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!

Well, yes and no.

Many years ago David killed a badger he found on Brookfield land after a long period of trying to get the herd TB-free. He was certain the cows were being constantly reinfected by badgers. Unfortunately Matt Crawford saw him dumping the body by the side of the road and dobbed him in to the police. He was convicted of killing an animal from a protected species and therefore has a police record (fine imposed, no custodial sentence).

Even longer ago, Clarrie's dad, Jethro Larkin, was the farmhand at Brookfield before Bert Fry. One day a branch David was lopping off with a chainsaw fell onto Jethro's head. He died. No idea if the Health and Safety Executive had to be notified or if there were any repercussions. Clarrie seems to bear the Brookfield Archers no grudge, which is big of her in the circumstances, but I suppose it may have been Jethro's fault, or successfully spun as such by the Archers. Can't remember the details now.

There may be other instances. He has a temper and has often acted impulsively. Less so now.

Deliberately choosing not to follow them.

I feel an ADHD diagnosis might be in the offing.

Two someones, Jethro Larkin (Clarrie's father) who worked at Brookfield until David had an 'accident' with a tree, and Nigel Pargetter, his brother-in-law, who 'accidentally' fell off the roof David had cajoled him to climb onto at Lower Loxley.

Those are the ones we heard.

As Gaspode said, there was also the badger slaying. When he drove that tractor at speed during the row about bales (last year?) I was afraid he was going for a hat trick.

Dangerous, entitled man, apparently devoid of conscience.

Indeed. Scriptwriters, mainly.

So will the only Doc in Ambridge refer George to a specialist on being born bad. Let's be fair George has always been a nasty piece of work on which inpart I blame his up bringing and his mums total blindness to his badness. He is not a kid anymore and he is physically strong and dangerous and I do not feel sorry for him one bit.
He will go too far and his family won't be able to cover for him again.( though Emma will give it a good go).

Hmmm, there’s never been a murder in Ambridge before has there? Tom Forrest was charged with murder (is that right??) for shooting a poacher but the charge was reduced to manslaughter??

I’m hoping for a murder (that sounds wrong… I’m hoping for a fictional murder) and Alice and Chris getting back together.

Indeed.

I think he will kill Chris but not intentionally just by being a dick. Manslaughter by negligence or whatever. Or it might be a one-punch thing. I think it will be Chris though and will tear the Grundys and Horrobins apart.

It's really hard to speculate both here and on the Spoilers thread (with cast lists) and keep the two separate 😅

I think I have all Jan 1st to myself, so shall be tuning in to all the mini episodes throughout the R4 day.

I think I have all Jan 1st to myself, so shall be tuning in to all the mini episodes throughout the R4 day.

Er, what? Clearly I need to check the schedule...

I'll be away from home over New Year and will have to catch up later.

New Year's Day:
14:00 The Archers (31/12/2025)
19:00 The Archers (01/01/2026)
19:15 The Archers: Truth and Lies
(Claire Skinner stars in a new drama written to mark the 75th anniversary of The Archers.)
20:00 The Archers Podcast

I think I recall reading that the production team were quite keen to have a murder as the climax of the Helen/Rob storyline but the Radio 4 controller said no. Perhaps there's been a change of heart since then.

'Please can we have a murder? EastEnders has had lots and lots of murders. We can't even have one. Oh please oh please oh please ....'

I know it's very difficult to keep spoilers off this thread at the moment (try being me, I'm collating them over there) but we need to try. I forget who it is who really hates spoilers but I knew there are a few of them here. Plenty of room on the other thread for the next couple of days if need be.

I might be a bit behind on NYD because I am hoping to be glued to the new series of The Traitors at 8pm and The Night Manager at 9pm. Will have to keep an eye on the thread to see if we need a new one, as might happen if a satellite were to drop from the sky, or the sinkhole finally opens up on Lakey Hill, as we have long wished.

Fuller New Year's Day schedule:
05:00 News Summary
05:04 More or Less with Brad Horrobin
05:34 Shipping Forecast with new inshore shipping area Ambridge Light Vessel Automatic
01/01/2026 The latest weather reports and forecasts for UK shipping
05:43 Prayer for the Day with The Rev Alan Franks
05:4 Farming Today 01/01/26 Esme Mulligan's Farming Diaries
06:00 Archerive on 4
07:00 Today with guest editor Tracey Horrobin
09:00 The Media Show (How to Make a Hit Village Panto)
09:45 Strong Message Here (with Jazzer McCreary and Adamando Ianmacey
10:00 Woman's Hour Woman's Hour celebrates the women of The Archers
11:00 This Cultural Life Helen Archer reveals her formative creative influences.
11:45 Jethro Larkin Revisited
12:00 Pick of the Year - Joy Orville presents a selection of audio highlights from 2025's The Archers.
13:00 World at One
13:45 An Almanac for Anxiety: In Search of a Calmer Ambridge
14:00 The Archers (repeat of last night).
14:20 Archworks
The Organic Farmer's Guide to Bridge Farm
14:50 This Week in History
1 January 1951 - Celebrating 75 Years of The Archers
1 January 1951 - The Archers is launched. What was life in Britain like on that day?
15:00 This Natural Life Ruth Pritchard Archer takes Martha Kearney to visit her favourite arable land.
15:27 Radio 4 Appeal
15:30 IlluminatedLeonard Berry faces up to the fact that it’s time to address his lycra wearing.
16:00 Ramblings Veteran of multiple Lakey Hill pilgrimages tell Clare what keeps drawing them back to Borsetshire.
16:30 BBC Inside Shires
17:00 PM with Buffy Davis
18:00 Six O'Clock News National and international news from BBC Radio Borchester
18:15 Eddie Grundy's Oldest Jokes
18:30 Ian Craig: Pizza Alchemist
19:00 The Archers
19:15 The Archers: Truth and Lies
20:00 The Archers Podcast with Emma Fraud and guests.
20:30 Illuminated featuring the St Stephens window
21:00 Loose Ends
21:45 Strong Message Here
22:00 The World Tonight
22:45 A Long Winter Coat by Annabel Schrivener
23:00 Radical with Amol Rajan
Conversations about tomorrow’s The Archers, from earlier today.

(Some of these may be fictional)

I think there are five (?) extra recordings played throughout one of the days aren’t there? Brad’s point of view, Chelsea’s point of view, etc.

Excellent, @SheCharter!

😂👏

Ha Brad would be a natural for More or Less good call

Short Cuts with Chelsea Horrobin, who also does The Snipping Forecast
Fags, Mags and Bags - Lilian Bellamy sit-com
Soul Destroying Music - Jolene and the Parrots' hit single Oh Moi Darlin Clementine discussed at length by people with boring anecdotes and weird accents
Me and Mine - with Pip Archer
Sucks Session - dramatised account of unfair succession in Ambridge families
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue - why I listen
The Moral Maize - Ian Macey on soil regeneration
Cross Incontinents - GP Azra Malik on kidney and bladder health

Thanks @SheCharter, actual tears in my eyes from laughing.

Fags, Mags and Bags with Lillian Bellamy has got me cackling. I’m on the top deck of a very overcrowded London bus 🫣

I don't think Chris is trying to get Alice back (though I doubt he'd say no). The fling with Carly has shown him there's more to life than moping after his ex and being a doting dad.

I agree George will take his own life.

Also, I only really listen to the omnibus and it really feels
like the Joy show! She was in about 50% of the scenes last
week!!

Just heard the taster for NYD between progs on R4.