Archers thread #189: Brian reaps what he sows, in spite of himself. 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 want to hear more from Markey, 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.)

Over to you!

Here is the 'secret' link, even if posting it reduces my chances of getting a ticket 😅

https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/june-spencer-celebration-17sept25

Oh yes, of course! Poor Henry ☹️

That was when Henry was what, five? It was in July 2016 that Rob gave Henry his own bat and ball, but I think he'd been bowling at Henry before that.

Very well spotted everyone who made the Rob connection. Unexpectedly good continuity.

I’ve just listened to the omnibus and Sundays and about to go into Monday - perhaps it’s my age/demo/line of work but I wondered if the Henry thing was more about the SW starting to comment on the dialogue about women’s sport tbh. There was a line about him saying ‘well, rugby, boxing - I wouldn’t be up against a woman would I?’ contrasted previously with a lot of Chelsea etc telling him he needs to treat women as equals in a sporting environment when it comes to cricket 🏏

OTOH, I also have commented under a previous user name that Henry has a lot to offer (in terms of SL and as a character) in terms of negotiating his ideas about being a ‘man’, especially with the relationship between him and George that was seeded before George went to prison.

I for one love Martyn Gibsons rehab, it’s really silly but as PP said I love the inter generational relationships - that’s what I personally listen to the archers for, and I liked his very graceful listening and responding to C+Z - it was very PSA from the BBC but I liked it.

Pat’s voice actor doesn’t sound the same this evening? Is she poorly?

is Amber going to have a botched turkey teeth job…? Eesh

is Amber going to have a botched turkey teeth job…? Eesh

I'll be very disappointed if it's not botched.

Brits warned of 'Turkey Teeth' dangers as 22 die following surgery - Leicestershire Live

There's hope.

You’re all meanies!

(secretly loves it)

It's been signalled loudly and clearly, and the SWs love a PSA.

The SWs are certainly teasing us with the prospect of at least one of the engaged couple being shuffled off the board before they have the chance to say I do.

Astonishing how Emma is beginning to sound like Clarrie … I pray George won’t break her heart by interfering his way into an overspill slot in St Stephen’s churchyard.

I'm looking forward to the potential consequences of Amber's adventures in Turkey, though sadly the actual proceedings will only be reported. At times like this we need Ambridge Extra!

I'm very much not looking forward to any bad consequences for Brad. He badly needs to talk to someone about this: Neil would be the obvious person, but his mum, or Jazzer, or even Chelsea would be a start.

The satisfactory references to Rob distracted me from the rapture of hearing about Amber's teeth again. It will be best if they kill her after she has had to appear at the wedding with nothing but gums to smile with. And maybe something infectious she can pass on to George. very good epi all round.

Or Amber to die of tragic teeth on her wedding day just before (or possibly after) one of Marky's pals shanks George. They are going to get married in the prison aren't they?

It will be so heartbreaking. I can't wait.

I'm vaguely hoping that Amber's Turkish dentistry experience will result in her never daring to show her teeth face in Ambridge (or anywhere else) again. If George could die of heartbreak, that would be a bonus.

I could cope (I think) with all her teeth falling out and her voice forever more being affected by ill-fitting dentures.

Otoh if she snuffs it people could remind George how vile he was when Nic died.

The story has SO MUCH PROMISE.

But the mystery of Who Stole It remains unsolved 😖

I was frustrated by the fact that neither of them mentioned that whilst Robert was off keeping Leonie happy, Lynda was left running the B&B on her own. Given that that entails cleaning, bed making, cooking and washing up, dealing with bookings and payments, meeting and greeting and generally keeping guests happy, and being on call for problems and crises, it's not exactly a picnic.

I'm a bit worried that if they kill Amber off, George will go all out on his mother's "Nothing good ever happens to us Grundys" self-pity and will then follow Uncle Clive's steps into violent crime. It would be much better if they do a botch job which kills off her influencer career and they then have to sort out the horror of actually paying for the wedding themselves. It could be make or break for them.

I find this really interesting - I’ve always believed equestrianism to be the only sport where men and women compete on equal terms…. I know nothing about cricket. Do men and women play on a team together at higher levels? And would being a woman be a physical disadvantage?

Ah, yes - a last minute Grundy scramble to put on a wedding in the cider shed sounds much more jolly!

@Gonners, you have entirely destroyed my peace by imagining a threat to Brad’s safety. Not only not do I not want anything to happen to him, the thought of Tracy spending the rest of her life hating the Grundys - with Susan stuck in the middle - is too awful to contemplate.

Cricket at high levels is segregated by sex - whilst professionalisation has seen women hit the ball harder and bowl faster there is still a difference

Professional cricket is split by gender.

I'm not remotely an expert but I assume it's because, on average, men tend to have more upper body strength (good for batting and bowling) and can run faster (good for fielding and running between the wickets).

Professional cricket is split by gender.

no. It's split by sex.

I find George a potentially very interesting long-term character. He has flashes of empathy and kindness and self awareness, but they tend to get swallowed up in his less attractive qualities. In that respect, he's a bit like his parents used to be when they were younger. Will and Emma could be solipsistic and poor-me but increasingly seem a bit less so these days.

We have yet to see someone going to court to try to prove that gender has more bearing than sex, either in women's cricket or in women's soccer at the highest level. I hope that stays the case.