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.

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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!

So miles is trustee of the land - isn’t his role to ensure maximum value for it and isn’t he letting Ed use it for free?

No idea what rent if any is being paid; I don't think we were told. Or if we were I can't remember.

Have we ever heard a Grey Gorbals guest speak? My theory is that everything that goes on there is happening in Oliver's imagination.

Ask Charlotte Smith?
Not that she was a guest but she was a judge in fete held in the grounds.

We used to, but that was back when the Blessed Vanessa aka Vablesser was the editor.

And before Oliver went mad ...

I’m nowhere near up to date with the thread, but I just wanted to ask - Is Brian really losing it? He doesn’t seem that different to usual to me.

I am right with you My Captain. Just popped onto the thread in the vain hope that I might have missed something interesting......

You mean you expect other people to do the heavy lifting for you? Tut! Which character are you channelling? Helen springs to mind, but there are so very many possibilities ...

🤣
I did actually hear it today.

I wonder whether Dane ever runs any of his ideas past Helen? Her reaction could be interesting.

No one outraged at Brian’s sheer … Brian-ness tonight? Even a favourite daughter can’t expect to be treated decently when there’s a Prodigal bewitching Dad …

I know! I mean no one seems to ever pick up on pretty obvious mood/intonation/silences as you would in real life.

i wonder if anyone from school is going to show up to George’s party

Yes, I find that quite frustrating. Almost all the characters seem to be significally impaired in their processing of social clues. Weirdly, one of the less-impaired seems to be Brad, who is the one that has been drawn on occasion to possibly be autistic: if he were, at least he'd have an excuse, but Brian?! I

think having a Brian-retires storyline is in itself a good idea, considering his age, but other than the ridiculousness over the wheat harvest, we've not really had examples of Brian struggling with day-to-day management, or even with driving a tractor for hours on end. And he sounds perfectly vigorous and mentally with it, even if somewhat unreasonable on occasion (which is hardly new). I do feel for Alice: on her birthday, no less. Although tbh I've not got the impression that Alice is terribly interested in farming, and being a yard manager at The Stables seems a better fit for her...

As for Brad's party, I suspect the "school friends" won't show. George was so friendless in school, that he palled up with the math nerd, FFS!

Yes, and on Crash Night George was only on the scene to save Alice from herself (which, in fairness, he did ... because she would probably have woken up and driven home, still well over the limit) because he'd effectively been thrown out of his so-called mates' party for bringing fruit cider.

That silence was SO long I actually tried to adjust the volume! Has Brian completely forgotten the offer he made to Alice - an offer she then discussed with Chris? Is she too scared to speak up because of the previous bad blood between her and Ruairi? She needs to speak to Adam - he should be very careful the same doesn't happen to him and that after his work training up Ruairi is done, he doesn't find himself out on his ear with Brian denying there was ever any kind of agreement. It's like watching Succession!
I absolutely love @Gonners theory that everything that goes on at GG is happening in Oliver's imagination.

Oh absolutely - that silence was exactly Brian wondering how he can keep Ruairi while dispensing with Adam as soon as possible! I doubt he gave a single thought to his previous offer to Alice. It was gobsmacking! 😂😂😂

There’s a fair chance that George won’t be showing up for his own party, let alone his nonexistent friends.

I loved that silence!

Gosh tho. Is Alice going to fall off the wagon? Love how Adam and Raiuri both acknowledge Golden Son Of My Loins

I think Alice might have been gearing up to talk to Brian over lunch, when he invited her two half brothers along.

It's quite likely that Brian would just say, "oh yes, but that was just an idea when we had no alternative, but you're doing so well at the Stables, and now Ruari is interested, there's no need for you to give up something you love," and won't understand that not even discussing it is an issue after first saying - which is compounded by Adam & Ruari having spoken to Debbie and Kate but not Alice (none of whom knew what Brian had said to Alice, to be fair to them.)

It is particularly harsh on her birthday, of course.

I think Brad and Jakob are probably the most emotionally aware people in Ambridge.

Brian's never been known for his sensitivity and delicacy in dealing with issues, I think this blunderbuss approach with Alice is very much in keeping with his character.

I think Brad and Jakob are probably the most emotionally aware people in Ambridge.
There are so many candidates for the least emotionally aware people in Ambridge.

Brian offered the position of Home Farm manager to Alice. She showed about the enthusiasm one would accord to finding a dead hedgehog in the fridge, so when another two of his children were positive in offering to take over the management she'd really not shown any particular interest in, he was delighted.

Well well well, George being set up for something he didn’t do, eh? Ah the sweet irony.

I cannot bear Justin and hope Brian stays well out of his games.