Archers thread #199: Kaboom! The Aldridges are self-destructing, and it's GLORIOUS. 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 drop everything to help Helen create a new cheese on national minimum wage, 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.)

If you haven't heard last night's episode (Friday 22nd May) you really must. It's episodes like that that keep me addicted. Funny how often they involve the Aldridges, the most dysfunctional and also by far the most interesting family in Ambridge. Also very well acted on the whole. How lovely to hear Tamsin Greig in TA, but I wonder if we ever will again.

Some cracking posts towards the end of the last thread, which is here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/5518503-archers-thread-198-josh-sent-to-patagonia-pip-stays-put-wrong-way-round-discuss-the-archers-here

Over to you!

Oh yes, and at the very end of the podcast there's a brief tribute to Anthony Head. A little earlier some archive clips featuring young Lilian and Aunt Laura amongst others. And a lovely preview of Ryan Kelly singing from a forthcoming tribute to The Archers to be broadcast on Radio 2. He's got a fantastic singing voice.

Agreed. It was very emotional hearing some clips on the podcast. Very good discussion about how they went about preparing for the storyline. I'm glad to hear the Editor talked to them about it in advance.

I like the TA podcasts but don't listen to them regularly. They're good for when there's not much else to listen to. I mean that in a nice way.

Yes Sidebeforeself was brilliantly acted.

Why aren’t you a singer instead of an actor?

🧐

I really enjoyed Jim's theological discussion with Alan, which I think was the last time we heard him.

I'm not sure that he's off to Dignitas. I don't think he'd have downloaded the complete works of Plato (or whatever it was) onto his iPad if that was his intention.

I think eventually they just say he quietly passed away on his travels. Bit similar to Carolines departure.I think they are trying to spread out the deadings of the older characters, so not every one will get a big ‘ending”.

To me Brian is acting like a spoilt brat. He wants everything his own way and god forbid if you dont do what he says or just dissappear away.
Im not on team Adam either, he seems a bit rash, but I do feel for him.
They are both as stubborn as hell so they will never come to an understanding.
I feel sorry for the Ed/ Will Grundy who is working for the farm at the moment, he dosnt know if he is on his head or arse.
I dont understand the love for Brian, he sounds like, in his past, that he has been a right selfish git to his wife and mistresses, and fathered Alice who annoys me more than she who shall not be named. Rhymes with poy.
Yes it is bad the way they said a non goodbye to Jim.
Im surprised Alistair isn't trying to stop him travelling alone at his age, he made it sound like it was normal and nothing to be unduly concerned about.
Yes I hope Stella sees the light and dumps Pip. What true enjoyment can she get out of that relationship.
She dosnt like Rosie and dosnt want another child, and Pip is all me me me.
I wouldn't put up with all that crap and I would be walking really slowly ( or backwards even), when I was coming home to all that at the end of the day.

Ages ago, another character died abroad. Can't remember his name now. Something Gabriel? I think he was buried in Ambridge though and some utter tripe was said about how the death certificate was in a foreign language and they didn’t know what killed him. Coming from a family of funeral directors, even at my then-tender age I knew it had to be translated before burial or cremation. It's lazy storytelling which is becoming more the rule on TA now.

Something Gabriel would be Walter (of the elephant) or his son Nelson (Nelson's wine bar, & antique shop). Nelson probably, I don't recall what happened to him.

(I'm now going to make something up. Was Nelson gay and died of AIDS or something?)

It was Nelson Gabriel ... somewhere in South America, I think. So the death certificate would presumably have been in Spanish or Portuguese. Hardly a problem ... unless of course he died in a remote Bolivian village and it was in Aymara or Guarani! But whatever it was, it would have been Exotic!

Thank you! Nelson Gabriel. Knew it wasn't Walter. I had a vague recollection about the antique shop but wondered if I was getting mixed up with a book I read

Nelson Gabriel was my favourite Archers character, largely because of Jack May's gorgeous voice and delivery. I loved his relationship with his father Walter. When I was first listening regularly he was a great friend to the younger Archers. His winebar was a key location, and I miss it. His life seems to have been much racier in the early years of the programme! The Borsetshire Mail Robbery storyline dates from a time when I believe the ratings were plummeting as more people watched TV in the evening instead of listening to the wireless. There were apparently several desperate attempts to claw listeners back - Adam's kidnapping was a risible one which the SWs have (understandably) never mentioned again.

This is Nelson's entry from The Archers Encyclopaedia (written by Joanna Toye, former long-serving scriptwriter).

That is a gorgeous biography. Thank you for posting it, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g.

The Nelson years were the ones I spent pointlessly prioritising things far from Ambridge - so even when I was listening I probably didn’t pay proper attention. So I always feel I’m missing bits of his story. But all the bright young things of Ambridge! Those were the days.

I agree, Gaspode - Jack May's voice is up there with Roger Allam for rich velvety gorgeousness.

Wouldn't Roger Allam be a wonderful addition to TA! He could be Miranda's new love interest and move into the house at Home Farm.

It would make for some good interactions between him and Brian.

😋

The problem with Brian is he’d have a point if he wasn’t as old as he is. He does need to make a sensible retirement plan. He can’t run the farm in the long term. He risks dropping dead and leaving all his children (who I do believe he loves whatever he says) in a right pickle.

I lost my Dad earlier this year and dealing with HMRC and sorting all the inheritance tax has been horrendous. At least my Dad was organised and clear about his wishes though. To inherit a mess would have probably finished me off.

I wonder if Jim will bump into Cathie Perks who has been on her travels since 2020 if memory serves me correctly.

I thought of her just the other day! Wasn’t she planning to move near to Jamie, either before or after her world tour?

And Bethany Tucker turned 13 this year. Long lost to Ambridge - but she will surely have been up to Scotland with Mike and Vicky to meet her Great Niece Peggy.

I miss the Tuckers …

Why aren’t you a singer instead of an actor?
He has a good voice!

Yes - but it was a bit of a kick in the teeth regarding his long and successful career as an actor!

It was an odd thing to say. He could be both.

He’ a brilliant actor but could have had a career in music theatre - he was Javert in the original London production of Les Mis !

The thing I loved about Nelson Gabriel was his absurdly posh accent. Did he get that from Walter <edited to add: Joke!> , or perhaps from his mother? I don't remember her ever speaking, so perhaps she was minor royalty. 😆