Archers thread #187: Send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for Peggy. 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 Harrison to hasten home, 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.)

Thanks to John Donne for the title inspiration. The funeral of the century beckons. How much of it do we think we will hear? Kate confirmed tonight that Shula, Debbie, Noli and Sipho are all coming. If we hear one peep from any of them I'll be amazed. Bets on Hazel turning up?

Over to you!

I thought that. I'd forgotten about the Markie stuff by that point I was so overwhelmed by wonderwoman.

<holds head together with paper clips>

Listening now. I'm starting to get the same vibes from Joy as a few years back when Gregg Wallace was on absolutely everything. What hold do these people have on others? They're not omnipresent because of their talents.

I said as a joke a couple of threads ago that the Joy actor must be shagging some VIP in the BBC's drama department but I'm now actually convinced it's true.

On the other hand she could have agreed to work for free for a year. That's the only plausible alternative.

I practically cheered when Kenton left the room, I thought he'd finally been the first person to see the light. But my hopes were cruelly dashed when it was just the Markie business.

Joy being successfully able to turn her hand to absolutely anything is just a joke now.

I'm sure Joy's voice is louder than that of any other character. If I walk out of the kitchen when TA is on, I can't hear any other character speaking but I can still hear Joy.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g Don’t worry about shoe horning Joy into the next title..I have a horrible fear there will be plenty of opportunities!

How about ‘a Joyless bunch’ in there somewhere

Ambridge on the Couch is great. The synopsis is always concise and funny (and a good way of catching up on plot. The chat tends to focus on the psychology and motivations of the characters. As a relatively new Archers listener I like hearing insights into the previous decades’ plots. They typically end each week with new a musical pastiche of the Archers theme, by Matt Rodriguez-Payne. This week due to all the ominous goings on it was Jaws. 🦈 😂

Can we please NOT have any mention of Joy in the next title. I am trying to train myself to ignore her existence.

I also thought Kenton walked out because he couldn't stand another second of Joy - but sadly not. I would cross the road - a motorway even - to avoid Joy in real life so why does everyone in Ambridge love her so much?

There are no limits to Joy's talents but have none of them noticed that she wasn't a resounding success at being even a half decent mother?

I was hoping something on her CV that would then lead to them finding out she’d spent time in prison

I might have to stop listening - can’t stand Joy Division - even Helen sounds a tad more bearable compared ??!!!

Joy - less is sucking out my soul.

Don’t think I’ve met a person called Joy irl that filled me with a tiny bit of joy.

I think I dislike her more than any other character they have ever aired.

Every minute she’s on is bloody torture.

Did I say I hate Joy !?

On and on about her catering skills, her presentation of a sandwich skills, her ability to cook chips and have them ready at just the right time. Aaaaaaaargh.

I don't hate Joy but I'm puzzled by what the script writers are up to.

Same here.

I've bored about this in the past, but like Harrison, two perfectly reasonable characters have been turned inside out to service SLs.

I agree Harrison's character was changed to suit the needs of the SWs, but what SL is Joy servicing? Her actual SL with Rochelle has turned out to be very dull, and there seems to be no reason why this personality-free character is being inserted into every other SL. I really do think the SWs are having a little private joke and playing some kind of Joy bingo among themselves.

Only it's not such a private joke any more because we have noticed what is going on. So they have had their fun and can call it a day now before we all stop listening for good.

Unless that has been the aim all along and Joy was deliberately created to drive down audience figures and give the BBC an excuse to bring TA to an end.

I'm quite surprised Henry's school turns out to be full of little thugs, I wouldn't have thought Helen would contemplate that for her little ones.

She has no choice. Borchester Green is the only state secondary in the whole of Borsetshire, and she can't afford to send them to Felpersham Cathedral School.

and Amber still sounds ten years older

God Amber is unbearable in her rudeness and psychoness

nice to hear Usha even if it was part of the markie sl

I just love Brad

If they put Amber and Lily in a scene together, would anyone be able to tell the difference?

It’s all just tedious. Who cares about someone who’s so patently a cardboard cut-out with zero believability on any level?

No Joy but dreary, rude Amber. Poor Brad.

It’s just thoroughly bizarre

and do you still get super thick glasses?

Is she going to start harassing Alice

maybe she and Joy can get into a fight which leads to both dying

Amber is quite convincingly dreadful. And I liked the way Brad so very obviously failed to admire her!

DH reckons Amber was Andrew (or similar boy's name) at school, hence Brad not really remembering her.
She's undergone a transformation and the green contact lenses will turn out to be the least of it...