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!

Nothing in those teasers helps me discern whether Chelsea still lives …

I don’t think I’d want an Archers that existed in the aftermath of her death …

Tracey Horrobin’s not impressed with the proposed Birmingham move
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/966cca4fa7954ef4

Is Vince mince?

Thanks @HannahinHampshire ,and for providing the link.
@Madcats , sadly not.

Edit as was old news re New Josh actor!

Sometimes there is great comfort in being a spoilers addict. Cast list for two weeks hence. Looks like Vince is going to make it at least that far. Surely they can't have Elizabeth losing another partner in an accident?

Just checking back onto this week's spoilers:
It looks as if Ben is going to run to Chelsea and Vince's aid, Lizzie will get all stressed, Eddie will (probably) try to pretend it wasn't his fault, Harrison will be his usual incompetent self and presumably we will hear a little more from Josh.

Next week's RT spoiler sounds promising:
Ambridge Diary 24-30 October
The drama of last week leads to the Grundys making an important decision that could split the family. Meanwhile, Keira taking advantage of recent developments leads herself into serious trouble - and when George finally realises what's going on, he tries to get through to her. At the rewilding, Ed makes an unsettling discovery and when fingers point at Rex a neighbour is dragged into the deceit. And there's turmoil at the Khans as one family makes an announcement about their future.

I can't say that I care too much about what Keira or the Khans are up to, but I wonder whether the beavers anywhere near the tree that nearly wiped out Vince and Chelsea?

Thank you again to Gasp0de for keeping the spoilers up and running. It is much more fun being able to make informed guesses about what horrors await Ambridge.

Who owns the Khans house? I’m assuming they rent it but I can’t remember who from

@Madcats , I can't say that I care too much about what Keira or the Khans are up to, but I wonder whether the beavers anywhere near the tree that nearly wiped out Vince and Chelsea?
Excellent point, @Madcats .

@BadlydoneHelen , I don't recall them being named.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g ,may I echo the thanks for the supply of spoilers. It is appreciated.

Three cheers for @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g .

Just realised they’re the Maliks not the Khans aren’t they?

They are but we knew who you meant. Khan was Azra's maiden name.

Gosh, I had to go back to double check the listing in the RT. It is definitely "the Khans", BUT I wonder whether the writer glanced at the cast list and mistook Akram Malik (Asif Khan in real life)?

I think they mentioned Akram's greenhouse on Monday night's episode so perhaps the announcement is that he wants to be a farmer again? Or maybe Zainab is going to travel/apply to Uni. Khalil isn't in the cast that week, so I doubt that he he plans to make an announcement.

Update. Mustardland seems to be down - php problem? Bit worried about Friday 13th ...

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

Radio Times Ambridge Diary 25-30 October
The drama of last week leads to the Grundys making an important decision that could split the family. Meanwhile, Keira taking advantage of recent developments leads her into serious trouble - and when George finally realises what's going on, he tries to get through to her. At the rewilding, Ed makes an unsettling discovery and when fingers point at Rex a neighbour is dragged into the deceit. And there's turmoil for the Khans Maliks as one family member makes an announcement about their future.

1st November - 6th November 2026
1.11 The nightmare continues for Alan, and Jazzer is on a mission.
2.11 Lily offers her support, and Susan is put on the spot.
3.11 Fallon waves a white flag, and there’s bad news at Meadow Farm.
4.11 Neil finds himself caught in the crossfire, and Helen attempts to keep relations calm.
5.11 Tracy tries to get to the truth, and Josh offers a shoulder to cry on.
6.11 Elizabeth doesn’t know what to do for the best, and Alan finds himself torn.

Writer: Tim Stimpson
Director: Andy Partington
Editor: Jeremy Howe

Helen Archer … Louiza Patikas
Neil Carter … Brian Hewlett
Susan Carter … Charlotte Martin
Vince Casey … Tony Turner
Alan Franks … John Telfer
Usha Franks … Souad Faress
Tracy Horrobin … Susie Riddell
Alistair Lloyd … Michael Lumsden
Jazzer McCreary … Ryan Kelly
Denise Metcalf … Clare Perkins
Esme Mulligan … Ellie Pawsey
Elizabeth Pargetter … Alison Dowling
Lily Pargetter … Katie Redford
Fallon Rogers … Joanna Van Kampen
Anna Tregorran … Isobel Middleton

8th November - 13th November 2026
8.11 Elizabeth puts her foot down, and Lynda jumps to the defence.
9.11 Freddie finds his authority questioned, and Lynda drives a hard bargain.
10.11 A white flag is waved for Fallon, and Chelsea struggles to come to terms with recent events.
11.11 Lily attempts to build bridges, and Eddie is on a quest.
12.11 Can relations be repaired for the Pargetter family? And Freddie faces a dilemma.
13.11 Kirsty faces a terrible realisation, and Usha struggles to accept her new situation.

