The Archers spoilers thread #12: Can't wait for 7.02pm? Join us here!

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Spoilers thread for The Archers. All Archers listeners are welcome here, whether you post on our main Archers thread or not. There's just one rule: please keep all spoiler-related discussion in this thread and do not spill the beans on the main Archers thread.

We usually add the BBC teasers and cast lists for forthcoming episodes as they become available, plus the Radio Times and other previews when possible. Feel free to add anything else you come across, e.g. cast news, scriptwriter tweets!

Thanks for that, @Madcats! Sounds like I might need tissues at the ready. I'm not a dog owner and found last night's pretty tough, but then I am as soft as butter.

"Harrison makes himself useful."

That'll be a first, then.

Round up.

16th August – 21st August 2026
16/8 Alarm bells ring for Azra and Keira offers her support.
17/8 Emotions run high for Lynda and Harrison makes himself useful.
18/8 Susan puts her foot in it and George is feeling frustrated.
19/8 The Malik family have a bone to pick, and Ruth is left feeling guilty.
20/8 Robert is pushed to the limit and George considers his options.
21/8 There’s a surprising development for Lily and Khalil finds himself the centre of attention.

Writer: Liz John

David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Ruth Archer … Felicity Finch
Jolene Archer … Buffy Davis
Harrison Burns … James Cartwright
Susan Carter … Charlotte Martin
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
Clarrie Grundy … Heather Bell
Eddie Grundy … Trevor Harrison
George Grundy … Angus Stobie
Keira Grundy … Mollie Kruczek
Akram Malik … Asif Khan
Azra Malik … Yasmin Wilde
Khalil Malik … Krish Bassi
Esme Mulligan … Ellie Pawsey
Lily Pargetter … Katie Redford
Fallon Rogers … Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd
Robert Snell … Michael Bertenshaw
Diane … Hayley Doherty

Ambridge Diary 16-21 August
Reading between the lines when told that emotions run high for Lynda as she faces the prospect of a sad goodbye, it seems that it was Monty who savaged David's sheep. Expect letters from dog lovers over his fate. It's also a big week for the Maliks as concern grows for a family member following recent events. Keira offers her support to Khalil but when she seeks advice from Susan, her nan makes things much, much worse. Ruth feels guilty, George feels frustrated and Harrison makes himself useful.

23rd August – 28th August 2026
23/8 Lily has a confession to make and there is further setback for the Snells.
24/8 George attempts to make a good impression and Alice faces a rude interruption.
25/8 Fallon puts her foot in it and Lynda receives counsel from an unexpected source.
26/8 There’s a surprise for David and it’s an emotional day for Robert.
27/8 Keira tries to make amends, and guilt begins to set in for Lily.
28/8 The Snells find comfort in each other and Khalil makes a controversial move.

Writer: Oliver Turner
Director: Rosemary Watts
Editor: Jeremy Howe

David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Tom Archer … William Troughton
Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman
Rex Fairbrother … Nick Barber
Martyn Gibson … Jon Glover
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
George Grundy … Angus Stobie
Keira Grundy … Mollie Kruczek
Khalil Malik … Krish Bassi
Elizabeth Pargetter … Alison Dowling
Lily Pargetter … Katie Redford
Fallon Rogers … Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd
Robert Snell … Michael Bertenshaw
Conrad … Akemnji Ndifornyen

Akemnji Ndifornyen is 36. I don't know his work but he has a BAFTA for his BBC sketch show Famalam. Second week in a row with a new character.

30th August – 4th September 2026
30.8 Fallon feels out of place, and Justin’s confidence takes a bashing.
31.8 Alan loses his temper, and Jolene makes an unexpected offer.
01.9 Lilian attempts to offer some words of comfort, and Pat has a bone to pick.
02.9 Natasha hatches a plan, and Harrison is touched by a surprising notion.
03.9 George finds himself in trouble, and Alan is keen to make amends.
04.9 Lily makes a big decision, and George is desperate for a second chance.

Writer: Oliver Turner
Director: Rosemary Watts
Editor: Jeremy Howe

David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Tom Archer … William Troughton
Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman
Rex Fairbrother … Nick Barber
Martyn Gibson … Jon Glover
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
George Grundy … Angus Stobie
Keira Grundy … Mollie Kruczek
Khalil Malik … Krish Bassi
Elizabeth Pargetter … Alison Dowling
Lily Pargetter … Katie Redford
Fallon Rogers … Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd
Robert Snell … Michael Bertenshaw
Conrad … Akemnji Ndifornyen

Mustardland Proboards have come up trumps with next week's Radio Times.

