Archers thread #203: It's Affair Cop! 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 would love to attend Pip's wedding with Natasha and the starry twins, 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-12-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.)

Starting the new thread a bit early as I'm not sure I'll have much internet access for the next few days. Fill up the old one first. And then - over to you!

(Credit for the thread title goes to @TripleSulko.)

Whom was Alistair trying to convince most: himself?

Interested to see where the vet story is going.
I like Denise and hope we will hear from her properly soon

The vet story is topical. Big companies buying up smaller vets, high costs, upselling etc.

Same here in Melbourne. I'm lucky my vet is independent. I wonder if the SWs have read this. It's about UK laws making it harder to find out just who owns your veterinary practice -

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/30/pet-owners-private-equity-firms-vet-ownership-rules-change

Oh good. Paul's back and camping it up. I'm thrilled.

I thought Paul was vegetarian, so wouldn't be upset by the left over roast beef being used up. Clearly I was wrong.

The vet stuff may just be fill in storyline, topical chit chat.

Or maybe it will precipitate Alistair retiring and moving away. He no longer has connections to the rest of the cast really, does he?

Never mind all the vet chit-chat, that episode was to signal that Lily is broody (however much she may have tried to deny it!) and that her relationship with Harrison is burgeoning. Also to build on the warm relationship between Alan and Anna before she discovers the huge transfer (how much??) Carole made to his bank account shortly before her death. Personally I think they've dragged this out too long - surely Alan himself would have noticed a large deposit or is he so flush as a vicar that he never checks his balance?
Funny that; I thought it was about the Archers. It is @Every1ElseInKnowsley, but the Grundys provide the necessary counterpoint. To be born an Archer is to win the golden ticket in Ambridge. The job security, home ownership and inheritance possibilities the Archers take for granted is off-limits to the Grundys and is forever destined to remain out of reach. Amber's baby has had the misfortune to be born a Grundy. That's not to say he won't be surrounded by a loving, kind family, but his fate is pre-ordained.

On the other hand he has grandparents who sound well off and are keen to provide for him. Also have a steady business and a home of their own (I’m assuming). So he’s in a very different position to other Grundy children.

I really hope this doesnt mean Harrison and Lily have a child quickly. I know the SWs have to ensure there are new generations but it’s too soon after Phoebe and Ambers relatively young pregnancies . Realistically, people are having babies much later in life these days ( or not at all) . And there’s Kristy’s baby on its way.
However , I am enjoying the Harrison and Lily storyline. Lots of potential for family conflicts there for a good while yet.

I agree.

But it seems that in the Archers very few people now follow the usual path of meeting, falling in love, having a relationship for a few years, engagement, marriage and then have children in their early thirties. Who has done that in the last decade? Tom and Natasha?Contraception also mostly doesn't exist in Ambridge or it has an extraordinarily high failure rate - Pip, Amber, Kirsty, Chelsea, Fallon.

Instead of rushing to get Lily pregnant( assuming that's what the SW will do) they should get on with getting people like Josh, Ben, Freddie into normal straightforward relationships.

I really hope this doesnt mean Harrison and Lily have a child quickly.

I do! And Lily is nearly 27 - hardly a gymslip mum.

they should get on with getting people like Josh, Ben, Freddie into normal straightforward relationships

Agreed. Especially the "normal straightforward" bit.

But 26 is still young these days isn’t? Especially when you’ve only just got together with someone. I’m not being critical of young parents - far from it - I’m just saying it’s not very realistic at the moment ( nor interesting to have it happen so frequently)

I don’t normally mind the mundane stuff on TA - I like the comfort of the rural calendar and day to day life in Ambridge.

But last night’s conversation between Anna and Alan was a hard listen. Sorry but Anna ruminating about her mum is just dull - and not very well acted.

And I am incredulous at Alan’s happy acceptance of being part of a pick-n-mix ceremony that includes pagan and Wiccan elements but that doesn’t allow him to say a prayer.

i wish Anna would drive back to Bristol and leave the cottage vacant for someone more interesting.

And I want Alan to find his anger again - loved him giving Henry a bollocking. Let’s have a fire and brimstone vicar, please.

Well yes and no. Will had an inheritance and bought his own home, but what is he doing now? His wife died of sepsis and then he lost the job he was born to do and what is he doing now? Grundys are not allowed to succeed - they have to know their place and are destined to stay there. It’s how their destiny is written. Just when we think their luck is about to change, something will come and squash them back down (see Emma and get house dream).

I think Witchery may have meant his maternal grandparents as his possible redemption? They are not Grundys, so they are safe from being wasters in quite that inimitable Grundy (un)style

On a second listening it does sound rather ominous that Harrison offered to do anything he could for Anna, and she assured him she would ask if necessary …

Even though it’s possibly just an accident of the casting schedule.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime Yes, they will give baby Grundy the safety net of a background of some money. I don't know if I've missed something but I don't understand why they haven't offered to pay the rent on somewhere for George and amber to live on their own, or buy somewhere for them( don't know if they're well off enough to buy a place).

Amber had her own flat provided by them before she ran away to join the raggle-taggle Grundys oh, so they might simply offer to let her have that again.

Thanks. All her (understandable) upset about the house being too small etc could therefore be solved in one fell swoop, why hasn't she or her parents mentioned this?

Because it would mean them being out of Ambridge and wouldn't fit the desired story of a struggling young couple presumably.

And that the editorial team remembered something from at least a year ago.

(Is George allowed to drive yet? I can't remember how long he was banned for.)

And in the same vein, does he still have the alcohol ankle tag?

@LillianGish , ... but the Grundys provide the necessary counterpoint. To be born an Archer is to win the golden ticket in Ambridge.
As long as you are not Joshnben.

The job security, home ownership and inheritance possibilities the Archers take for granted is off-limits to the Grundys and is forever destined to remain out of reach.
Only because of the SW. Will inherited and owns his home.

Amber's baby has had the misfortune to be born a Grundy. That's not to say he won't be surrounded by a loving, kind family, but his fate is pre-ordained.
He has comfortably off grandparents and his mother is an only child.

@ExOptimist , Fallon didn't have a contraception failure AFAIK. She was very briefly testing as pregnant. Kirsty was not using contraception.

Lily has probably already been impregnated.