The Archers spoilers thread #11: Can't wait for 7.02pm? Join us here!

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Spoilers thread for The Archers on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. All Archers listeners are welcome here, whether you post on our main Archers thread or not. There's just one rule: please keep all spoiler-related discussion in this thread and do not spill the beans on the main Archers thread.

We usually add the BBC teasers and cast lists for forthcoming episodes as they become available, plus the Radio Times and Daily Mail previews when possible. Feel free to add anything else you come across, e.g. cast news, scriptwriter tweets!

Mega spoiler post for the next few weeks.

7th December 2025 - 12th December 2025
07 Dec Azra has a crisis on her hands, and Lily is faced with an arduous task.
08 Dec The Maliks have a dilemma on their hands, and Ben's nursing skills are put to the test.
09 Dec Ed struggles to do the right thing, and Leonard steps in to help.
10 Dec Paul fears for a friend, and Alan makes an unexpected offer.
11 Dec There's an emergency at the surgery, and Josh faces disappointment.
12 Dec Akram makes a decision, and harmony is restored for one residence.

Writer: Keri Davies
Director: Rosemary Watts
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Ben Archer.... Ben Norris
Josh Archer.... Angus Imrie
Leonard Berry.... Paul Copley
Alan Franks.... John Telfer
Ed Grundy.... Barry Farrimond
Lawrence Harrington.... Rupert Vansittart
Paul Mack.... Joshua Riley
Akram Malik.... Asif Khan
Azra Malik.... Yasmin Wilde
Zainab Malik.... Priyasasha Kumari
Lily Pargetter.... Katie Redford
Lottie Summers.... Bonnie Baddoo

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 7-12 December
It's the time of year for an NHS crisis and it's no different in Ambridge, where it's all hands on deck at the GP surgery. Akram sees Azra is under strain and makes a controversial suggestion, which may not play well with his wife and daughter. There's also panic at the Stables when Shula plans a visit and illness strikes the staff. Meanwhile, Alan makes an unexpected offer and Lawrence causes chaos.

Daily Mail Weekend Magazine Archers Update - December 7th-12th
There's a crisis at the surgery, and panic at the Stables as Shula plans a visit - and is Josh heading for heartbreak?

14th December 2025 - 19th December 2025
Sun 14/12 Clarrie puts her foot down, and a plot is afoot for Ben
Mon 15/12 Chris has the rug pulled, and Eddie spots an opportunity
Tue 16/12 Pat offers some pearls of wisdom, and there’s tractor trouble at Bridge Farm
Wed 17/12 David has concerns for a loved one, and Jazzer finds himself the subject of ridicule
Thu 18/12 Susan has cause for celebration, and Emma’s worries escalate
Fri 19/12 The Archers come together for the festive season, while Emma attempts to make plans

Writer: Sarah Hehir
Director: Pip Swallow
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Ben Archer.... Ben Norris
David Archer.... Timothy Bentinck
Helen Archer.... Louiza Patikas
Pat Archer.... Patricia Gallimore
Tony Archer.... David Troughton
Tom Archer.... William Troughton
Chris Carter.... Wilf Scolding
Susan Carter.... Charlotte Martin
Martyn Gibson.... Jon Glover
Clarrie Grundy.... Heather Bell
Ed Grundy.... Barry Farrimond
Eddie Grundy.... Trevor Harrison
Emma Grundy.... Emerald O'Hanrahan
Tracy Horrobin.... Susie Riddell
Joy Horville.... Jackie Lye
Jazzer McCreary.... Ryan Kelly
Esme Mulligan.... Ellie Pawsey

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 14-19 December
When Tom throws a spanner in the works of Tony's plans for the tractor run, Helen suspects the ensuing frosty atmosphere hides an underlying issue that could scupper Christmas at Bridge Farm. Meanwhile, Eddie has forced Jazzer into his plan to drum up turkey sales. With a free bird on offer, Tracy is keen Jazzer sells, sells, sells.

Total TV Guide - December 14th-19th
There’s wheel drama in Ambridge this week, as the annual Tractor Run chugs on to Tony’s mental landscape, trailing neat furrows in its wake. But his plans to wow the competition go awry when Tom delivers harrowing news. Can Tony plough on under the circumstances? Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas in The Archers were festive spirit not as rare as snowflakes in August, with Helen worrying about the gloom settling over Bridge Farm, and Emma fretting about both George and Keira. While Esme impresses with her farming know-how, Jazzer is unimpressed when Eddie turns turkey salesman, and over at the Village Shop, Susan is finally back in charge - but thoughts of celebration prove a little premature.

