Archers thread #188: New Order, please! 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 love to spend time with Martyn Gibson, 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.)

In some haste as we are going out for the day. I was asked weeks ago to put I've Killed the Vicar in as the new title but I agree with more recent comments that Peggy's funeral feels like old news now. Great line, though. Sorry not to have used Markie Malarkey, though. I've settled on something that will only make sense to people who were also youngish in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Here's a clue. If a certain person appears in tomorrow's episode the title will be relevant.

Over to you!

@MinnieBaldock I'm the same re ACGAS. I thought the remake could never be as good as the original but have enjoyed it immensely. There was an episode of the old series on and I thought I'd watch it to see how much better it was. I didn't like it at all, RH's Seigfried made me so tense. I now think I must have been having an off day because I've watched many more of them since and am enjoying them, especially Seigfried, so much. I do prefer Callum Woodhouse's Tristan to Peter Davison's.

I have to say I've wondered about the welfare of some of the animals in the older series, whether they were drugged, some did look very ropey. At least we don't need to worry about that with The Archers.

Eh? I must have missed that.

I have a vague recollection of that too. Was Michael Cochrane's character particularly angry or nasty in it? Every time I see his face I'm expecting something horrible to come out of his mouth.

Yes, I vaguely remember that!

I recently watched the original ACGAS all the way through. As much as I can see why they cast the first Helen, I liked the second one more. Robert Hardy was a fine actor, but I can remember when I first watched it, i was confused as to how he could be Tristan's brother. I haven't watched the remake.

I was a bit confused at the reference to Callum.

I was quite young when I first watched the original series. Times have changed since the 1970s.

BBC - The Archers Blog: Six diamond decades - the 1970s

You should read the original books they're full of drunk driving in unroadworthy cars. Different times.

I did read them, but it was a long time ago.

Now Brian has gone away for a week, I’d like to get back to Beechwood and see more of Helen/Natasha living together though I expect Joy will show up tonight instead…

I note Ben is still dropping his T’s - ‘jobs are so com-pe-a-ive’…

Horrible cricket man is Rupert Vansittart, and he was in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

IIRC, Oliver and Leonard were both teachers in King Street Junior on R4.

I was pleased to have a touch of realism when Ben talked about how difficult it is to get a job.

I noticed however that David didn't suggest looking further afield, which is what most parents would do surely. Ben doesn't have to stay in Ambridge.

i re-read a few recently, and i am sure they have chopped them up and reissued them.

Still a lot of fun reading about pre-war rural Yorkshire

Horrible cricket man is Rupert Vansittart, and he was in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

he was a slitheen in Doctor Who - so that is what we shout whenever he appears on TV in anything at all ever.

Also, isn't Leonard the Mr Mason in Downton Abbey?

I watched the original series of ACGAS as a child and still have the full set of books. Plus the photo book, 'James Herriot's Yorkshire'.

Yes, he's been in all sorts of things. I used to like that R4 series whose name I can't remember where an aspiring comedian rang home. 'Leonard' was his Dad. He was also in Last Tango in Halifax, I think.

My Dad met James Herriot several times in the line of duty. He organised book signings and met a lot of people that way. He liked JH, but of course he had a head start as far as my parents were concerned because he was Scottish.

Tom Wrigglesworth, Gasp0de.

Oooh, the very suggestion! Wash your mouth out with soap and water!

Johnny come home
Ben's not leaving is he.
Josh has gone AWOL
When did we last hear Lizzie or Frilly?
Where's Daniel?

I'd like to hear more from the Beechwood Executive Home.

CaptainMyCaptain
"JudyCoolibar · Yesterday 22:54
So Chris turns out to be illiterate. Who knew?"
Eh? I must have missed that.

He sends texts without punctuation, and this was being laughed about by Kate and Jakob, I think it was. Possibly Kirsty too.

Leonard has a very distinctive voice. Was he in Happy Valley as well or am I getting my Sarah Lancashire programmes mixed up?

When Natasha first came on the scene I didn't like her, it looked like she was going to be trouble. What does the panel think - has she improved any?

I had TA on in the car and heard the repeat. Jakob mentioned the text messages lacking punctuation but I thought Kate and Kirsty were laughing at Jakob for being so ... well, Jakob. Lots of people don't bother with punctuation in texts although I am something of a stickler myself but it doesn't mean he is illiterate and I would think less of Kate and Kirsty laughing at him if he actually was. (I may have missed some commas out there but I'll let it stand and hope nobody laughs at me)

Natasha can be unpredictable. I can't imagine what it's like at the BEH.
Natasha, Tom, Helen, 2 toddlers, one primary school age boy and a teenager.

The twins will be 3 on 8/8/25

It wouldn't be my cup of tea, that's for sure.

The twins will be 3 on 8/8/25

No way! They were only born a few weeks ago.

Perhaps I should tune in more often.

Wasn’t it Last Tango, @NebulousSadTimes? He was the Derek Jacobi character’s friend.