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!

I think they told George by phone (in a conversation we didn't hear) that Markie's gang had been discussing "getting" him on their phones and the police have the phones.

I don't think that is evidence that will stand up in court, unless they discuss exactly how they plan to do it and their plan matches every detail of what happened, including George's random wanderings.

George is making it all up, including the police phoning him, and he hit his own head.

A 'noises off' phone call is not

while at the Bull, attempts to move on are put on hold when the police come knocking.

or

Elsewhere, Joy has an impossible task and suspicions are raised when the police arrive.

Last minute changes? Why?

I'm in my 70s and have only known one Reginald - always called Reg - who must have been 20 years older than me, so born in the 30s. But I think that's just because even then it was an unfashionable name. Other than him, only Reggie Perrin springs to mind.

Reginalds Bosanquet, Hill and Maudling spring immediately to mind.

And of course Reginald Sturgeon. 😉

Reginald Kenneth Dwight

Oi, @Gonners! 😂

Still disillusioned by TA.
Why isn't The Bull doing Dry January or Veganuary nights?
Why doesn't George get credited in the cast list?
What if Reg is the new Mr Shula?

This was mentioned on the main thread. The Wedding Suit - BBC Sounds. It was narrated by 'Jakob' and written by his wife, Rachel Joyce.

Our window cleaner is called Reg. He seemed ancient to me when we moved here 30 years ago. He is possibly over 80 now. He claims to have been cleaning the windows of this house since the 1970s, so can't be much less. He uses one of those extendable brush systems since falling off a ladder and breaking both ankles (not here, fortunately). Another thing the denizens of Ambridge never mention (window cleaners, not falling off ladders, given the shenanigans at Bridge Farm the other day and poor old Nigel's epic fall 15 years ago).

Reggie Kray.

I suppose that Kate would be the only one to turn up for veganuary given that everyone else in Ambridge is a dairy, pig or beef farmer

If only. The Aldridges, Kirsty, Joy, the Snells, The Franks, Jakob, the Lloyds, the Pargetters,the Maliks etc aren't dairy, pig or beef farmers.

Fallon toyed with the idea of opening a vegan cafe.

There's Mia, but she's away.

Was Truth & Lies a “standalone fiction”that will never be mentioned again?

I was just thinking back to Clive’s interview where he claimed to have a surveillance camera on the Horrobin household.

FWIW my neighbour’s cat is called Reg.

I believe it was described as such, @Madcats

It was this year's equivalent of Lark Rise to Ambridge and Justin's Christmas Carol. Worked in to the story but basically stand-alone. In this case just added to the confusion and frustration for regular listeners.

Especially if you don't know An Inspector Calls. Or even if you do, in the case of one English teacher I know!

I’m (cruelly?) hoping that the Harrison affair storyline is true and means he won’t be making a full return to Ambridge

I didn't hear full blown "affair"... it sounded as though Harrison's female friend thought they were closer than they were and wanted more than he was happy with (didn't sound as though anything untoward happened - at least not physically).

Well, we only heard Harrison's side of the story ...

Round up.

11th January 2026 - 16th January 2026
Sun 11/1 Helen makes a surprising offer, and Azra offers the benefit of experience.
Mon 12/1 Alice receives a surprising request, and Akram has a dilemma on his hands.
Tue 13/1 Brian has reservations, Meanwhile, tempers flare at The Bull.
Wed 14/1 Susan treads carefully, while the Aldridge clan go into battle.
Thu 15/1 Chris struggles to keep his cool, while Ruth faces an impossible task.
Fri 16/1 One resident faces a shocking truth, and Kenton digs himself a hole.

Brian Aldridge - Charles Collingwood
David Archer - Timothy Bentinck
Helen Archer - Louiza Patikas
Jolene Archer - Buffy Davis
Kenton Archer - Richard Attlee
Ruth Archer - Felicity Finch
Alice Carter - Hollie Chapman
Chris Carter - Wilf Scolding
Susan Carter - Charlotte Martin
Ruairi Donovan - Arthur Hughes
Jakob Hakansson - Paul Venables
Kate Madikane - Perdita Avery
Akram Malik - Asif Khan
Azra Malik - Yasmin Wilde
Reginald Turnock - Trevor Fox

Writer: Sarah Hehir
Director: David Payne
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Radio Times - 10th to 16th January
The ructions caused by the New Year’s “event” continue. Relations are strained and one person’s attempt to make amends falls on deaf ears. The staff at the Bull are under pressure after a mysterious man arrives in Ambridge. Kenton starts acting erratically and when he tells an outrageous lie, Jolene reaches the end of her tether. The Aldridges have a tense stand-off, the Carters are confronted by a face from the past, and Akram faces a dilemma.

