Archers thread #190: Carry on, Cleo! Best new character for ages. 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 be delighted to have your wedding reception across the lawn from the local Flower & Produce Show, 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.)

Charlotte Smith must have been delighted to get back to Countryfile and Farming Today. What a pile of piffle tonight. Ah well.

When is George expected back? It can't be long now, surely. It occurs to me that I can't recall whether he's ever spoken on air to Ruairi. As their actors are currently the best (IMO) amongst the younger members of the cast, I hope they will cross swords in some way.

And finally, I can't mention Carry on Cleo without squeezing in one of the best lines ever written (Denis Norden and Frank Muir have the credit): Infamy, infamy! They've all got it in for me! Currently, Lily probably feels this way.

https://youtube.com/shorts/eRnd48yTC5A?si=N05njp3uLfpSjAmI

Over to you!

I'm delighted at the return of Ruairi, though I would very much like Paul to accidentally euthanise himself while sorting out the veterinary supplies cupboard. We don't need his input into the situation.

Dane has been very odd from the start: I can't remember if they were even expecting him, but if they were then perhaps "Dane" is an imposter who intercepted the Real Dane on his way to GG?

I don't think they need him to destroy GG, though. Oliver seems quite capable of handling that without outside help.

I would prefer Ruairi to Adam as someone I had to listen to for any length of time. He whinges less.

I have a theory about Dane. He's not Dane the Great, he's a Great Dane, specifically, Scooby Doo. That explains everything!

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime ... It's not so much the whingeing as the intensely irritating languid, droning voice!

oh god, Brian is showing so much favouritism to Ruairi it is sick making for Adam.

The next few months are going to be interesting as it slowly dawns on Adam that if the 3 of them work together, Brian will be grooming his One True Son as the heir and everyone else can go hang. I wonder if he'll ask to go back to Bridge Farm and get knocked back?

Bit of a diversion for a moment but if anyone’s interested - I chanced across a 1954 series on R4 Extra the other day, Red for Danger, written by Edward J Mason (co-creator of TA) and featuring in the cast a young Peggy (June Spencer), Grace Archer (Ysanne Churchman) and Jeck (Arnold Peters).

It's an enjoyable bit of period hokum clearly ripped off from Paul Temple but worth a listen if anyone has a soft spot for antique BBC drama.

Link here

In a way I’m almost disappointed.

Obviously we’ve been waiting for this particular Prodigal Son to return to the fold - but we’ve been led to believe he has a life in London. He’s young, healthy, educated, attractive, and had a nice flat and a job of sorts. So surely also friends, a girlfriend or boyfriend, an annual pass at an expensive gym, a GP, a dentist, food in his freezer, clothes in his wardrobe, invitations, dates and appointments booked, a whole host of other things - and now he can just shrug his shoulders and forget it all without a backward glance?

And he presumably arrived in Ambridge with a toothbrush and clothes for a couple of weeks?

I wanted him back - but unless there’s some follow-up regarding his London life, this writing seems stupidly hasty and amateur. Where’s his baggage?

If he’s dropping out of his graduate role so soon it suggests he wasn’t very good at it

I somehow always got the impression that he was exaggerating how great his London life was and he was never really happy or successful there. Also the sordid memories of his time escorting.

Oh yes, clearly - it’s obvious he wasn’t thriving, but there will still be a whole life he appears to have just dropped.

It's easy to do that when you're young and single though, no mortgage, no responsibilities, he knew Brian would take care of him financially so no worries about that, give a month's notice to his landlord and employer and walk away. He might have good friends but perhaps not, could just be more like a bunch of acquaintances.
I think it's not unrealistic for him to come back in the way he has.

@Gonners I think maybe it's the constant whingeing in an intensely irritating languid, droning voice...

same. He has already said he did badly on the Graduate thingy, and hadn't made any connections. So i assume he is either unemployed or working as a barista or something. Coming back may have always been his Plan B, but it has certainly turned up at the right time.

I think Ruairi would be working for the same type of company as an old boss of mine worked for.
As a grad, you'd get a placement, but in between placement you'd be 'on the bench'.

Is Ruari allowed on this holiday? He's not an Archer nor in a relationship with one.

Harsh! 😄 He’s the half-sibling of Archers, so I think his seat on the tour bus is safe.

Aldridges.

How did Peggy view him?

Archers, @TheCrasher. (Aldridge just enables their continuation!)

I think Peggy viewed Ruairi as the bastard son of a man she threatened to horsewhip for cheating on Peggy's daughter. Not even remotely an Archer, nor her descendant.

😂

so that’s a no to him being on the holiday list!!

Glad we've cleared that up!

I’m howling at the idea of poor Ruairi waving off the bus full of jolly holiday makers, leaving him standing mournfully at the Welcome to Ambridge road sign! 😂😂😂

And he’ll have to run all the farms while they’ve gone to his castle

You know, listening to tonight I’m afraid the SWs are ahead of us for once - everyone loves Ruairi’s idea, and pretty soon he’ll find he’s not invited.