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.

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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!

Guffawed at this

I hope the "shank" is DNA-tested as I get it's been planted. Poor Emma, all the food going to waste.

...bet...

I think Alice was completely taken aback by Brian's offer, it was not something she had ever considered as a possibility, particularly in view of her recent history. I don't think it's unreasonable of her to have needed time to think about it - particularly when she knew how many other people's noses would be put out of joint by the offer. Ruairi had no such reticence - he knows he is the golden child, Adam confirmed this for him and his happy to ride on his coat tails to get his feet back under the table (more fool him). Brian, whatever he may say, will not be hands off while ever there is breath in his body.

Alice is a grown woman and has never held back saying what she thinks. So that was the perfect opportunity for "but dad, you said i could do that job"

Zero sympathy she is a spoiled brat and never seems to get any consequences.

The Brad actor, and character come to that, is something rather special. And the convo with George nearly had me in tears.

Poor George. in the FO stage of FAFO. But i feel sorry for Emma. as for DNA or even fingerprint testing, probably not. Unless his lawyer insists and George pays for it.

Alice is being given excuses (George's party, not being farm supremo) for having a massive meltdown. We know she's a mean drunk, I suspect she could be pretty mean even while sober once she'd worked herself up. Definitely mean enough to say that Ruairi shouldn't go to the castle party.

Plot-wise I think it’s too early for a massive meltdown and relapse. The alcoholic SL was great at the time but intense and heavy duty. I am not sure I want to be plunged back into drunken outbursts just yet. Fine for Alice to have pangs of guilts about Martha but let’s have a couple more years of peace and quiet before she has a full on relapse.

Emma’s crisps won’t spoil when George’s sentence is extended - Chiara and Ed will probably finish them off anyway. But what other food did she buy?

George addressing the female prison officer as "Miss" made him sound as though he was at primary school.

But a good SL was George coming out of prison an improved person and alive being the same mess she was at the time of the accident

Party food from the supermarket on the by-pass. All in the freezer.
I don't think Alice will have a lapse (because as pp intense and heavy duty) but the possibility will always be hanging over her.

I’m thinking it might be Chris who raises a mild protest about the peremptory dismissal of Alice. He was unequivocally excited by the prospect of her taking over Home Farm.

Alice dealing with another pregnancy could be an interesting SL.

We haven't had a baby for a while. Being Ambridge, I'm looking at the over 40s.
Fallon and Kristiffur? Mianed? Alice & ?
(Alice isn't 40 yet)

Oh gosh, yes - had forgotten Chris has (?) moved in with Fallon.

Just imagine if she gave birth to a little Carter! Would officially end the Harrison story. And forever tie her to Alice & Martha. I wouldn’t like it but it would be good soap building.

(God, Brian indicating that farm shop cheese is too good for Bert Horrobin and that Brad should scuttle off to the village shop! He needs thumping.)

to be fair i think he was saying that it is very expensive just for cheese on toast

It was a cheese toastie, and organic artisanal cheese is probably not ideal in a toastie. Some red leicester would be much better.

(It's not necessarily the best cheese, but a cheese toastie needs to be oleaginous)

I’m more of a fan of mountain cheeses in a toastie

but I’m currently on a diet and torturing myself by cutting out my two favourite foods - a proper French baguette and cheese

What are proper mountain cheeses and would the farm shop sell them? Try Fallon for a baguette.

Bert wouldn't eat a baguette: Foreign Muck!

From what I remember of supermarkets, baguettes are always yellow stickered in the evenings - which I’m sure Tracy knows. So I’d imagine Bert has consumed hundreds of them.

That’s not a proper baguette!!!

I'm surprised they’re not all obliged to eat Helen’s cheeses

I do the yellow sticker shopping and there are usually baguettes. They're not proper French baguettes. I can't imagine the Horrobins eating them.
Is Tracy called Horrobin now or is she McCreary?

Could Helen make a 'Bergkäse' (Brückekäse?) especially for Bruisername please? It would lack terroir, but there aren't any mountains for the cows to graze.
I don't think I'd want to eat anything from the Bridge Farm dairy.

(I don't buy the yellow sticker bread. The baked instore stuff is not good. If I've ventured to MnS or Waity then I might.)

I do love a good goats tomme - can Henry work on one of those? And win the best cheese competition - I don’t think Helen could bear it

Emma had also bought the ingredients for a big lasagne for George’s farm homecoming.

Bad Brad. Bad.