Archers thread #196: Run, Rex, run! 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 like to marry Pip, 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/4636789-the-archers-spoilers-thread-7-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.)

So now we know who bonked George on the head. Will the stunning revelation lead to anything interesting or credible happening? Answers on a postcard, please!

Will Alice and Rex become an item? Will Amber come to her senses? Has Adam's constant languor and fatigue now removed his ability to speak on air?

Over to you!

Oh no - I have misophonia and I cannot sound the sound of people eating, especially on the radio. I had to stop listening to Chris Evans as he ate a pie on air and he talked with his mouth full. So I haven’t listens to last night’s episode yet. Can you tell me how far into the episode it is and I’ll fast forward it?

Absolutely ridiculous suggestion that Kate, having moved to the other side of the world to avoid her children - first South Africa to avoid Phoebe, then back to the UK to avoid Nolli and Sipho - should now be considering a move to Scotland to muscle in on Phoebe’s new life (not a coincidence surely that Phoebe has moved as far from Ambridge as possible?) Brian knows all this. I also find Brian’s relationship with Miranda unconvincing - I can’t believe after having barely tolerated the installation of Jenny’s new kitchen he really wants to go through all that again with Miranda (choosing new curtains and the like) in the same house! Why can’t we just have Brian being Brian - interfering in the running of the farm, feeling less and less relevant, missing Jenny instead of trying to replace her with one of Justin’s cast offs…

And why have virtually the entire conversation with your mouth full? How hard would it have been to swallow before speaking?

I'd be well miffed if someone hijacked me on my way to have lunch when I'm very busy with little time to eat saying they'll join me and we can talk about it over lunch. I hate having to talk whilst eating a meal so I always eat alone.
There would also have been quite a wait for lunch too at the tea room with the order of 30 cream teas before them!
YisRexposher Ben talking with a mouthful of porridge lasts from 3.05mins into the episode when he gets the porridge out of the microwave at the surgery until he stops eating at 4.18mins in and then continues to talk to Azra without eating at the same time. You'll miss talk of Ramadan fasting and Josh's plans of going to work in Patagonia.

I find it highly unlikely that someone as business minded as Brian would be planning to move in with a partner to whom he is not married without some on-air discussion of the finances of it all.

I mean, he’s old. Is he proposing to move in with one of his children if the relationship with Miranda breaks down three months hence? And what’s happening about all his furniture and possessions? And how comfortable will his NotEvenRuairi older offspring feel about coming and going from Miranda’s House? Will they always have to wait for an invitation? Or drop in whenever, which has the potential to annoy her?

And anyway, why would Miranda want Brian to move in?

And why would Miranda want to live in the house so strongly associated with her predecessor? Shades of Rebecca?

They have slightly rewritten her character to make her softer and I like her now.

Both Miranda wanting to buy the house of a partner’s ex-wife (because let’s be honest the house was all Jenny even if it has been remodeled beyond recognition) and Brian wanting to move back in there as what - a lodger? - are wholly unbelievable. I could just about have accepted it if the farmhouse had never been sold, Brian was still living there and had asked Miranda to move in, but this scenario is just silly.

Just skip the whole episode @YisRexposherthanfreddie . It was basically Azra and Ben being worthy about MH issues and Brian being bonkers interferrng in his daughters' lives and relationships.

Actually - I know nothing about how these things are organised but wouldn’t it be better if newly qualified nursing and medical professionals were not assigned to practise in the tiny village where they grew up and have lived all their life?

It must feel incredibly intrusive for Ben’s peers (such as Lily), as well as older people in Ambridge, to have him poking about in their medical business.

@LillianGish agreed! I don't understand how Jennifer's children aren't really upset about it. Only Ruairi seems to have any issue and that's only due to his own guilty conscience. They're a right lot aren't they!

Brian wanting to move back in there as what - a lodger?

Will he pay rent? Split the utilities?

Cocklodger.

I expect they're planning a SL where he's turfed out by Miranda and has to go around his "children" begging for a place to stay. He'll go mad in a distinctly King Lear way.

Forgive me for being thick, but shouldn't the Dopeys be swapping homes with Pip by now and drawing a salary if they are to avoid the risk of a hefty IHT bill?

I'm not sure that Pip has either the time or the ability to run the farm by herself (presumably this is why they are shipping Josh out to Patagonia and Ben to The Stables, though perhaps they are moving Ben so that he can have a fling with Paul).

They will have it all worked out 😆

Ben - close your mouth and don’t speak whilst eating. Please.
Brian - stop with the bizarre meddling in your children’s lives. Please.
Alice - sweet itch needs the first ‘t’ sounding. Please.

Total character transplant. And why on earth Brian (who always had a more distant relationship with his children than Jenny) would even think Kate is pining is laughable, given that she left Phoebe to go and live in Africa and then buggered off back home leaving more children in Africa.

Chris carter. You are a hypocrite!

Chris is being so weird (just catching up)

In what way?

Chris is like Ross when Rachel and Joey got together in Friends. I'm fine!!

But what is he condemning that he does himself? Or is he pretending to a virtue that he doesn't have? It's such a specific accusation, and I haven't noticed him being one.

(Don't have a telly; never seen Friends, so that rather goes past me. Sorry!)

He’s been on dating apps, had a nearly serious relationship, and now he’s clearly not happy that Alice is dating. Hypocrite.

I enjoyed tonight's episode. Lots of characters that I actually like!

New thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/5502806-archers-thread-197-runs-ambridge-runs-discuss-the-archers-here