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!

no its ok

I suffered a bit listening to Amber's mum.

The wood pigeons stole the show.

I heard better dramatic reading in O level English literature. So wooden.

Her mother was dreadfully wooden!

He dad is great, though ... pretty appalling, but really well-played. Hats off to the wonderful Matthew Gravelle.

Mr MG and Ms MH are good actors.

I have become addicted to S4C drama on the basis of their ability.

The S4C dramas have some good actors. MG is convincing in everything I've seen him in. I like Bradley Freegard too.
The Welsh actor that rarely appears in them is Mr Sheen. He's good.

I wonder what it is that makes an actor good. I was watching something with someone who acts who told me that an actor was good but I thought that the actor was unconvincing. There's a youngish actor who has been in something 'prime time' and when I see him in something I feel he is theatrical and the character unconvincing.

I wonder what it is that makes an actor good

For me it’s the ability to act different characters convincingly. The ‘greats’ seem to be able to switch between different genres.

It’s difficult for actors who get trapped into being very recognisable from a particular part. Particularly in radio, when we are so tuned in to the voice.

Hmm, I'm thinking of the Roger Allam & Joanna Lumley one. They're both very well known for their voices but seem like a convincing couple. Leonard has a recognisable voice but he's real to me.

On TA the ones that to me are unconvincing are David and Pip. I want to like David but he often sounds like he's reading a script. As for Pip, it's everything.

We haven't heard from Fallon for a while and the NE contingent seems to have become omni-absent.

I think I've decoded this! Had forgotten this bit of trivia. MG is Matthew Gravelle, who is Welsh but is (as we discussed before) inexplicably pretending to be a Londoner as Amber's Dad. MH is Mali Harries, who is Natasha. They are married in real life. Earlier this year I was very belatedly watching Foyle's War, which I inexplicably never saw first time around. She was Mrs Milner and came to a nasty end. I didn't connect her with Natasha at all because her English accent was excellent.

Kate Ashfield, playing Amber's mother, has been good in TV things I've seen (Line of Duty). Radio acting is a specific skill, though. Then there's direction, and the quality of the lines she's given. I'll cut her a bit of slack for now. [She'll be delighted to hear this, I'm sure.]

Radio acting is a specific skill as are theatre and tv/film. Don't all the new TA characters seem a bit crap when they're first introduced?

I can think of one female actor who is good on tv but I can't stand her on the radio but that's because she always seems to play a character with a 'strong specific northern accent' and it's probably down to direction.

Superb trivia, Gasp0de!

I think I have already ranted that the Editors/recruiters should listen to the auditions blindfolded, with headphones on. Some of the cast so clearly sound like they are just reading from a script.

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could have Roger Allam as a “new” Robin Fairbrother!

Actually, the cast of Cabin Pressure would slot so easily into Ambridge (though I imagine that John Finnemore is too busy writing the Traitors plays to stand in for Josh or Freddie).

I think that would be a terrible waste of Roger Allam. He'd make an excellent (and hilarious) Brian, though.

I would pay top dollar to hear Stephanie Cole in Ambridge. Archers casting bods, take note.

(I will join a movement to get John Finnemore into the Bull being tired once my one woman campaign to get him on Taskmaster has succeeded.)

I thought Amber's mum was trying to sound like Amber - well-spoken and married to a rough diamond (like mother like daughter!), though to be honest it took me a few moments last night to realise who we were listening to. I don't really want Amber's parents joining the cast - could they not just be silent. There are enough randoms and newcomers as it is. I think the best actors are the ones who inhabit the role - Leonard is a good example. I have a very clear picture of Leonard and he looks nothing like Egg's dad in This Life or the character from Last Tango in Halifax. Jim was another one - I believed in Jim, which is why I find it so hard to believe that he has suddenly taken it upon himself to go off travelling. Oliver is another good one. Pip is always reading her lines.

There are enough randoms and newcomers as it is. Far too many for my liking.

There is only one Brian Aldridge.

I can see Stephanie Cole as a Marjorie Antrobus character and John Finnemore as a Nigel character. I ❤ Nigel and always will.

There is only one Brian Aldridge

One Brian Aaaaaaaa-ldridge!

Sorry.
I think the football coverage has been affecting me.

I do agree though.

John Finnemore's version of The Archers is a classic for a reason.

Although it's his fault I'm still playing Yellow Car, even when I'm by myself. The bastard.

Me too, Bea and Ben, and I blurt out 'Yellow car!' mid-conversation.

Especially for you.

Who in Ambridge is most likely to have a yellow car, if anyone?
I would say Ben but his is orange.

The lemon would be in play but there I haven't got one.

I’d like to think that Kirsty has a yellow car. It’s more likely that Jakob has one, yet is completely oblivious to the significance.

Teen daughter introduced her nonagenarian great aunt to “yellow car” about 10 years ago on when we were on an extended-family holiday.

She’s still playing several years on (even on bus rides) and we are now the owners of several yellow matchbox vehicles.

we are now the owners of several yellow matchbox vehicles. I have one and it's a James Bond car.

It's a bit weird because I went to a charity shop in a town a few miles away with donations and something told me to rummage in a box of small toys because there would be that model car in it. I hadn't expected it to be yellow.

It was meant to be - for my eyes only.