How is there not an Archers thread on this shiny new topic yet?

[OliviaMumsnet]

I'll just have to start one then.

I am surprised we've had two fights in less than a week. Do you think its a new scriptwriter who's just graduated from Hollyoaks?

I did wonder if it was an attempt to make it more 'relevant', and appeal to the young people.

Actually, I have to admit to rather enjoying all the excitement. But never in a million years did I think I'd hear 'Poker Face' during the Archers.

Me neither. And it went on for ages.. I thought I'd found some pirate radio station hogging the sacred R4 space

I'm looking forward to Feedback next week - am sure that there will be letters.

oh you are so right. There will indeed be letters

'Poker Face' -was that the ...err... music in Peep's bedroom? The bit where I switched off as I couldn't actually hear the dialogue?
( can't stand Ruth anyway)

No wonder Pip can't get her homework done with that bloody racket.

And what had she been doing with Jonathan, heh?

Am trying hard not to think about what she's doing with Jonathan. Although I'm sure we'll find in graphic detail before too long.

Hurrah! The ominibus is going to be a podcast! No more listening to the theme tune 12 times at the start and end of each episode.

I'd love to know what the 'point' of the Vickie storyline is - there's always a point to these things...any guesses?

Hello, first time on this thread. Can anyone explain to me why Matt and Lillian have absconded (sp?) to Costa Rica?

Because Tiger can't face going to jail when Steve Chalkman dishes the dirt on him in their forthcoming trial for fraud. I think the trial is in about 2 weeks.

Matt has shown so many character frailties this past few weeks (falling for scams, not listening to his lawyer, not telling said lawyer about Chalky's threatening behaviour) I wonder how he was ever such a successful business man.

Yes, he should have been a city banker, would have fitted in there ok.

Hoping Lillian has the sense to return and drag the silly sod kicking and screaming to trial.

Agree with CCM (again!). It realy makes me when they take an established character and make them do uncharacteristic things, like they did with Shula.
They also used to do daft things with Jack Wooley (before the dementia) - he was a successful businessman with a big portfolio but they always portrayed him as a bumbling fool, which made you wonder how on earth he ended up with his millions. I can't believe that Matt didn't even have a hotel booked up before they went!

Oh I know, it's absurd isn't it? Brian is the only vaguely convincing business person, Jack and Matt would have run stuff into the ground years ago judging by the asenine things the writers have them doing

When are they going to slip in the 'Kill Phil' episode? Do you think they will get Tarantino to direct?

theres no none in the Archers i really like i eel sorry for Peggy and Jack but Jennifer and her darling this and darling that gets on my goat saying that i listen every day and moan inwardly about them i hope Lillian makes Matt come back home reading on the earlier thread i did not know that Jazzer was blind in real life i dont know how English people understand him he talks exactly like me broad Scottish

I like Clarrie, esp having just heard end of repeat of her not telling Eddie that Ruth hated the teapot. I quite like Eddie too, come to that, the great lummock.

yes i forgot i do like Clarrie i like Ed the son too a wee bit Will seems a bit of an eegit

Brian...Brilliantly written but something prevents me liking him. Anyway, I thought he did well last night on the phone to Lillian and stands more chance of talking some sense into her than anyone else (although, let's face it, he doesn't have much competition from the silly twittering Jennifer). Coming up with a practical plan of getting her home is exactly what she needs.

On the other hand isn't he being a git about the shop? No sooner has the idea been mooted about converting the ground floor into a flat than he gets Borchester Land's tame builder round whipping out his tape measure...it all smacks of trying to bulldoze his ideas through before Pat's community shop has a chance to get off the ground. Quite a contrast between Peggy, Pat (and indeed Lillian to some extent) who see the place as important to the village as a whole and Brian and Jennifer who want to wash their hands of it asap with no thought for the community aspect.

(And why's Pat so keen to keep Susan Carter off the community shop committee? I can see she has plenty of retail experience of her own with Ambridge Organics etc but won't she be too busy to take on another shop as well?)

surely though, Matt can't stay there? do you think he'll come to his senses before Thursday?!

Pat doesn't want Susan on the comittee because it may turn out that a community shop can't afford to pay her - it may have to be run by volunteers.

I felt unaccustomedly like cheering Brian yesterday too! Glad he seems to have got Lillian's arse in gear.

Please leave Matt in San Jose for ever. His character's a joke and the acting's wooden. Lilian is half believeable without him.

Jennifer's not as silly and twittering as you think, DressageNut.She has a long history of handling complicated people and situations with sympathy and determination and some success. She doesn't duck out when things get difficult ( the unspellable one being just an example) and she can't help having such a weird bunch of children. Could happen to any of us

Yes, I can see what you mean, Campion. But it's her voice and manner which drive me mad together with all the "dahhhling"s. To me all the twitter obscures her good points. Plus she always seems very snobby about Alice's relationship with Chris Carter.

Anyone else think that another huge fight between Will and Ed is in the offing? Poor Clarrie. Plus I hope it doesn't make Brian think he did the wrong thing in persuading BL to grant a lease of the land to Ed...it'd be great, IMHO, to see him make a go of expanding the Grange Farm dairy.

I also don't understand why Pat is being so horrible to Susan. On the one hand, she wants to be community-minded and run keep the village shop going but, on the other hand, her philanthropy doesn't extend to trying to keep a Horrobin in paid work.

I was hoping that Susan would put in a bid to buy the shop off Peggy.

Well,y'know, it's the Ambridge caste system. Pat likes to present herself as 'right on' but that Women's Studies course she did was yonks ago. Now that she's a successful businesswoman equality and philanthropy have taken a back seat.

Beides, Susan has to be kept in her place. It's the law.

OOh, heaven an Archers thread, can't believe I've only just found it. OK if I join?

I can see their point about Susan, if they're running the shop as a community scheme, then they have no idea whether they are going to need/can afford Susan. Otoh they shouldn't stop her joining the commitee, that's a bit shitty.

I hate Brian, I though that him being anything other than completely self interested when he talked to Lilian on the phone was out of character, but he did well, and it was quite nice him and Lil bonding after the court case.