Archers thread #193: Christmas in Ambridge! Don't expect any wise men (or women). Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed, and of course we are always delighted to welcome back former or occasional listeners/posters. We don't all agree on all points, although we do mostly try to be civil about it. Most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you'd love a couple of acquaintances to clean and tidy your house without your permission, or other unusual views.

Spoilers: not on this thread, please! We don't wait for the omnibus to discuss the weeknight episodes, but we do try our best to avoid cross-contamination from https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/5457344-the-archers-spoilers-thread-11-cant-wait-for-702pm-join-us-here, where spoilers are positively welcomed!

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.)

What do we think - best Christmas ever followed by a nice quiet New Year? No, me neither. We have the tractor run to look forward to , and then whatever they've got lined up for the 75th anniversary of the first ever episode - New Year's Day 1951. I can't imagine that anybody involved with the programme then expected it would still be on the air 75 years later. I wonder what they would make of the current direction. The lack of farming content would be a surprise, given that was the whole reason for devising the programme in the first place.

Over to you!

I fear you may be spot on

The fiftieth anniversary was celebrated with Elizabeth, a guest to supper at Brookfield, picking a quarrel with David, then David going missing for the night and being found next morning in a ditch under a cow.

The sixtieth anniversary was celebrated with Nigel falling off a tall building and being killed.

And it looks as if the seventy-fifth will be celebrated with George Grundy being unregenerate, so no change there really.

@Madcats, What norovirus at the bungalow?

I think it was at the Stables house?

Setting aside whatever anniversary excitement is coming, it’s so frustrating to read this article and realise that if the TA creative team hadn’t killed Will’s gamekeeping career, (one of the best ongoing stories Ambridge had) we might have had the benefit of hearing this argument played out in Ambridge. But no - we get blessed J*y instead.

The last of the gamekeepers spells doom for countryside industry

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/89b026552c8800e9

I think something bad will happen to Ed.

Aren't we due a tree surgery accident?

This seems to be getting signposted, unless it is misdirection.

I don't think George caused today's injury deliberately. It'll be ironic if Brad's suspicions having been made concrete has happened because of a genuine accident, won't it.

It wasn't deliberate but Brad knows that Ed's other 'accidents' weren't.

Yes, this. So his suspicions have been brought to the fore by something which was in fact innocent.

And Emma, of course, refused to listen. When (I think it is when now, not if) George seriously hurts someone, she is going to feel bad about that.

And Emma, of course, refused to listen. Of course.
When (I think it is when now, not if) George seriously hurts someone, she is going to feel bad about that. I hope he doesn't but he will.

The 'accident' was caused by George's rushed and unreflective action. That has been true of quite a few of the mishaps suffered by people around George. He isn't quite as bad as David Archer - has not actually killed anyone yet - but a similar entitled mindset.

Alice, though, fgs woman, you don’t want him, but don’t want him to cop off with anyone else either… his profile pic sounds interesting

But why would you discuss your dating profile with your ex wife? That's just weird.

Chris knows why … 😄

I wonder if George might approach Markie (enemy's enemy and all that) possibly confessing (accidentally?) to his role in gathering evidence. Thinking he can get one over on Kenton/The Bull but ending up as ceviche himself?

Wait, sorry, was I missing something there. Am v tired and virusy. Was he doing it to try to get Alice back?

Good on Brad for speaking up.

I'm not so sure this time was an accident either.

I really hope we’re not heading for the Ambridge chainsaw massacre…

huh, some people don't want us to have any fun

I think it was an accident due to not following Ed's instructions properly.

I’ve been reading a lot of detective stories over Christmas and this has all the makings of a murder/attempted murder plot. X is a bastard and everyone has a different reason to come after him, but who was it who ran him over and left him for dead/chainsawed him/poisoned his cider? Suspects include Fallon, Harrison, Brad, Ed, Emmur, Neil, probably others I’ve forgotten. Oh - Amber. Or maybe they’ll do a Murder on the Orient Express… (no further details in case you’ve not read it).

I doubt they’ll do him in but they’ve laid great groundwork for at least an attempted murder.

Amber's dad, Markie, Keira, Hannah, Mick

with luck they'll all have had a crack by the time he expires, leaving a really complicated situation that will keep the police scientists busy for a week or so before they shrug their shoulders and move on

Someone mentioned earlier that David Archer had taken someone's life?