Archers thread #200: Trouble in Ambridge! (All 200 threads could have had this title.) 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 love to be Brian's child or stepchild, 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.)

Over to you!

I can't see how Fallon can buy Harrison out and stay there, even with a lodger, so yes, it will have to be sold. Harrison can sod off north or just to Felpersham, stunned into silence, ideally. Where will Fallon go? Back to The Bull?

It would be nice if Hannah could buy Woodbine Cottage but as a single person with no access to the Bank of Mum and Dad, probably not. Maybe Amber's parents will buy it for her.

Oh - that last idea is a very fun thought, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g! 👍

The trouble is that he's just got his rural cop post, they're not likely to reassign him that soon, are they? It's not as if he's some supercop whose services will be on demand all over the place.

Perhaps we're going to be treated to Harrison on the hunt for a fertile woman to settle down with. In the hope that people like Chelsea are too young, I guess that puts Lily in the frame - anyone else?

Lily is far too grand (in her own head) to bother with the likes of Harrison. The only people I can think of are Amy (the vicar's daughter) or Ez-May. Sadly, Hazel Woolley is too old. 😆

Perhaps a rural crime will take him to Esmae's farm and they will fall in lurve.

I don't think Esme is that stupid, do you? And she doesn't give the impression of being desperate.

And all outliers in terms of age. Kirsty at least a decade older and Amber a decade younger than average for first baby.

Then Alice and Rex talking about potentially having a child, they're late thirties aren't they so again quite old.

The SW are missing something here. They need to get people like Lily and Freddie, Ben into relationships which last so that they've got several years together, live together, marry and start a planned family around early thirties which is the norm. Not have unplanned pregnancies, anyone would think in Ambridge contraception didn't exist.

I am worried about Adam …

Idly browsing The Guardian this article passed by my eyes:

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/jul/24/nutrition-food-declining-can-regenerative-agriculture-save-it

and it properly brought home to me that he doesn’t have a farm to work on, right now, at the period of peak summer activity. I don’t see how he can survive, mentally, with the impact of being wrenched away from his life’s work.

How can he open a newspaper on his phone, or turn on the TV, or even walk or drive past any field in the country, without suffering critical blows to his psyche? It’s too much …

And Brian (along with Will) was the one who found Greg …

Only some disease of the brain, surely, could drive him to inflict such cruelty on Adam.

That wasn't what I meant at all - I meant her status to Harrison (rather than her status to the village/listeners). All that seems to matter to Harrison is that she doesn't want kids (rather than being a nice person to be with), and therefore he doesn't want to stay with her. I hope that makes sense? I probably shouldn't have posted at 11.30pm...

@Agapornis , I thought you meant as in her status on TA.

I suspect that people do think like that. Is 'true love' enough? They should have had the 'are we planning on having children?' conversation before thinking about the happy ever after.

I think Harrison would have remained in the marriage but not been happy. The resentment would have built up.

Don't worry about when you posted, I was up way past my bedtime and was very tired when I posted. I hadn't enjoyed the episode but was glad to see that there was something worth discussing.

Let's just hope that it really is over and that he goes away for good.

Molly and Tilly Button are in their 20s now. Their brother Billy must be a similar age (can't remember if he's younger or older or indeed if we've ever been told). About time at least one of the Buttons was given a voice. Then they can be paired off with someone of a suitable age and start repopulating Ambridge.

IIRC in order: Tilly, Molly and Billy. Tilly is older than George Grundy by I think about 3 years.

There needs to be new Archer, Pargetter or Aldridge blood.
We have Josh, Ben, Frilly and Ruairi seemingly not in relationships. Phoebe has Peggy but is in Scotland, the Madikanes and Meriel are the other side of the world, and Johnny is somewhere.

Not a Fairbaby though please.

I assumed Fallons enthusiastic support during Harrison’s speech (and his speech) was part of the performance they have been putting on, for each other as well as everyone else. I’d imagine the penny dropped for Fallon as soon as she closed her mouth.

The cruk barn job seems to have come from nowhere… presumably linked to Fallons renewal after splitting from Harrison?

I wonder if tonight's episode will be a carry on from friday or it will be just Alan talking about the Church roof and fate to Lynda and the Pirate saying " dont worry about the £5 my Darlings we will be doing cheep beer at our beer tent".

Sorry fete though it does sound like a fete worst than death.

Surely if Fallon found herself pregnant after their "last night" she would quietly end the pregnancy without telling Harrison? No drama whatsoever.

You would hope so

Yes agree. I think the “one last night” line just summed up that they do still love one another.
joelene’s going to be devastated - although will support Fallon.

Does anyone else find the police awards ceremony and reunion a bit... weird? Harrison was working undercover, I would have thought the whole point was for him to not know, or be known, by all the regular officers (and criminals!) in the area? I gathered undercover work is quite lonely, but TA have presented it as this "undercover cops unit" or something, where they're all one big happy family 🤔

My take was that there were some undercover out in the field and they were not there, the team at the awards were kind of the back office analysing all the intelligence and building the case. Thank God they have finally split up though, let’s hope Harrison also admits that being a rural crime officer is not at all his dream job.

Come to think of it, it seems a bit premature for the police to be dishing out awards, unless everyone they arrested has conveniently pleaded guilty. If they didn't, they won't be coming to trial before 2028 at the earliest, and if some or all get acquitted those awards will look a bit stupid.

I thought it was bizarre. It was more like an awards ceremony for Top Sales Team than Top Undercover Team. Anyway, it's over now.

Re entry prices for the fair/Fayre - I have just checked how much it would cost to go to the Highland Games here (am making final visit to Gaspmother's house before it's sold as she is now in a nursing home). Admittedly, the entertainment at the Highland Games is far better than anything Ambridge could offer, but it's £6.50 for an Early Bird ticket and £8 at the gate on the day. Accompanied children get in free. Then once you're in most people end up spending a fair amount more on refreshments and at the stalls and stances (fine Scots word). I will be sorry to miss it.