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.)

Sunny and autumnal in Manchester today.

What would you wear if you were going to the wedding? My range of outfits that could potentially be worn at a ‘classy’ wedding is a bit thin. Most of my smart clothes are black- I go to more funerals than weddings…

The wedding or a wedding? I'd have declined the invitation.

and I ought to be more careful; sorry.

EBearhug, The Tenniel illustration of the flamingo in Alice in Wonderland has it looking at her very accusingly, so it looks as thought the bird shared your feelings.

Tenniel had a magnificent moustache.

No need to apologise @AskingQuestionsAllTheTime . It's me and my strange obsession with how animals wear clothes in children's books.
They're style icons.

Do you think Aslan would wear MC Hammer pants or sponge bag trousers? I think he'd wear red trousers.

Maybe I should pop over to Style & beauty for help.

I honestly don't know! Given the time of writing and all, probably sponge bag, but possibly houndstooth?

Interesting choice.

I like Rupert's outfit but the Paddington look is not my style, although it suits him perfectly.

Do you suppose anyone in Ambridge wears a duffel coat? I can sort of imagine Pat in one when she's out around the farm.

Hannah? Bet Kirsty has a dryrobe. I can see the pre-rewilding Kirsty in a duffel coat but not her now.

I used to wear one but they are very heavy. There are more practical materials available now.

@Every1ElseInKnowsleyThe wedding ie tomorrow’s event

TBF I love a good Hallowe'en ride in costume! My favourite was two years ago: I was dressed as a giant horsefly, and my horse had splashes of fake blood all over her. She was profoundly unbothered (she quite enjoyed the ride with her friends), and the only one that cared that her tail was slightly pink until well after Christmas was me. But when I make a costume for a horse, the horse is generally representing a horse somehow, and accessories are kept quiet (like a quarter sheet), and any weird items involve some training before the event, to make sure the horse is ok with it. E.g. my pony was in a parade that involved children with lanterns, so I made sure that he was ok with lanterns moving around randomly beforehand. He was very good, and was very appreciative that the children had baked him special cookies.

7am R4 News bulletin was trying to get listeners excited about the forthcoming lesbian wedding; they are expecting 6 million listeners. They claim the storyline has attracted lots of new <35s! They even made reference to a Daily Mail article about it (judging by the comments, their readers are even more sceptical than I am):

https://www.dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-16217435/amp/Six-million-guests-expected-Archers-lesbian-wedding.html

I’m going to be far more excited to hear Josh return (when he eventually does).

Has anyone heard the trailer for tonight?

I heard it this morning, doom is coming.

"Red Wedding" type of doom? I do hope so!

I asked about the trailor 4 days ago, because I heard it once and then…..nothing. It seemed a bit spoiler-like so I asked on the other thread.

I’m not sure where they are going to drum up their 6 million listeners.

The only “shocking” thing about the NYE episode is that George has morphed into a reasonably sensible young man and Ruari is AWOL goodness knows where (inevitable if you are too busy being a good actor, I suppose).

I predict an incoming damp squib, so I’ll probably listen tomorrow or next Sunday.

It's strange (but understandable) that some of us are relishing the prospect of the Brookfield heiress's wedding going wrong.

She's an Archer so we should be rooting for her. Why aren't we? Have the SWs made her unlikeable or is it the actress's incredibly annoying delivery?

I think it was a mistake to turn her into the WFL. It doesn't feel real (and don't any of you suggest TA isn't real!). I wish she were marrying Toby as their's could be a fiesty relationship that keeps us interested in the coming years and produce young Archer-Fairbrother siblings to counter balance Rosie.

Stella sounds like she's ready for cocoa and slippers.

I missed this, hadn't heard it til this morning about 7am.

What I don't understand about Pip and Stella, is Rosie. Stella seems to barely tolerate Rosie, she has certainly never really shown any sign of positively enjoying her company. So is Pip just blind to it? does Pip just assume that Stella adores Rosie? Whilst Stella assumes that Pip knows she is indifferent and is OK with it?

I think the SL about Pip and Stella is that, to me, it felt forced.

That the SWs were ‘brainstorming’ about what new angle they could come up with to mix up the rural, mostly white farming community. Hoping (vainly) to appeal to a wider, younger, more hip audience.

So came up with Pip coming out as lesbian/bi and likely really pleased with themselves for doing so. But that just didn’t feel as natural as Adam and Ian or Ruari. Recently it feels that the approach is to come up with ‘an event’ and then build a SL around it. Rather than building the story of TA itself.

Only 1500 signatures so far but I signed 😕

Absolutely dreadful what Matt Britton is doing to the BBC. Just who the hell thought appointing a bloody - we’re proud not to pay tax in this country - Google exec to the sensitive and vital role of DC was a good idea? Insane.

And heartbreaking.

cannot wait until the wedding shite has come and gone.

What i really want is someone to interrupt Brian's witterings about Xander being his grandchild and why is Adam being so mean with "you told him he wasn't your son you absolute cauliflower, let it go"

😂 Me too.

I still think it should be held at Brookfield.

And I don’t think the Maliks should be on the guest list- they barely know Pip and are not really speaking to Ruth and David. Why on earth would they be invited? Let alone accept the invitation. Likewise Ciara and the Grundies. It just seems everyone is invited. I expect the Snells will be there too. The whole thing is ill-conceived. Not very classy…

Hmmm.

I'm inclined to agree.