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!

Shula's in-laws were Reg and Bunty.

There was Reg Holdsworth in Coronation Street, a while back admittedly.

Have we had Reggie in Call the Midwife?

So was Clive in the cast list(s)??

@JanFebAndOnwards , have a look.

No, he wasn't, but I can't say I'm surprised that he's turned up now. Once they have an actor in the studio for one episode they usually make sure he or she records another one or two at the same time, so once he turned up in the An Inspector Calls pastiche I expected him to appear in the real thing.

The thing I want to know is has Clive really placed spying devices at his sisters? There was a hint that he’d heard Tracy moaning about Susan.
And if so does that mean the info in Truth and Lies is canon, especially concerning Harrison.

Another update.

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

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.

TV Times 17-23 January
There’s tension among the Ambridge locals as the goings-on of New Year’s Eve result in significant revelations coming to light. Fallon and Harrison find themselves at breaking point - and both of them have something they need to get off their chest. Elsewhere, Amber is acting strangely but no one is prepared for what she reveals and Esme is left struggling with a dilemma.

Total TV Guide 17-23 January
As any number of candidates for who clobbered George and left him for dead on New Year’s Eve line up in the identity parade, one could finally step forward this week. While a revenge attack by Markie is a favourite theory, bottle-wielding Fallon and Harrison, with his anger issues, are also in the frame. And why is Keira quite so indifferent to her half-brother’s brush with death? Meanwhile Eddie and Emma struggle with the fallout in different ways when more shocks present themselves. Elsewhere, Fallon and Harrison have a dramatic showdown, bringing their relationship to (yet another) breaking point. And Amber makes a surprising revelation which leaves Brad and Chelsea reeling.

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

1st February 2026 - 6th February 2026
01/02 Suspicions are aroused for Pip, while David is left disappointed.
02/02 Amber faces a complication, and Josh has his nose put out of joint.
03/02 Will there be good news for Stella? And there's a changing of the guard at the dairy.
04/02 George makes his feelings clear, and the future is considered at Brookfield.
05/02 Emotions run high for the Gordon family, and Kenton finds himself caught in the middle.
06/02 Contemporary drama in a rural setting

No cast list or writer for this week yet. Gordon family - we've heard Amber's Dad. Are we now going to hear her Mum? Is Amber pregnant? Such a hackneyed soap story! I hope not. Also, what's this changing of the guard at the dairy?

I think those spoilers answer our questions @MollyButton. it was all true.

Which is guess mirrors AIC - the inspector knows or uncovers nothing but the truth.

Gordon family - we've heard Amber's Dad. Are we now going to hear her Mum? - Please, no!

Is Amber pregnant? Such a hackneyed soap story! I hope not - See my previous comment. My theory has always been that Amber used to be a boy (which is why people have trouble remembering her) and George hasn't noticed.

Also, what's this changing of the guard at the dairy? - Having forced Clarrie into retirement, will they now expect her to come back?

I know George is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but how he could miss that if the SWs are paying any heed at all to realism? Yes, I know, but surely there are limits.

My theory has always been that Amber used to be a boy (which is why people have trouble remembering her) and George hasn't noticed.
I think that this is looking more likely.

And Amber makes a surprising revelation which leaves Brad and Chelsea reeling. Is this connected to The Grundys face some surprising revelations?

Do Brad and Chelsea have any actual evidence that Amber was at their school?

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she’d made it all up, using the ‘bullying’ recollections to bolster her ‘story’ in their eyes.

Dunno - but I’d prefer that to Amber / Ambrose.

Bert Horrobin has been replaced with a spying android robot.

Fwiw vaginoplasty/bottom surgery is expensive, not many 19/20 year olds will have saved up for it. Though I suppose she could have done it through crowdfunding. George would surely have noticed the scars.

@Agapornis , George's experience was probably limited to his right hand, and given his misogynistic tendencies, he hasn't inspected the fiancee who used to be Ambrose's undercarriage.

Chelsea definitely remembers her though!

It is maybe connected to school in some way though.

Is Amber pregnant? Such a hackneyed soap story! I hope not - See my previous comment. My theory has always been that Amber used to be a boy (which is why people have trouble remembering her) and George hasn't noticed.

This is DH’s thought too 🤔

I really think that could be the end for me if they try that. It is utterly preposterous that not a single person would notice that Amber was actually male.

@JanFebAndOnwards, Does she actually remember or does she only think she does?

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g , mannerisms usually give the game away. There's one I can think of who looks like a woman but the mannerisms, especially when sitting or walking, are not feminine. A sex change doesn't change the pelvis AFAIK. Use of personal space tends to be different too.

I think we need a very clear "This is a joke, even if not very funny!" alert. I thought the addition of "and George hasn't noticed" would make that clear ... though (now I come to think of it) perhaps it just made it more likely to be a genuine suggestion? I shall take this as a warning and curb any displays of my amusement at the utter absurdity of anyone - however desperate - getting naked with George.

I agree.

There is absolutely no way that no one would have noticed any signs that Amber was male. Her voice is too high for a start. As listeners we can't see but someone would have noticed a male gait, hands, facial structure, Adam's apple etc.

I do not intend to look at any photos of the outcome of surgery to make a fake vagina out of an inside out penis but I do know that it won't look like an actual woman's body and she would be needing to use dilators etc to keep it open. George would know.

I know we have no evidence but I'm sure George wasn't a virgin when he and amber got together. He's the type of person to visit a prostitute if he couldn't persuade a girl to have a one night stand with him. Plus he's bound to have looked at loads of porn, he would be able to tell if his girlfriend was actually a man.

I know the BBC is captured by trans ideology but that would be a step too far. If they were going to try this as a storyline it is a totally rubbish way of doing it, with no hints at all, and especially with someone who is having a sexual relationship.

Chelsea definitely remembered the bullying!

Perhaps it will turn out to be Cloyve who bottled George, maybe mistaking him for one of his dodgy associates? That might at least account for the ambulance.being called.

Chelsea was puzzled by the accusation at first. So she didn't apparently remember having bullied anyone; she eventually accepted that it might have been true.