21st December 2025 - 26th December 2025
21.12 Fallon is left shaken, and Ruairi has a Christmas conundrum.
22.12 Suspicions are raised for Harrison, and Joy realises a new approach might be needed.
23.12 Kenton makes an admission, and Hannah gets competitive.
24.12 Eyebrows are raised at the Christmas parade, and Lynda offers some yuletide help.
25.12 Jolene receives an unexpected Christmas present, and there's a changing of the guard at The Bull.
26.12 George strikes a nerve, and Pat talks of the past.

Writer: Naylah Ahmed
Director: Peter Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Jolene Archer.... Buffy Davis
Kenton Archer.... Richard Attlee
Pat Archer.... Patricia Gallimore
Tony Archer..... David Troughton
Harrison Burns.... James Cartwright
Ruairi Donovan.... Arthur Hughes
Alan Franks.... John Telfer
George Grundy..... Angus Stobie
Joy Horville.... Jackie Lye
Adam Macy.... Andrew Wincott
Jazzer McCreary.... Ryan Kelly
Esme Mulligan.... Ellie Pawsey
Hannah Riley.... Helen Longworth
Fallon Rogers.... Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell.... Carole Boyd

Special Christmas teaser released by BBC PR department. (Not sure there will be a Radio Times preview given it’s Christmas, but if there is I’ll add it to the thread when I see it.)
Tuesday 23 December, 7pm – 7.15pm. (Date seems wrong, but heigh ho, it’s the BBC’s mistake.)

It’s a bright and sparkling Christmas Eve in Ambridge. We gather with Lynda Snell and the rest as they enjoy mulled wine and the spectacle of the eagerly anticipated – and hotly contested – festive tractor run. There’s an eyebrow-raising treat on Hannah Riley’s trailer, with one participant not so willingly sacrificing all dignity, and the Reverend Alan gets in the spirit with two accomplices in a novel take on a traditional Christmas offering. In the midst of the cavalcade, Ruairi Donovan finds himself with a problem to solve, with some timely words of wisdom from one much-loved resident coming to his aid at the eleventh hour. Will recent rivalries be put aside as the community comes together to spread the warmest of Ambridge Christmas cheer?

28th December 2025 - 2nd January 2026
28.12 Brad struggles with his conscience, and Chris is determined to move forwards.
29.12 Events spiral out of control for the Grundys, and Amber makes a big decision.
30.12 Hell is unleashed at the Horrobins, and Rex lends a friendly ear.
31.12 George goes on the rampage with shocking consequences, and Alice finds herself facing a difficult negotiation.
01.01 It's panic stations in Ambridge, and one resident makes a heartbreaking discovery. [See below for special extra programme directly following this episode.]
02.01 A vigil is held at the hospital, and one villager has some surprising news to impart.

Writer: Tim Stimpson
Director: Jessica Bunch
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Brian Aldridge.... Charles Collingwood
Lilian Bellamy.... Sunny Ormonde
Alice Carter.... Hollie Chapman
Chris Carter.... Wilf Scolding
Neil Carter.... Brian Hewlett
Susan Carter.... Charlotte Martin
Rex Fairbrother.... Nick Barber
Amber Gordon.... Olivia Bernstone
Ed Grundy.... Barry Farrimond
Eddie Grundy.... Trevor Harrison
Emma Grundy.... Emerald O'Hanrahan
Will Grundy.... Philip Molloy
Brad Horrobin.... Taylor Uttley
Tracy Horrobin.... Susie Riddell
Jazzer McCreary.... Ryan Kelly
Fallon Rogers.... Joanna Van Kampen

New Year’s Day 7.15pm The Archers: Truth and Lies
Claire Skinner stars in David Payne's drama written to mark the 75th anniversary of The Archers. Ambridge is in shock as a mysterious police detective arrives, determined to get answers to some challenging questions.

Sally Griffiths ..... Claire Skinner
Emma Grundy ..... Emerald O’Hanrahan
Brad Horrobin ..... Taylor Uttley
Hannah Riley ..... Helen Longworth
Lilian Bellamy ..... Sunny Ormonde
Harrison Burns ..... James Cartwright
Brian Aldridge ..... Charles Collingwood
Clive Horrobin ..... Alex Jones

4th January 2026 – 9th January 2026
4/1/26 The residents reel from the events of New Year, and Jolene makes a shocking discovery.
5/1/26 Tony offers the benefit of his experience, and Joy has a suggestion.
6/1/26 Will's behaviour causes concern, and Helen has reservations.
7/1/26 Emma makes a decision, and Jazzer is surprisingly unwilling.
8/1/26 There's a change of heart at the Bull, and Akram attempts to help.
9/1/26 Contemporary drama in a rural setting [BBC’s placeholder text – no teaser available yet.]

