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 agree @muddyford ... it's really disappointing that he's not dead ... yet. But we are Archers listeners, and we can (apparently) wait for gratification.

Thanks @echt, I don't think I'll be donating my body to science any time soon, only to become an intact human cadaver head impacted with an 1-liter glass bottle

So they gave us the excitement of six extra micro-episodes yesterday, and didn’t fully reveal until today that they were all a dream (or whatever).

Do they expect us to be grateful?!?!

Is @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g around?? I know she’s got a new thread all teed up.

Can’t wait to see the title!!

He's certainly admired Alice's car before 🤔 I'd imagine Brian also drives a very nice car...

The only characters I feel have enough pent up anger to attack George are Brad and Brian.

Brad for the years of George treating him like dirt, despite his loyalty, as well watching George treat everyone else like dirt as well.

And Brian, quite obviously for what George put his daughter through. There was mention of Brian leaving The Bull shortly after George because of the confrontation.

I'm still not fully caught up on the episodes yet. It sounds like this could rumble on for weeks!

Or there being a twist that somehow makes it an accident.

George was clearly very drunk, and the wine bottle could easily have been his as we don’t know where he’d been drinking or even what he’d been drinking. He’d chucked it away, headed back the way he came, tripped and fell. The bottle was found in the vicinity but the person he remembers just happened to be passing by?

I enjoyed the Inspector Calls play, I thought it was a clever way of showing just how unpleasant George has been over a long period. I don't listen to every episode so I'd missed George causing Hannah to be evicted in revenge for the sausage incident. There were quite a few other things I'd missed.
I agree it's likely Jazzer had already found him, and called the ambulance, but I think he suspected Tracey was the phantom basher.
George isn't deaded- yet- but a lot can still go wrong, he hasn't spoken yet.

Sadly, he has.

Is that it?! Is THAT itt? ( in the words of Pam Shipman)

Here we go. New thread. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/5469397-archers-thread-194-bottled-on-the-bridle-path-discuss-75-years-of-the-archers-here

Yes, she could get a custodial sentence. Age of criminal responsibility in England is 10. In practice, I believe young kids are sent to a secure social services or mental health unit and transferred to a facility for older offenders when they reach the appropriate age. A family we used to know had a child who committed an absolutely heinous offence at a younger age than Keira and ended up in Broadmoor eventually. Keira would probably be more like Mary Bell (not that I think it was Keira).

Thanking you, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

I thought it ended when Emma asked who dunnit, I didn't hear him answer. Did he say? It's a bit of an anti climax either way.
Hardly a bedside vigil unless he relapses and spends a few days in a coma.

He has spoken. He has not said who.

Yes he obviously likes cars but I got the impression this wasn't someone he knew. If it was Alice or Brian I think he would have said something to that effect

Thanks for the explanation @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

I don’t think it was Keira either, although I don’t think it will be Markie’s associates because they would have given him more of a beating.

Like others, I am disappointed that George is already awake and can remember it, I would have thought between alcohol and a blow to the head he might have been a bit more fuzzy. Either way I expected a few days with his life in the balance at the very least.

I assume he won’t be able to name his assailant or that really will be ridiculous- unless he names someone with a watertight alibi I suppose.

go to the new thread linked above peeps!

I think back in the mists of time there was a specific decision to use "damp squid" on these threads also.

It's pretty normal for call handlers to stay on the line till the ambulance turns up, especially with serious injuries and illnesses.

Who has an alibi?

Lillian was in the Bull and almost certainly wouldn't have had time.

We heard she was there when George left. Tracey went to look for Keira and Lillian stayed to mind the pub, she was still there when Fallon returned with a cut hand.

Did Alice say she went back into the pub after speaking to George? If so she probably has an alibi too, although Adam, Brian and Rhuari left so not sure who she was with. Rhuari left with Paul so presumably has an alibi.

Did someone say Clarrie was at home with Poppy?

We know Emma, Ed, Will, Chris, Eddie, Jazzer, Tracey, and Neil were out looking for Keira who was also unaccounted for.

Brian, Harrison and Fallon were out and alone. Possibly Adam too, though he may not have had time between leaving the pub and meeting Ian.

The rest of the village we don't really know about. Amber said she was at Tracey's but can anyone verify that? Where was Mick? Was Kenton really helping David with the fireworks?

Perhaps

we

should

fill this thread up.
Phew! done it :)