Archers: please will a MNer summarise for me?

[OliviaMumsnet]

Hello MNers,

I can tell just from the thread titles that there are lots of irritating storylines atm but due to Justine's general whipcracking am seriously behind with Ambridge gossip.

Last I really remember listening was Lilian going to visit Matt inside and him not being v impressed. Am going to listen to the iplayer omnibus from last week later tonight so please can someone update me???

What's the story with Annette and Helen?
Who is Joel?
When is Phil going?

Oh nooooo. Its too sad.

CoffeeCrazedMama are you a scriptwriter?

It was a bit cliched until it got to the point where they just left the music playing. Very sad but very Phil. What was the music?

coffeecrazedmama, you got it sopt on. The music was lovely, it just naturally faded in from the background.
I thought O NO Dum-te-dum will spoil it, and then they just let the music continue. Brilliant.

No, R4 - I've just been listening to The Archers too long! (far too long, DH would say!) Have to say, I impressed even myself, but still was very - had a tear in my eye. Was very appropriate Chris being there as his sister. Was the music Grieg? I didn't recognised it, but had something of his flavour.

Poor Jill. Wish their lovely day hadn't been spoilt like that...

From The Archers messageboard:
The music was the opening of Part 2 of Dream of Gerontius (Elgar) - very apt - it stopped just before Gerontius (who has just died) sings "I went to sleep and now I am refreshed".

I'm getting all sad again. Excellently done - the music, 'Oh Phil', more music and then the silence - I found myself crying and I'm not usually the blubbering type.

I've listened so long it's in my DNA and it's hard to think of Phil not being there

I was peeling shallots, that's my excuse.

Thanks R4 - I thought it was Elgar but couldn't place it. Very apt, I'm sure you can see the Malverns from Borsetshire.

Oh

but perfectly done.

Oh thank god! I posted my own thread but only kew replied (thankyou kew). I feel bereft Poor old Phil.

tonight's episode brought tears to my eyes, I admit (the card....sniff)

Sob.

They did the silence (but no Elgar) when John got squished by the Fergie too. It's so effective, as they only do it once in a blue moon...

Oh I did blub about the card tonight

Yes, I was in bits at DS bathtime.

I found tonight even more moving than Friday. The actress who plays Lizzie always does a 'crying voice' really well and that Valentine's card... sob. (Even noticed dh, pretending he wasn't listening, as usual, blowing his nose endearingly after tonight's episode.)

And dear old Clarrie - I'd much rather have her around to comfort me than Shula if I were Jill!

Iirc Norman Painting wasn't married to anyone in real life. Funny isn't it, played the definitive family man so convincingly all those years yet lived alone.