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 gasp. I wonder what Ed’s ‘controversial suggestion’ is - George et al moving into Grange Farm? Or he and Emma do and George etc move into Little Grange? Lots of talk of the lack of space at no.1. Oh, maybe he’ll suggest they find another caravan to install at GF! Can you imagine the Gordons’ reaction to Amber living in a caravan? 😆

Gosh, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g - you’re a star!

Will be good to hear from Freddie. But not Vince.

It's a static home not a caravan.
Lily will invite Harrison to Vince's party and Pip's wedding.

Partial update. Still no cast list for the week ending 16th October. No Josh in the cast list for the week below.

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 4-9 October
It feels rather cruel that the formidable Carol Tregorran ended her life as, literally, a batty old woman, dying scared and alone. Guilt-ridden Anna is still mired in grief when she stumbles across some shocking information. Meanwhile, there's trouble at the Grundys' and with Amber struggling with motherhood, the dreaded prospect of her mother descending comes to pass - surely that won't end well.

[They really ought to get someone who's listened to write these. That's not how Carol's death was at all. Harrumph.]

Sun 18/10 It’s Pip and Stella’s wedding day, and Vince proves a knight in shining armour.
19/10 One resident finds themselves in a desperate situation, and there’s a shock for Ruth.
20/10 Harrison tries to maintain order, and will history repeat itself for David?
21/10 Ben attempts to make a difference, and Eddie surveys the damage.
22/10 Lily has major concerns, and Zainab comes to the rescue.
23/10 There’s unexpected news for one resident, and Pip offers reassurance.

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

Ben Archer … Ben Norris
David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Pip Archer … Daisy Badger
Ruth Archer … Felicity Finch
Harrison Burns … James Cartwright
Vince Casey … Tony Turner
Clarrie Grundy … Heather Bell
Eddie Grundy … Trevor Harrison
Keira Grundy … Mollie Kruczek
Chelsea Horrobin … Madeleine Leslay
Joy Horville … Jackie Lye
Zainab Malik … Priyasasha Kumari
Elizabeth Pargetter … Alison Dowling
Lily Pargetter … Katie Redford
Stella Pryor … Lucy Speed

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g . Hope you are doing well.

"[They really ought to get someone who's listened to write these. ]" - You've seen the DTA thread, surely.

Vince proves a knight in shining armour. - please let it involve a meat cleaver and a dedded Pip.

Only Pargetters to be heard at Pip’s wedding? No Bridge Farm Archers, no Aldridge clan? I daresay they’ll be referred to, but it’s a poor show. I’m sure Phoebe would have made the effort to be there, too.

And yes, Carol was probably entirely satisfied to have her favourite person at her bedside …

@TottersBlankly , Harrison and Vince will be there too. Joy will be the registrar.
Maybe Freddie will take Chelsea as his +1.

Josh has been re-cast. Not very surprising, I suppose. This must surely mean he's due back from Patagonia soon - for the wedding, but deliberately omitted from the cast list to surprise us all? In which case, don't update the character pages, guys! New actor is Sam Wilkinson who is three years older than Angus Imrie and seven years older than Josh, who is 29 now. (Not that this makes any difference at their ages.)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3VLG6MxxfQpKXF2Chky4Fmh/characters - pictured as a pair of yellow wellies, for some reason

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7181893/

More spoilers, courtesy of Mustardland (as was the above - they're an eagle-eyed lot over there).

Total TV Guide 3rd - 9th October
Anna is still reeling from Carol’s death, but her friends rally round as Ambridge prepares to say goodbye to a woman who has been part of village life for decades. Then Anna uncovers a secret, sparking a confrontation with consequences for more than one resident. As the dust settles, the Grundys face dramas of their own - Eddie’s jokes misfire, while struggling new mum Amber gets an unwelcome visit from her mother. Clarrie, meanwhile, discovers what Keira has been up to and isn’t impressed. At the vets’, Lovell James’ changes leave Alistair and Paul dealing with disgruntled clients, while Fallon turns the tables on Harrison. Vince clashes with a new family member, and Lily receives a surprise of her own.

(This is a much better preview than the one in the Radio Times!)

Carol hasn’t been part of Ambridge for decades - she was part of the Eastenders bloke’s wish for older women to be part of the community - nothing wrong with that - but she wasn’t in it for most of my Archers listening years, started 36 years ago

Oh, goodness - the change of actor news is interesting! I’d assumed Josh would lie fallow for a few years, plotting his revenge and amassing South American acres, but they must have a story for him if he’s being brought back.

And yes - nonsense to say Carol’s been ‘part of village life’. They completely forgot about her (and probably hoped we had, too), until they decided to focus on elderly people not called Archer.

I look forward to Josh coming back and ruffling Pip and the Dopeys’ feathers

Gosh, a new Josh! Surely not some forward planning by the Editor.

Hopefully the new Josh won’t attempt a Borsetshire accent. I’m looking forward to him farming and getting a partner (or even turning up with one). Ditto Johnny and maybe Daniel could turn up from time to time too.

Yes, they are re-writing history again, aren't they. Very Orwell; who controls the present controls the past, and all that.

