helen and Tom? Otherwise how does Helen have enough beds etc? Don't any of them want to choose their own stuff?

I think Gnasher and Hellqueen are talking about furniture now but my brain has seized up. It's the stupidest storyline in, well about a fortnight.

Can we just fast forward to the inevitable showdown?

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 23/04/2025 19:19

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 23/04/2025 17:56

Godesstobe
When Mick went to what he thought was Rochelle's address when Joy was in hospital, did he go to Benny's house or the commune I wonder?

When he wanted to invite her to Joy's Surprise Birthday Party, not when Joy was in hospital and he was told Rochelle had already visited her, but yes, that's an interesting speculation: if it was the shared house, either Rochelle was thrown out quite a long time ago or their policy is always to deny her existence. Which would be interesting either way. At least as interesting as the rest of the SL, anyway. And I think Benny is living in Stroud, or we've been told her was.

MissMarplesNiece
Maybe filming is the only intention.

I am fairly sure Saskia stated that they intended to chain (handcuff?) themselves to the machinery.

She did. This storyline is vying with the "let's play sardines at Beechwood" nonsense for the prize of this week's stupidest story.

Bruisername · 23/04/2025 19:20

Henry sounds older all of a sudden. Older than Rochelle in fact

helens cleaning is a bit like a dog pissing all over the house? Nice to see the tension already!!!

where does all joys money come from!!!!!

too heavy on the same characters all the time

Bruisername · 23/04/2025 19:26

The thing is - I don’t want to know what kind of machinery they have at an abattoir!!!

DeanElderberry · 23/04/2025 19:32

But I am glad that Natasha wants Helen gone ASAP. Sensible, and I think what Tash wants Tash gets.

Will the twins smash the vase, bleed all over the place and trigger Helen or indeed Henry.

Gonners · 23/04/2025 19:44

I assume that Natasha has maxed out absolutely every credit card she can get her hands on to furnish a house with stuff that will be absolutely ruined within weeks by spillage from a pair of 2-year-old monstrous twins, stinkage from Henwy's goaty boots and the vague but omnipresent miasma of evil from Son of Rob. Not to mention the cheese!

How long do we give this ménage à sept?

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 23/04/2025 19:46

DeanElderberry · 23/04/2025 19:32

But I am glad that Natasha wants Helen gone ASAP. Sensible, and I think what Tash wants Tash gets.

Will the twins smash the vase, bleed all over the place and trigger Helen or indeed Henry.

But not sensible enough to ask why Helen is moving back at all.

DeanElderberry · 23/04/2025 19:56

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 23/04/2025 19:46

But not sensible enough to ask why Helen is moving back at all.

Very fair point.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 23/04/2025 20:04

Doesn't everyone who was renting a house move back into it after the owner has sold it?

Eastie77Returns · 23/04/2025 20:06

Natasha is just so wonderfully awful.

Has Helen made any effort to find somewhere to live? I haven’t heard her mention looking at all.

EBearhug · 23/04/2025 20:10

A friend has just been telling me about a fish finger sandwich he had at work yesterday. I'm trying not to cause confusion with TA-related comments.

Gonners · 23/04/2025 20:16

Eastie77Returns · 23/04/2025 20:06

Natasha is just so wonderfully awful.

Has Helen made any effort to find somewhere to live? I haven’t heard her mention looking at all.

Agree about Natasha - I bloody love Mali Harries. More of her, please!

I assume Helen is assuming that if she's sufficiently ghastly (very much not a problem for her) she can live there as long as she likes. I look forward to her eviction.

northwestgirl · 23/04/2025 20:20

agree it would be great if Freddie saved the day at Casey's

but he will have to buck his ideas up he's already missed some very suspicious behaviour

doesn't he know she's a vegan? I could just about buy that a vegan might work at an abbatoir if it was the only job available, but they would hardly be angling to progress there

EBearhug · 23/04/2025 20:21

I assume Helen thinks she being helpful rather than ghastly.

Gonners · 23/04/2025 20:46

EBearhug · 23/04/2025 20:21

I assume Helen thinks she being helpful rather than ghastly.

You' may be right ... though it would be entirely out of character for her to even consider the possibility of being helpful. There's some almost feline territory marking going on. In real life, Helen would be doomed to lose.

I do hope Pat and Tony take different sides in this. I mean, I wouldn't side with either of them - drippy Tom vs. manipulative Helen = a curse on both their houses.