TV Times 11-16 January
As Ambridge struggles in the wake of New Year, one resident wants to make amends - but not everyone is in the mood to listen…
Meanwhile, Akram faces a professional dilemma - and while Azra makes her feelings clear, it’s obvious that that he’s tempted.
Also this week, Chris gets a bit hot under the collar, Ruairi has reservations and one resident has a surprising question for Alice.

Total TV Guide 11-16 January
The people of Ambridge continue to struggle in the wake of the shocking events of New Year’s Eve and tensions remain high among the residents. One villager is desperate to make amends and move on, but it soon becomes clear not everyone is in the mood to listen.
Over at the Bull, meanwhile, Kenton and Jolene are concerned by the arrival of a mysterious man in the village, and relations between husband and wife are strained further when Kenton tells Jolene an absolute whopper of a fib. What will be the cost of this deception?
Elsewhere, Susan is confronted by an unwelcome face from the past at the shop, and Akram finds himself on the horns of a professional dilemma.

18th January 2026 - 23rd January 2026
18 Jan Accusations fly in Ambridge and there's a shock for Brad.
19 Jan There's worry at Meadow Farm, and David attempts a negotiation.
20 Jan Chelsea offers her support, and Fallon is in a delicate position.
21 Jan Amber faces some tough questions, and Eddie struggles to come to terms with recent events.
22 Jan One resident receives some life-changing information, and Harrison attempts to work through a problem.
23 Jan The Grundys face some surprising revelations, and Esme has a dilemma.

Writer: Katie Hims
Director: Kim Greengrass
Editor: Jeremy Howe

David Archer.... Timothy Bentinck
Kenton Archer.... Richard Attlee
Lilian Bellamy.... Sunny Ormonde
Harrison Burns.... James Cartwright
Susan Carter.... Charlotte Martin
Ruairi Donovan.... Arthur Hughes
Amber Gordon.... Olivia Bernstone
Eddie Grundy.... Trevor Harrison
Emma Grundy.... Emerald O'Hanrahan
George Grundy ... Angus Stobie
Will Grundy.... Philip Molloy
Brad Horrobin.... Taylor Uttley
Chelsea Horrobin.... Madeleine Leslay
Paul Mack.... Joshua Riley
Jazzer McCreary.... Ryan Kelly
Esme Mulligan.... Ellie Pawsey
Fallon Rogers.... Joanna Van Kampen

25th January 2026 - 30th January 2026
25 Jan Neil issues an invitation, and spirits are raised at Burns Night.
26 Jan Akram offers a suggestion, and there's a complication at the Rewilding.
27 Jan Ruth has concerns about a neighbour, and the stakes are high for Susan.
28 Jan Problems escalate for Kirsty, and there's an emergency at the shop.
29 Jan It's judgement day for Justin, and Rex has suspicions.
30 Jan It's a big day for Ben, and Esme faces a dilemma.

Writer: Liz John
Director: Peter Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Ben Archer.... Ben Norris
David Archer.... Timothy Bentinck
Ruth Archer.... Felicity Finch
Lilian Bellamy.... Sunny Ormonde
Neil Carter.... Brian Hewlett
Susan Carter.... Charlotte Martin
Justin Elliott.... Simon Williams
Mick Fadmoor.... Martin Barrass
Rex Fairbrother.... Nick Barber
Amber Gordon.... Olivia Bernstone
George Grundy ... Angus Stobie
Joy Horville.... Jackie Lye
Akram Malik.... Asif Khan
Azra Malik.... Yasmin Wilde
Jazzer McCreary.... Ryan Kelly
Kirsty Miller.... Annabelle Dowler
Esme Mulligan.... Ellie Pawsey

I wonder if Esme's dilemma is the same two Fridays running.

Esme’s dilemma is that she should needs to find somebody to persuade the farm owner that there is a plausible business plan so that she can stay asking neighbours to do the bulk of the farming stuff on her farm. She can’t inherit the tenancy (what with her having had zip to do with the place and not applied to take over the tenancy with supporting docs etc by the end of the week) so presumably she will either ask a substantially unbusy plumber or Josh to join her and bung in some cash.

The suspense is hard to bear…..

With thanks to Mustardland again, this sounds promising (when will she learn? I hear you say):

Radio Times - 17th to 23rd January
We’re promised huge revelations about the events of New Year’s Eve, but not necessarily the identity of George’s attacker. What can be said is that the shockwaves are still being felt. Eddie is finding it hard to process things and long-suffering Emma faces another complication that could be the final straw. Harrison and Fallon’s relationship is also at breaking point, while Amber is acting strangely and makes an unexpected revelation - with ramifications for Brad and Chelsea.

Just to add to the “Reg Chat” one of my younger cousins has a son called Reggie.

If we're definitely doing a list now, I know two dogs called Reggie.
(One of them is half of a pair... yes the other half is called Ronnie 😆)