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!

Me too but I wanted to say Ask Gasp. Obviously clueless!

Naive, maybe. I've never been to Tiree but I think it's probably very different from Arran. The ferry problem is affecting the entire west coast, though.

I've never been to Tiree either. I'm told it's beautiful but the furthest west I've been in the UK is Mull. I don't really remember it but I think it rained.
I remember going on holiday to the north of mainland Scotland in the summer and the days were very long. They're probably very short in winter.

One of my happiest memories ever is of attending the St Magnus Festival in Orkney years ago. In particular, stepping out of St Magnus Cathedral after midnight (following a choral concert given by The Sixteen) into full daylight. Utterly magical.

Isn't that about as far north as Bergen?

The distance from Edinburgh to John o' Groats is approximately 273 miles (439 km) by road.
Driving Distance and Time
The most common way to travel is by car, covering a road distance of about 273 miles (439 km), which typically takes around 5 hours and 23 minutes depending on traffic conditions and route choice.

I did smile at the 'Berwick is in England', because although it is, it is pretty close to Edinburgh. I think it's very nearly as north as Glasgow,.

Orkney is pretty-much level with Stavanger: Orkney, 58.98 N and Stavanger 58.97 N. (I know this only because my son moved to Stavanger and we had a discussion about it.) Bergen is a couple of degrees or so further north and someone else can look up its lat and long if they feel like it.

Thanks. Don't look back in Stavanger... I've been to Bergen. 60°23′22″N 5°19′48″E
5 hours from Stavanger!
Mind so blown I forgot to listen to TA.

There's all those frilly bits between Stavanger and Bergen, after all.

Are they going to pair off Carol and Bert? I can see them becoming a splendidly disruptive couple of manipulative and demanding troublemakers.

Aren't they all jagged and a bit wet? It looked a fairly straight route.

They'll pair them off - every village needs nonagenarian troublemakers.

By train it's 161km and costs between €8 and €14.

Of course, you could always go via Oslo....

What misdemeanours could Bert and Carol get up to?

Have not yet seen next week's Radio Times or other TV guides, but here are the teasers as far ahead as the BBC has seen fit to release them.

Sunday 10th May - Friday 15th May 2026
10/05/2026 Alan gets involved in village life, and Brad faces an uncomfortable encounter.
11/05/2026 Adam sharpens his strategy, and Ian is presented with an unexpected opportunity.
12/05/2026 Ruth tries to stay positive, and Pip’s worries spiral.
13/05/2026 Adam seeks support, and Pip looks for answers.
14/05/2026 Ruth lends a hand, and Anna worries about her mum.
15/05/2026 All is not going to plan for George, and Kirsty faces an emotional moment.

Writer: Sarah Hehir
Director: Peter Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood
Pip Archer … Daisy Badger
Ruth Archer … Felicity Finch
Lilian Bellamy … Sunny Ormonde
Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman
Ian Craig … Stephen Kennedy
Alan Franks … John Telfer
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
George Grundy … Angus Stobie
Jakob Hakansson … Paul Venables
Brad Horrobin … Taylor Uttley
Adam Macy … Andrew Wincott
Kirsty Miller …. Annabelle Dowler
Stella Pryor … Lucy Speed
Oliver Sterling … Michael Cochrane
Carol Tregorran … Mia Soteriou
Anna Tregorran … Isobel Middleton
Den … Laurence Saunders
Erik Hakansson … Steven Hartley
Helpline Volunteer … Yasmin Mwanza

Sunday 17th May - Friday 22nd May 2026
17 May Leonard presses his case, and Kirsty shares some news.
18 May Brad struggles to set boundaries, and Carol digs her heels in.
19 May Adam pushes forward with his plan, and Leonard checks in.
20 May Den plans a surprise for Brad, and Akram seeks support.
21 May Anna reaches the end of her tether, and Tracy faces a shock.
22 May A Home Farm meeting spirals out of control, and long held tensions boil over.