No cast list for this week is available yet either.

Stupendous as always, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g!

Are we to infer that the extra programme will be connected to the ongoing story - or not?

I am currently rather afraid Jazzer’s reluctance on January 7th might be related to the carrying of a coffin. Hope I’m wrong. Presumably this NY will be the usual special anniversary one in, one out kind of thing? (Though I don’t remember the ‘in’ when John died.)

So it’s now clear what is happening. Despite the PPE, that blithering, interfering old muppet Leonard will carry ye plague back to Brookfield and Jill Will Die. Yay!
With Shula conveniently on hand, too.

Jill dead...It's a Christmas miracle!

Thank you @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g!

I wonder if "George goes on the rampage with shocking consequences, and Alice finds herself facing a difficult negotiation" is Alice acting as a hostage negotiator?!

Thanks as always @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

That sounds very plausible.

Lovely festive theme!

The festive theme is presumably the Tractor Run with all the tractors dollied up to represent Yule Scenes; the fact that this is almost certain to remind Tony about his son's death in 1998 is an added bonus for the Scrooge-inclined editorial team.

On the one hand not at all festive, but on the other, Christmas family bust-ups and despair ARE quite realistic...

I suspect the new year's special will take the format of a pastiche of "an Inspector Calls" with different characters being examined to see who should be blamed for George's murder suicide rampage (there are 7 characters too plus the police officer, just like in the play).

Oh my goodness. ( I used to post under different names years ago when DadDadDad was in charge of all kind of spreadsheets & BOOP first became a thing).

I was wondering how Fallon & Harrison would manage Christmas. Always handy to have PC Plod at the scene of a rampage

So Shula's name isn't in the cast list and Ed's name drops out at New Year.

I'm not convinced that Jill will be deaded.

Erm ... did someone mention Lawrence in connection with Lottie above? Yes I did!

🏅👏

Amber & Brad kiss & George finds out. He blames Neil & Susan for all his troubles & heads off to find them, starting with the Horrobins. Christopher is with Martha when George arrives at his next stop & only Alice can save them. George relents to Alice, but continues on his rampage. Various bodies are discovered on NYD.

Has anyone thought to remove all the guns from George's reach?

No need for guns on NYE: George can run amok with a chainsaw!

After Will tried to shoot himself, I think the Grundys have been careful to keep firearms out of the way.

I have high hopes for Christmas week (and am still keeping my fingers crossed that "George" will reincarnate as another character).

After Emma and Eddie decided that Will tried to shoot himself.

He was alone in his house with a loaded gun. If at that point he had tried to shoot himself, he would have succeeded, i feel, so he clearly wasn't trying all that hard.

A few more titbits, courtesy of Mustardland.

Christmas Radio Times 20th December to 2nd January
Christmas may see a tractor parade in Ambridge but the main drama is at New Year. Brad detonates a bomb under the Grundys when he struggles to contain his feelings. We’re promised shocking truths, violence and “Hurricane George” causing devastation. That storyline is set to run for months, and who knew in 1951 that this is how the “everyday story of country folk” would mark its 75th anniversary? The New Year’s Day edition is followed by The Archers: Truth and Lies (a drama starring Claire Skinner) and an Archers Podcast special.

Also, there is a discrepancy between the teasers on the BBC website and in the RT, so for what it's worth, here they both are:

Tuesday 23rd December
BBC: 23.12 Kenton makes an admission, and Hannah gets competitive.
Radio Times: One resident not so willingly sacrifices their dignity on the tractor run, and the Reverend Alan gets in the festive spirit.

And finally, it seems Taylor Uttley (Brad) is really doing well at the moment. He had a leading role in the recent Alan Bennett film The Choral and is about to be in a West End play. I hope this doesn't mean he is about to be killed off in TA, not least because Tracy would never get over it.

Thank you, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g.

I must admit there have been a couple of mornings when I’ve woken up cogitating about Grundys and Horrobins. Neither deserves to have something appalling happen to them - but Tracy has tried so hard to be the best parent she can be …

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g , stupendous effort as always.

Personally I'd like Brad to have a normal life - get through his degree, get a boring job analysing stuff (or if he's lucky a super well paying job that no one else understands because maths), meet a kind but probably also slightly boring woman and buy a new build house in the suburbs and have kids/dogs/cats/whatever and come back to Ambridge to see his family every few weeks. No one seems to be allowed to live somewhere else but pop in to see family every so often - surely if you live in the country you have a steady brain drain to the cities but then people come visit from Birmingham or wherever?
I'd love to drive over and have Sunday lunch at the Bull, the food sounds great - company less so sadly, I think Jakob is the only person I'd like to talk to.