Writer: Tim Stimpson
Director: Sally Avens
Editor: Jeremy Howe

David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Harrison Burns … James Cartwright
Neil Carter … Brian Hewlett
Vince Casey … Tony Turner
Alan Franks … John Telfer
Usha Franks … Souad Faress
Martyn Gibson … Jon Glover
Eddie Grundy … Trevor Harrison
Chelsea Horrobin … Madeleine Leslay
Jazzer McCreary … Ryan Kelly
Kirsty Miller … Annabelle Dowler
Elizabeth Pargetter … Alison Dowling
Freddie Pargetter … Toby Laurence
Lily Pargetter … Katie Redford
Fallon Rogers … Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd
Donal Gough … Sean Connolly [apparently he used to play Keith Horrobin]

Thanks, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g ,
I think Keira has been truanting and will be suspended.
Josh will be lending Esme a shoulder to cry on.
I think Amber will have full-on PND.
Zainab will apply to be a police officer.

Clocks go back tonight. Roll on March 28th.
Pleased to hear on PM that real porridge is oats, water and salt.

And maybe Fallon will accept she can't expect Harrison to house her for evermore?

Thank you, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g!

I would bet my about to be compiled Christmas List that the Grundys’ decision will be to give up raising turkeys for Christmas. Poor Clarrie and Eddie will have concluded they’ve suffered enough and this will be the final year of said enterprise.

Possibly Will and Ed won’t mind. (Lord knows what Will keeps his daughter on if he’s only being paid for Bridge Farm deliveries. Ed n Emma must be well on the route out of eternal poverty now and won’t need it.) But George will be up in arms about the loss of his family inheritance - and will offer to take it on single handed.

(Give me my 🔮🏅 now …)

I agree about porridge. Despite my heritage, I'm not keen on the stuff and rarely have it, but when I do, that's how I make it. My Mum had it most mornings until she was unable to manage cooking any more and that's how she made it. Bit of cold milk poured on when served. No sugar! Absolutely no dried or fresh fruit, chopped nuts, seeds, syrup, honey, yoghourt or all the other twiddly bits people seem to add nowadays. Call it warm muesli and be done with it!

Mr Gasp, who hasn't got a Scottish bone in his body, occasionally makes himself a bowl of porridge and it comes out like wallpaper paste. Very, very thick. He uses rolled oats and milk and adds nothing to it. I would only eat if the alternative was starvation.

Thanks Gasp0de. With so much white flag waving, there should be sufficient material to knock up an impressive length of bunting.

I wonder who (surnamed character!) Sean Connolly is going to be? Replacement vicar? A hitherto silent manager of Lower Loxley/Casey Meats/Grey Gables…?

Donal Gough will be a disruptive abattoir worker. SEAN CONNOLLY - Actor
Was it ever mentioned that the bunting was red, white and blue?
What remains of it will be the blue flags.
Harrison has been waving the red ones and Fallon the white ones.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g , yet you married and procreated with him?

I rarely eat porridge. My mother used to eat it and it was of the wallpaper paste variety. Thick, milky and sweet.
I am not in the slightest bit Scottish.
Parents were born during WWII and remembered rationing.

We often had a bowl containing a thick slice of bread cut into chunky squares, a teaspoon of Bovril (or Marmite), a small knob of butter, a little salt, and porridge oats, over which boiling water was poured. I've looked it up in the dictionary and it said 'gruel' but I don't think that does it justice. We call it 'brywes' (BREW-ess).
Other families ate it too but I don't know if their recipe was the same.
It was warm, filling and tasty.

My father is similar age (also remembers rationing). He would offer "bread and gravy" to have with leftover roast dinner, which I remember very fondly (delicious, stodgy and filling). He is also a Bovril lover (so am I, when I'm in the mood).

@Poppins2016 , the brywes was breakfast.
I have marmite tea often - Marmite in hot water. I'm someone who neither loves or hates it - I like it a lot. The oats were optional so it was basically a chopped up Bovril sandwich in hot water.

Dad's cooking abilities began and ended with toast.Rationing ended 4 July 1954, which isn't that long ago if you consider that many Radio 4 listeners are over 55.

David Archer can cook a mean Ragout and Phil was a fan of Delia Smith. I remember him cooking fancy dishes.

My Mum said she used to eat bread and milk as a child. She called it Pobs (Liverpool ).

Pobs is northern not specifically Liverpudlian.
It's (stale) bread in hot milk with sugar sprinkled on it.

Or you can whisk an egg into the milk and add the sugar to that before pouring it over the stale bread with butter on it, put the dish into a hot oven for half an hour, and thus make bread-and-butter pudding. I haven't ever tried doing b&bp in the microwave for quicker results, but I suppose that might work. I might even try it, since I happen to have some stale bread in the kitchen right this moment.

Bread and butter pudding is lovely