Writer: Katie Hims
Directors: Kim Greengrass and Peter Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood
Ben Archer … Ben Norris
Helen Archer … Louiza Patikas
Leonard Berry … Paul Copley
Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman
Ian Craig … Stephen Kennedy
Alan Franks … John Telfer
Bert Horrobin… David Sterne
Brad Horrobin … Taylor Uttley
Tracy Horrobin … Susie Riddell
Adam Macy … Andrew Wincott
Akram Malik ... Asif Khan
Dr Azra Malik … Yasmin Wilde
Kirsty Miller …. Annabelle Dowler
Carol Tregorran … Mia Soteriou
Anna Tregorran … Isobel Middleton
Den … Laurence Saunders

No Tamsin Greig. I find it hard to believe they got her into the studio for that very brief appearance last week. Surely she will be at the partnership meeting?

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g , thanks.
The cast isn't always a full one.

Maybe Bert will run off with Sophe.

Good God - please let it not be Kirsty requiring a helpline.

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g!

A Home Farm meeting spirals out of control, and long held tensions boil over is slightly promising but would be better if it was meetings at Bridge Farm, Brookfield, Home Farm, and Lower Loxley spiral out of control, and long held tensions boil over.

@TottersBlatantlyTowardsTheBaileys , it will be the Dopeys.

@DeanElderberry , there should be tensions boiling over at all of them, but the succession at LL and BF are ignored.
I'd like to hear what Lizardbreath and St Shula have to say about the mysteriously silent purchase of Glebe Cottage.

Incoming! The good people of Mustardland have come up trumps.

Radio Times 9th to 15th May
Borsetshire’s very own Dirty Den makes a sudden reappearance at the cricket this week, unsettling Brad and forcing him to confront unresolved feelings about his dad. Parental problems are rife across Ambridge, as Adam’s alarm at Brian’s erratic behaviour hardens into resolve to limit the mounting risk to the business; Ruth tries to stay grounded amid family worries, while Pip’s anxiety sharpens; and Anna wrestles with her concern for Carol.

TV Times 9th to 15th May
There’s a shock for Brad as a face from his past resurfaces at the cricket and forces him to deal with unresolved feelings. At Home Farm, Adam is worried about Brian - and decides to take action. Elsewhere, Ian gets an opportunity that could change his future. Also this week, worries plague both Ruth and Pip, while George and Amber are faced with the realities of impending parenthood.

Total TV Guide 9th to 15th May
Villagers prone to embarrassment will be studying their hymn books extra closely this week, as trendy vicar Alan tries to ‘draw the community together and celebrate shared values’. Well, good luck with that. At the cricket, Brad is stumped by the reappearance of his father, Den Horrobin. Over at Home Farm, Adam is, well, adamant, about his own dad, deeming Brian’s erratic behaviour a threat to the business. So he sets about canvassing support, much to Alice’s discomfort. Meanwhile, Ian is given an un expected opportunity, Ruth tries to stay positive, and Anna faces the age-old worry of an elderly and infirm parent who’s determined to hold on to their independence…

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g .
Remember how in The Famous Five, George's surname was the same as her cousins' even though it was Aunt Fanny who was the blood relative.
It seems Tracey's XP was a Horrobin too.

Maybe Bert and Pip/Helen will have a fling resulting in a little Archer Horrobin.

Indeed …

Any predictions about Ian’s “unexpected opportunity”? He’ll probably be made head of the school PTA while he isn’t paying attention.

Does he still have his pizza van (perhaps David will persuade him to help with the County Show, given that it seems to be operating along the lines of a village fete with a few animal pens).

When did Dane leave? Have I missed some episodes?

You haven't. His leaving has never been mentioned before as far as I'm aware. Presumably he was so devastated by breaking up with Helen( !!!!) he just couldn't bear to remain in Ambridge.

Drane drowned in his own tears in the Gay Grables bar.

Has he gone to read out the traffic reports on Radio 2?