(edited for SPG which is probably still poor)

I'm fairly new to the Archers and get confused about the Horrobins and Grundys so just tried to work out the family tree - yes I know it's Saturday night, pity me if you wish.
Is this correct:

George's father is Will who is also his uncle by marriage
Emma is George's mother & aunt by marriage
Ed is George's step-father & uncle

Brad & Mia are fourth cousins - Brad is the g g grandson of Alf Horrobin who was the brother of Ivy Grundy nee Horrobin. Ivy is the g g grandmother of Mia.

Poppy & Keira are cousins not sisters

Brad is the grandson of Ivy Horrobin (deceased) and Bert Horrobin. I have absolutely no recollection of Ivy ever having been a Grundy! (Please inform.)

Mia’s parents were Nic (deceased, forgotten her surname, no blood relation to either Grundys or Horrobins) and Nic’s former partner Andrew.

Both of those were non-Ambridge.

Nic then married Will Grundy, who thus became Mia’s stepfather. Mia and her brother Jake took Will’s surname.

See here - rather out of date but covers the basics:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/17hZYpjSh5XcJ2J7gRVhmNn/mia-grundy

Click each link for info on connected characters. And then look at the full list!

Hello! It is massively confusing, but here is what I think is the position.

George's father is Will - yes. He is not George's uncle by marriage.
Emma is George's mother - yes. She is not George's aunt by marriage.

Emma and Will were married but have been divorced for a long time. Ed, Emma's second husband, is Will's younger brother. There was at one point suspicion that he was George's biological father, but Will got a DNA test done and proved that he was the father. Ed is therefore both George's stepfather and his uncle.

Keira is the daughter of Ed and Emma, so half-sister to George and niece to Will.

Poppy is the daughter of Will and Nic (see post above), so also half-sister to George, and niece to Ed and Em.

Poppy and Keira are cousins, yes. Although they are both George's half-sisters, I don't think they can be described as stepsisters, but to be honest my head is spinning now and I'm not sure.

Horrobins: as Totters has outlined, we only know about the Horrobins who are direct descendants of Ivy and Bert. Their children are Susan, Clive, Keith, Gary, Stuart, Tracy (I think). Not sure Gary and Stuart have ever been heard on air. Gary used to live with Bert and Tracy but moved away when he got a job elsewhere. Keith featured briefly at one point. Clive is an out and out wrong'un and has reappeared periodically to wreak havoc. He has spent a large part of his adult life in prison. Keith and Stuart also have criminal records. Susan served a short prison sentence long ago for hiding Clive when he was on the run after holding up the Post Office at gunpoint (before she was postmistress), which she only did because he threatened to hurt Emma and Christopher.

Next generation of Horrobins:
Susan married Neil and they have two children, Emma and Chris. Emma is the one connecting the Horrobins and the Grundys (see above). Emma has two children, George and Keira. Chris used to be married to Alice and they have a daughter, Martha. This makes George and Martha first cousins. Alice used to be George's aunt by marriage.

Clive had a girlfriend long ago called Sharon Richards, and they had a daughter, Kylie. Clive was not interested in family life and has had nothing to do with either Sharon or Kylie for decades. Sharon moved to Leeds with Kylie and got married. Kylie became a psychologist, I think. Sharon also had a son, Johnnie, who was eventually told that his father was not Sharon's husband but John Archer, eldest son of Pat and Tony, who died in a tractor accident something like 30 years ago. He never knew Sharon was pregnant and neither did anyone else in Ambridge until Johnnie turned up. He was a very good character but seems to have moved on now. Implausibly he is supposed to be working as a crew member on superyachts owned by the very rich. Many of us are concerned that the scriptwriters might have forgotten about him as he should really be in line to inherit a substantial chunk of Bridge Farm.

Tracy had a partner (I don't think they were married) whose name I forget and they had two children, Chelsea and Brad. They split up a long time ago and Tracy moved back in with her Dad, later moving her partner (now husband) Jazzer in too. Chelsea is a hairdresser and beautician who for some reason also spends a lot of time working as a waitress. Brad is an undergraduate at the University of Felpersham studying Maths, working part-time at Grey Gables. Brad and Chelsea are first cousins to Emma and Chris, so first cousins once removed (?) to George.

I don't think we know anything about any other Horrobins in the next generation.