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 23-28 August
This week, Lily finds herself in a consistently awkward situation, which isn't helped by her experiencing some uncomfortable match-making. Meanwhile, Keira is desperate to make amends to a friend, and George spots an opportunity to make a good impression. The Snells face further worries from the wrath of an unsatisfied B&B customer, and David's delight at being chosen to judge the Flower and Produce Show proves short-lived.

Presumably the dissatisfied customer is Conrad. Odd that he's in the cast for the following week as well.

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g I wondered if Conrad was the mate of Mick's who's going to take over in The Bull, but could well be the disgruntled guest.

Inevitably we're going to be treated to Azra going round to shout at Ruth. She needs to bear in mind that the Dopeys all had to witness the actuality of those mauled sheep and also witness their pain and distress, so having some teenager burst in and accuse them of lying and being uncaring about the dog that did the mauling would be difficult to cope with.

Conrad (Akemnji Ndifornyen) is wasted on radio!

@Gonners , He's definitely easy on the eye. Maybe he's the surprising development for Lily.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g , Thanks for the update.

He certainly seems a bit overqualified for a bit part at GG. But also too busy to become a regular.

I'm back catching up (though I am beginning to wonder whether I should stop caring).

I can't say I've ever encountered Akemnji. Presumably these "just passing through" actors are already at the Beeb to record/be interviewed about something else?

Isn't it about time that they started to prep us for a couple of funerals, rather than ploughing along with the Monty SL.

The BBC spoilers have just updated. Celebrity cameo alert? Also - shocking discovery, Alan offering comfort, Leonard in the cast - Jill?

6th September – 11th September 2026
6/9 There’s a surprise guest at the Flower and Produce Show, and Martyn makes his presence known.
7/9 Lily takes the plunge, and the Snells consider their options.
8/9 Carol takes surprising action, and Harrison is left in a tricky position.
9/9 Usha makes a shocking discovery, and Keira finds herself struggling.
10/9 Alan attempts to offer some comfort, and Khalil has reservations.
11/9 The ground shifts for Fallon, while Harrison struggles to keep the peace.

Writer: Katie Hims
Director: Dave Payne
Editor: Jeremy Howe

David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Jolene Archer … Buffy Davis
Tony Archer … David Troughton
Leonard Berry … Paul Copley
Harrison Burns … James Cartwright
Alan Franks … John Telfer
Usha Franks … Souad Faress
Martyn Gibson … Jon Glover
Clarrie Grundy … Heather Bell
Keira Grundy … Mollie Kruczek
Khalil Malik … Krish Bassi
Lily Pargetter … Katie Redford
Fallon Rogers … Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd
Robert Snell … Michael Bertenshaw
Anna Tregorran … Isobel Middleton
Carol Tregorran … Mia Soteriou

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g Celebrity cameo alert?

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sparkle, judges the jam-making! 😆

Oh, I do hope not.

She's coming over here to be the next landlady of The Bull. Won't be in the role for a couple of years but she's got a stall in Walford Square to tide her over.

I’d be delighted to have Neil Nunes be the celebrity cameo (saying that, Justin Webb was also tweeting about the Archers today). We must be running out of “celebs” and royals.

The SWs should probably crack on with some funerals or remembrance services as I am not sure we’ll ever here from Jim or Christine (and Jill and Fairbrother Snr are both dead IRL).

With so many of the cast involved in the Archers at 75 roadshow, I suppose they’ll be absent from regular cast duties for a few months after Xmas.

Flower Cast brings together:
Timothy Bentinck (David Archer), Charlotte Martin (Susan Carter),
Ben Norris (Ben Archer)
Annabelle Dowler (Kirsty Miller),

Produce Cast features* *
Charles Collingwood (Brian Aldridge),
Ryan Kelly (Jazzer McCreary),
Susie Riddell (Tracy Horrobin) and
Sunny Ormonde (Lilian Bellamy).

@Madcats ,it's probably a bit too soon They usually leave quite a gap between the actor's death and the character's death.

