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 @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g . I wonder who the surprise guest might be.
When did we last hear from Tom'n'Tash's NDN?

The current ones or the previous one? Doc Locke last spoke in December 2017; Joy in January this year, Mick also in January this year but a week later.

The current ones.

Not since January, then.

Strange how she was in so any episodes but then in none for months.
An Everyday Story of Joy… in ‘The Archers’ | North Shields News, Events & Community | I Love North Shields

Thanks for the article, FatRosie. It was really odd how we had "wall to wall" episodes with the actress and then...nothing.

You would think that they would give the writers a list of "resting" actors so that they could incorporate an occasional namecheck (be it in the shop/pub/church or even just getting their front door painted).

In that case 'pity about Jy, she was no age. still the funeral was a good send-off', I wonder if Mck's broken heart is mending now he's settled in Portugal?'

The surprise guest will be the celebrity they puffed in passing as having appeared at Martha's school world book day event or that Martha dressed up, I didn't quite pay enough attention. I guess a female cricketer?

I think today will be about Home Farm and tomorrow will be Keira starting at Amside.
I noticed on the main thread comments about TA children sounding like their parents. I sound just like my mother but the accent is different.
My mother was brought up about 10 miles away from where we lived but went to school in a different county. Our handwriting is similar but hers is much tidier.

The character that Harrison plays in Corrie has been dedded so he will probably be back soon.

Damn.

He'll be back to handle the sheep-savaging dog case, no doubt.
Would it be too much to hope for the dog to savage Harrison and scare some cows so they trample Pip and Fat Rosie?

Ugh

Next week's RT preview.

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 28 June-3 July
The pressure of parenting is already bearing down on George and Amber, as her mum and dad make their presence felt. And when George tries to sort out the problem, Bill offers him a seemingly generous gift. Then George moves to another front, to try to strike a peace deal with Keira. Spiritual guru Kate's chakras get out of whack when Brian's behaviour reaches new depths, and poor David burying himself in Borchester Show plans to distract from the slaughter of the lambs hits a snag ...

Thank you @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g . Poor lambs. Couldn't we have a slaughtering of some characters instead? Please.

I absolutely would not want to be a sheep belonging to Brookfield: they are so often the victims of dog-attacks. One of Mrs Antrobus's dogs (the one that originally belonged to Nelson: was it called Charlie?) took to savaging them and had to be rehomed in a town, a random stranger's dog had a go at one point, Keith Horrobin's Evil Mates set their dogs on two or three rams (and the dogs apparently won, which is remarkable – I wouldn't back most dogs against an angry ram) and now I gather they are having trouble again. Sigh. Have anyone else's sheep been being savaged?

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime , there's not many sheep farming done in Ambridge so a sheep-worrying story in Ambridge would have been likely to feature the Brookfield flock, although I remember lambing at Home Farm but it was a long time ago. Sheep worrying is not unusual so that doesn't seem an excessive amount. We had it a few times and a ram was stolen. Foxes were a big problem and they also savaged fowls.

Brookfield seems to have more than average badger problems but badgers aren't a problem unless they are under stress and the explosion in population will be a problem in itself. Yes they're cute and largely harmless but they have no natural predator. Foxes have no natural predators and they're nasty things in cute coats.

There aren't many farms in Ambridge, are there? Brookfield is mainly dairy, Fridge Barm is mainly dairy, Home Farm is mainly arable, Berrow is a pig farm, and Grange Farm and Meadow Farm are pretty much toy farms.

Will Josh eventually have a farm? Will he come back, Will Johnny come home? Does he still exist?

Tom and Helen always got on even with the two families cooped up in the same house but it's going to blow up and Natasha will want to protect 'the girls'.

Is it an anniversary year or something?

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime my neighbours have land crisscrossed with footpaths, many leading to a local beauty/viewing spot. Every weekend they have at least one dog attack and on bank holidays this rises to three or four. My land is only bordered by footpaths, but this year I’ve had two incidents that I know of (one where a lurcher cornered a heavily pregnant ewe) so tbh I’m surprised there aren’t more incidents in the Archers.

This is despite signs up everywhere, every entrance to a field has signs, but still people persist in the view that their little fur-baby won’t attack.

With the new legislation the police were very interested in the lurcher attack, especially as there were witnesses (if my dd and ds hadn’t been unloading hay at the time it would have been far worse - dd managed to pull the dog off the ewe) and we knew who it belonged to (a local who definitely should have known better).

It just feels as if it's an editorial go-to: run out of ideas? I know, we can have the Brookfield sheep being attacked by a dog. Not Ed's Texels, not the Home Farm flock when they had them, just Brookfield.

Unless Ed's Texels have also been attacked, in which case sorry; I'm not listening at the moment so I don't know the ins and outs of it.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime , Ed's Texcels were grazing round the cricket pitch, which may be fenced off. Brookfield sheep would be on farmland where there are footpaths and 'right to roam' applies.
The editorial team probably use the Aldridges for different storylines to the Brookfield Archers, so as Brookfield are the predominant sheep farmers in the village, it's natural that the sheep-related events occur there.
Let's face it, we complain there's not enough farming in TA.