The reason she was brought back a little over a decade ago was in order for the Man O'Connor to be able to draw attention to Grace's death fifty years earlier, and that in turn was because he had a new (and inaccurate, like most of his Archers history) play about Grace and her death due to be broadcast. There were already plenty of older people in the village. And Carol was never really part of the community; she just rented a cottage there and occasionally went for a day out or for tea with Jill. Oh, and once or twice encouraged people like Fallon and Christine to drink her herbal teas, while refusing to say what was in them and without first establishing whether either took any prescribed medication, as it might be the contraceptive pill or HRT, which might be compromised by some herbs and reduce the effects of others; this means she was a poor, and also unethical, herbalist. That she also gave one of the teas to at least one person while concealing its possible medicinal effects was seriously bad behaviour.

I thought the former Josh actor was excellent and I'm sad to lose him, but if the re-casting means more Josh storylines I'm happy, because I think he's an excellent catalyst for drama.

Thinking of you @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g.

Oho, looks like they were right. Love my typo ‘Pop’ 😂

Yes I agree, great actor but Josh needs to be back in the SLs.

Full update.

11th October - 16th October 2026
11/10 There’s a spanner in the works for Pip, and Alistair finds himself in trouble.
12/10 Is reconciliation on the cards for Ruth, and Usha attempts a difficult negotiation.
13/10 Vince expresses concerns for a loved one, and Keira is angling for an invitation.
14/10 Stella puts her foot in it, while Jazzer gets a worrying insight.
15/10 Freddie’s feelings are hurt, and Khalil has some making up to do.
16/10The storm clouds gather in Ambridge, and Vince is in trouble.

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 11-16 October
It wouldn't be a soap wedding without some drama and, as Stella and Pip's big day approaches, storm clouds are gathering. The happy couple also receive disappointing news about two important guests. Matters don't improve when an overwhelmed Stella puts her foot in it - calling for a swift repair. Ruth and Usha are both working on separate reconciliations, while Brian has a fresh target for his outrage - the new regime at Lovell James. Alistair is in the firing line.

Annoyingly, there's still no cast list or SW for this week on the BBC website. Don't know if the Radio Times has it.

18th October - 23rd October 2026
Sun 18/10 It’s Pip and Stella’s wedding day, and Vince proves a knight in shining armour.
19/10 One resident finds themselves in a desperate situation, and there’s a shock for Ruth.
20/10 Harrison tries to maintain order, and will history repeat itself for David?
21/10 Ben attempts to make a difference, and Eddie surveys the damage.
22/10 Lily has major concerns, and Zainab comes to the rescue.
23/10 There’s unexpected news for one resident, and Pip offers reassurance.

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

Ben Archer … Ben Norris
David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Pip Archer … Daisy Badger
Ruth Archer … Felicity Finch
Harrison Burns … James Cartwright
Vince Casey … Tony Turner
Clarrie Grundy … Heather Bell
Eddie Grundy … Trevor Harrison
Keira Grundy … Mollie Kruczek
Chelsea Horrobin … Madeleine Leslay
Joy Horville … Jackie Lye
Zainab Malik … Priyasasha Kumari
Elizabeth Pargetter … Alison Dowling
Lily Pargetter … Katie Redford
Stella Pryor … Lucy Speed

25th October - 30th October 2026
25.10 A decision is reached for the Grundys, and there’s disappointment for Akram.
26.10 Ed makes an unsettling discovery, and a bombshell is dropped at the Maliks.
27.10 Rex attempts to bury the truth, and Keira pushes her luck.
28.10 Elizabeth attempts to do the right thing, and it’s panic stations for Will.
29.10 Helen finds herself in a web of deception, and George tries to support a loved one.
30.10 There’s a surprise visitor for Alan, and Jazzer is not impressed.

Writer: Shaun Mckenna
Director: Peter Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Helen Archer … Louiza Patikas
Rex Fairbrother … Nick Barber
Alan Franks … John Telfer
Martyn Gibson … Jon Glover
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
Eddie Grundy … Trevor Harrison
Ed Grundy … Barry Farrimond
George Grundy … Angus Stobie
Keira Grundy … Mollie Kruczek
Will Grundy … Philip Molloy
Tracy Horrobin … Susie Riddell
Akram Malik … Asif Khan
Azra Malik … Yasmin Wilde
Zainab Malik … Priyasasha Kumari
Jazzer McCreary … Ryan Kelly
Kirsty Miller … Annabelle Dowler
Elizabeth Pargetter … Alison Dowling
Archdeacon Ray … David Leonard

If anyone else has seen Rev, the mention of a visit from the Archdeacon may be making them picture someone else.

Thanks for this. I won’t be able to get hold of RT until Tuesday, but does the absence of a cast list usually indicate the return of a surprise guest or rarely heard cast member?

I hope Pip is off for a lengthy honeymoon…

Rev was the comedy with Tom Hollander and Omnipresent Colman wasn't it. The Archdeacon might encourage Alan to befriend some more nonagenarian wodows.

I hope Pip doesn't get married but gets erased.

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g . Hope you are doing well.

Writers for week ending 16th are Sarah Hehir and Katie Hims. Cast list shows no one surprising.