Excellent . That's exactly what it will be like! And dead pheasants hanging on the light fittings!

But there is still the problem with the underground spring which would have made the place unsaleable anyway so Oliver and Caroline had no option? Or did I miss something and they have sorted out a remedy for that? Or was it all caused by Joe Grundy's tears?

It would be just wrong if it looked otherwise ..

Anyone else think Joe is going to snuff it on his 95th birthday?

No.

No I doubt it. Unless the actor wants to retire I think they will leave Joe until the actor lives out his natural. Plus we have had enough excitement lately.

Just checked Edward Kelsey is 86.

Compared to Joe, Stanley Unwin sounds like Alvar Lidell.

Picture one old lady (me) dancing around the kitchen with joy. Helen wins and Pat found her backbone!

New Tom and Kirsty! Yay!

That was a great result from the Custody Hearing!

What a satisfying -and hilarious- showdown between Arsula and Pat. Well worth waiting for. I was visualising her gasping for air, stranded fish-like.

Yay - Slimy Rob has been found out and Pat finally put awful Arsula in her place!

Now for the job offer to be withdrawn!

Just listened to Pat putting Ursula in her place for the third time.

...... I've finished now, have Henry ready, we'll be picking him up at 6 o'clock SHARP.

Nicely, done Pat!

Yes please and Helen get her home back.malthough I wouldn't want to be there alone with him about.

Glorious the judge completely unequivocal.
Loved Rob roaring and protesting .

Pat telling that repulsive old hag where to stick it was also very gratifying

Hurrah

Kirsty and New Tom eh..... lots of heavy breathing there!

She told him she wasn't going to fall for him again though. Presumably she just wants the 'friends with benefits' relationship. I can't see that working . . .

I can't either. There'll be a lot of hither and yon and she will (rightly) make him work hard for her trust.... then they'll get back together.
Hopefully no naked New Tom scampering through the utility room like a furtive meerkat, à la Toby, though.
We can do without that

I was just so relieved to hear Henry's voice and to hear that he was safe back at the farm. I just had terrible misgivings of Rob's intent to allow him to return - and that perhaps he would abscond with Henry and his own his mad mother.
Can we please get back to a tale of everyday country folk please ...

I hope the drama is here to stay....many more Grundie-centric episodes or the trials and tribulations of Josh's eggs, and I'll stop listening.

Much as I've enjoyed the recent high drama, the joy and the point of TA is the subtle drama and/or comedy to be found in the small events in life. Every show tries to have a USP, and that's The Archers'.

I can understand why you say that, but I just don't find those small events interesting. Yes relentless high drama can become tedious, but that's where character-driven stories help. Unfortunately I don't think The Archers has enough well-rounded characters to pull this off; many of them, such as Linda, Susan, or the Grundies, verge on caricature.

Maybe the Archers isn't for you then. It isn't everybodies cup of tea, in fact nothing is. I don't know how long you have been a listener but I find the suggestion that Linda et al are not rounded characters, the most extraordinary statement. I conclude that you may have only been listening for a year or two if that's the conclusion you have come to.

This is one of the main grumbles long term listener to the Archers complain of. The characters are so well rounded and we know them so well, that when the writers force one to behave out of character - such as Pat Archer, or a new actor takes over without a feel for the character - new Tom and maybe new Tony, it really jars.

I think you may be at an impasse, althoguh perhaps with two options still open to you. Either knock it on the head and decide that the daily life of country folk; village fetes, bee keeping, escaped live stock, jam making, single wicket competitions is not for you. This would be a shame but each to his/her own. Alternatively stick with it but try to suspend you judgement until you have 'lived' in the village long enough to get to know people.

Clever how they did that wasn't it. I kept asking o/h 'Where's Henry?'... only then to hear his (albeit annoying) voice asking 'Can I have a drink too?' or whatever it was

Henry is going to find readjustment hard imv. What had the social workers found out about 'psychological harm' due to Rob? Sinister. What was the 'discipline' Rob was so keen to administer?

Agree re. gentler stories. Will be fun

Yes Henry may well struggle, however, imagine the modern day format with the mother who marries or cohabits with several partners throughout the child formative years, how could each father figures' parental rights be managed ? I know that would be unlikely but it could happen...


I think it will be too, re a return to gentler stories been like that for me for decades and providing it keeps to the cleverly written format ....I'm no shrinking violet, don't like EE. but I watched all of Breaking Bad in 2 months. Loved it, but then it wasn't when sitting peacefully in the garden or driving my car. Time and place...

This is where I miss a " like " button. Very well put. I'm afraid that I came to TA down the Mrs Dales Diary and Waggoners walk route.
Was anyone else here a member of the old message board on BBC TA page? And if so do you remember how we berated Ruth when she left David for the temporary cowman?
The hussy

I loved, loved, loved the character assassination of Rob The Rotter and the supervised access by Pat and/or Tony was the icing on the cake.

I don't think he will be able to hold it together from now on.
Good.
Suffer you barsteward.