Given the somewhat randomness of the guests, I doubt they'll run out of 'celebs'.

Royalty-wise, we've Anne, Camilla and Sophie, so that leaves quite a few.
Princess Sprinkle Sparkle might be staying not far from Highgrove, which would be reasonably convenient for H Ambridge.

What was Justin Webb tweeting?

I fear he wasn't being entirely serious. One of the replies is Umbrage comes to Ambridge.

Thanks. I wasn't being entirely serious either. I think she'll be playing Sabrina Thwaite. Silently, I hope.

I went to the theatre earlier in the week; a last minute “fill the theatre” affair and I’ve just got round to looking up the cast.

I can reveal that Vince Casey has been masquerading as George Smiley in The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.

He is wasted as Vince (but the play seems to be finishing its run tonight, so he might be back in the cast in a few months’ time.

Gosh, one of my favourites. Very hard to beat the 1965 film version with Richard Burton as Leamas. Also featured the beautiful Claire Bloom. Rupert Davies (best known as Maigret) played Smiley. There was an excellent Radio 4 adaptation a few years ago with Simon Russell Beale as Smiley and Brian Cox as Leamas. I also heard not too long ago an earlier adaptation, also very good, with Colin Blakeley as Leamas. You can't go wrong with it, really.

Anyway, that's not why I checked the thread! A few new titbits courtesy of Mustardland:

Total TV Guide 22nd to 28th August
Lily’s been a bit of a third wheel recently, but all that’s set to change this week- in a not altogether welcome way - when she finds herself in a consistently awkward situation, made even more embarrassing when another resident takes it upon themselves to do a spot of matchmaking. The Snells must deal with an unhappy customer, and Lynda is surprised with counsel from an unexpected source, while Robert grapples with a forthcoming farewell. David’s chuffed to be recruited as a judge for the Flower and Produce Show - but he’s less pleased when he discovers who he’ll be working with. Elsewhere in Ambridge, Alice faces a rude interruption when a relative calls with a problem.

Daily Mail Weekend Magazine Archers Update - 22nd - 29th August 2026
Lily has a confession to make, Fallon messes up when she tries matchmaking and George tries to make a good impression.

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g .

I suspect that George is going to get found out for moonlighting while on sick leave.

The best Smiley has to be Alec Guinness. I've not seen anyone else in the role though. I've seen clips and thought 'No. Only one Smiley'.

FatRosie is indeed likely to be correct, having just looked at Ambridge Diary for next week

There is a general air of unease hanging over Ambridge this week. Fallon feels out of place when a visitor arrives, which kicks off fraught discussions about the future. Henry and Khalil's dread at the prospect of returning to school fades into insignificance when they find themselves in trouble. Justin's confidence is dented by a fellow resident's actions, while George, determined to earn more money, lands in trouble when he uses his sick leave to his advantage.

Repasting from Gasp0de
30th August – 4th September 2026
30.8 Fallon feels out of place, and Justin’s confidence takes a bashing.
31.8 Alan loses his temper, and Jolene makes an unexpected offer.
01.9 Lilian attempts to offer some words of comfort, and Pat has a bone to pick.
02.9 Natasha hatches a plan, and Harrison is touched by a surprising notion.
03.9 George finds himself in trouble, and Alan is keen to make amends.
04.9 Lily makes a big decision, and George is desperate for a second chance.
Writer: Oliver Turner
Director: Rosemary Watts
Editor: Jeremy Howe
David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Tom Archer … William Troughton
Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman
Rex Fairbrother … Nick Barber
Martyn Gibson … Jon Glover
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
George Grundy … Angus Stobie
Keira Grundy … Mollie Kruczek
Khalil Malik … Krish Bassi
Elizabeth Pargetter … Alison Dowling
Lily Pargetter … Katie Redford
Fallon Rogers … Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd
Robert Snell … Michael Bertenshaw
Conrad … Akemnji Ndifornyen

On the subject of George, I would have thought he was a self-employed contractor rather than an employee? Who is doing the milking at 5am, BTW?

Thanks @Madcats . I thought George was 'casual labour' but I could have missed something.
I think farm labourers work on a PAYE basis, and would be making their own arrangements for paying tax. I might be out of date on that one.
Who is the visitor?
Natasha doesn't seem to be in the cast.

I thought PAYE meant you were taxed through your employer.