Round up of everything I've got at the moment. Rejoice, rejoice at the cast list for two weeks hence.

28th June – 3rd July 2026
28/9/26 Ian attempts to look on the bright side, and Tom is confident about his future.
29/6/26 Kate loses her cool, and Keira is offered a surprising opportunity.
30/6/26 The Borchester Show hits a snag, and George finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
1/7/26 George struggles to say no, and Kirsty has the rug pulled from under her.
2/7/26 Chris faces an unexpected interruption, and Ed is given a controversial task.
3/7/26 There’s a breakthrough for the Grundys, and Neil has reservations.

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

Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood
David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Helen Archer … Louiza Patikas
Natasha Archer … Mali Harries
Tom Archer … William Troughton
Chris Carter … Wilf Scolding
Neil Carter … Brian Hewlett
Susan Carter … Charlotte Martin
Ian Craig … Stephen Kennedy
Martyn Gibson ... Jon Glover
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
Ed Grundy … Barry Farrimond
George Grundy … Angus Stobie
Keira Grundy … Mollie Kruczek
Kate Madikane … Perdita Avery
Kirsty Miller …Annabelle Dowler
Lottie Summers … Bonnie Baddoo
Bill Gordon … Matthew Gravelle

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 28 June-3 July
The pressure of parenting is already bearing down on George and Amber, as her mum and dad make their presence felt. And when George tries to sort out the problem, Bill offers him a seemingly generous gift. Then George moves to another front, to try to strike a peace deal with Keira. Spiritual guru Kate's chakras get out of whack when Brian's behaviour reaches new depths, and poor David burying himself in Borchester Show plans to distract from the slaughter of the lambs hits a snag ...

5th July 2026 - 10th July 2026
5/7/2026 Brian’s attempt at advice backfires, and Chris has reservations.
6/7 Adam is on the verge of giving up, and Alice is determined to salvage something from the wreckage.
7/7 Susan hatches a plan, while Ian struggles with the inevitable.
8/7 Chris gets himself in a mess, and Amber is leant a helping hand.
9/7 Nerves are frayed on the day of the Borsetshire Show, and a surprise guest makes their mark.
10/7 Ian plays his trump card and opportunity knocks for Bert.

Writer: Tim Stimpson
Director: Jessica Bunch
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood
David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Tony Archer … David Troughton
Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman
Chris Carter … Wilf Scolding
Susan Carter … Charlotte Martin
Ian Craig … Stephen Kennedy
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
George Grundy … Angus Stobie
Bert Horrobin … David Sterne
Tracy Horrobin … Susie Riddell
Adam Macy … Andrew Wincott
Fallon Rogers … Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd
Lottie Summers … Bonnie Baddoo
Bill Gordon … Matthew Gravelle

12th July 2026 - 17th July 2026
12.7 The Aldridges are left surprised, and some news hits hard for Tom.
13.7 There’s a reunion for Fallon, and Rex realises he may have put his foot in it.
14.7 Tempers flare for Kirsty, and Susan makes a friend.
15.7 Harrison struggles to take in what he’s missed, and Lynda offers her support.
16.7 Helen provides a shoulder to cry on, and Susan waves an olive branch.
17.7 Lynda faces a shocking accusation, and Kate has a controversial suggestion

Writer: Sarah McDonald Hughes
Director: Marina Caldarone
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Jolene Archer … Buffy Davis
Helen Archer … Louiza Patikas
Pat Archer … Patricia Gallimore
Tony Archer … David Troughton
Tom Archer … William Troughton
Harrison Burns … James Cartwright <<<nee na nee na!
Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman
Susan Carter … Charlotte Martin
Ian Craig … Stephen Kennedy
Rex Fairbrother … Nick Barber
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
Adam Macy … Andrew Wincott
Kate Madikane … Perdita Avery
Kirsty Miller … Annabelle Dowler
Fallon Rogers ... Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd
Anne-Marie Gordon … Kate Ashfield

Good lord, is Ed still being allowed to graze his sheep there?

I thought the sheep belonging to Brookfield were grazed at Home Farm now, on the "everyone in Ambridge takes in their neighbours' washing" basis.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime , it takes a village to raise a lamb.

I hate 'it takes a village' - I get the drift but it seems like an excuse to expect relatives and neighbours to do your childcare free of charge and at short notice.
My childhood has warm memories of village events, neighbours and playing with friends, and I'm grateful, especially to about 3 aunties (friends' mums or mum's friends) but my parents brought me up.

I was thinking of the way that Brookfield has its arable farming contracted out to Home Farm and its sheep farming on Home Farm land, and all the people renting houses from each other rather than living in their own houses.

It's so that people intermingle. Single people living alone don't have conversations so nobody lives alone. Apart from Miranda and Esme, but Miranda pops to The Bull for lunch with Oliver and Esme has George working there.