I don't believe a word he said either. It's just a way for him to try and worm his way back to full control. I stopped what I was doing while listening to it with bated breath until she told him to sling his hook. Well done Helen. I'd also bin the cheap tat he bought for the boys too.

oh, the sweet smell of desperation

I don't understand why Jess was in Thursday's episode. What was the point of it? Was it some sort of closure for Helen? I was hoping for some big reveal re Jess's baby, but it was not to be.

Don't be fooled. It's just more of his manipulative mind games!

But will she tell anyone that he's been to the house? My suspicion is that she won't.

I think Helen and Jess might become friends, and that there might be a relevant plot development coming our way.

I lol'd at her account of the abuse she got from Bruce.

I worry for this thread if Rob is written out. He seems to be this thread's lifeblood. Sometimes several days go by without any activity, if he's not involved.

I think there is a lot of mileage in the character, but life goes on and so we get to hear about the daily ins and outs of the other characters which, as you point out, don't necessarily give rise to comment.

I think Helen is already wavering slightly about the access arrangements, more for Henry's sake really. I wouldn't be surprised if she allowed an extra supervised visit over the Christmas period involving Henry as well as Jack. However Rob's mumblings on the doorstep may have put even that in jeopardy!

I think the opposite. I think that Rob turning up on the doorstep was the final 'closure' for her, and it will have strengthened her resolve.

I agree

I was waiting for Ruth to call Jill out on the sermon on forgiveness she had just heard and approved of at church asking, so that applies to everyone except you then does it?

This was a fairly quiet thread before the Rob storyline. The storyline really woke us all up as Rob was and still is a great baddie.

The mundane life of the normal village is a bit dull although the Jill/Pip/Toby/Druth storyline might well spoil Christmas for everyone.

Perhaps not the best use of the word but I am rather "enjoying" Jill's hatred of Toby Farebrother. It has really taken over her world and it seems she can talk of nothing else. If Ruth and David can be civil to help the situation along, then why can't she? Recently Jill made reference to the time when she and Phil lived at Hollow Tree Farm [is that how it is spelt?], she sounded truly demented when she cried out ".. it was Phil and me that lived there, not Phil and Grace .. " da de dun dun dun ...

It trundled along fine before the spotlight was on Rob, thought it was obviously a little slower!
Real Tom jilting Kirsty, Lillian and Matt saga, the death of heatherpet, Route B etc, all normal bread 'n' butter Archers in this thread.

I think it's the right word. I'm also enjoying it.

I also really look forward to Rob being in a episode. Boo hiss.

I think that has a lot to do with her dreadful acting.

The abuse storyline has attracted a lot of new posters, that's for sure, but then it attracted a lot of new listeners, too.

I'm sure some of us long-term Archers listeners will still post from time to time. And there'll be other big SLs, although probably never as big as the domestic abuse one.

Yes, she's losing it a bit imo. As if you can blame someone for the actions of their parents or grandparents.

And the Great Flood - that was really well done imo.

Debbie played a blinder tonight. It was as much as I could do not to applaud her. I didn't but only because I was on the M6 and was the driver!

Didn't she just. Ian has to get an honorable mention too.

Yes superb. Like a pincer movement!

Oh look seasonal smilies.

I raise this one to Ian. And these two to Debbie

Pip is secretly loving this tussle over her loyalty I reckon.
Ruth is even deploying the all-purpose 'Jill Archer' food bribe.

Helen back to wailing then. Has Henwee posted his be-glittered daub christmas card through the Blossom Hill letterbox?
Recipient no longer resides?

. Rob really did cut a wretched figure trying charm and menace with everyone in equal measure, only to end up an even more outright pariah.

I guess we have to hold our noses at Ian swooping in to save slimey Adam, but it was worth it to see yet another one of Rob's taunts end in abject failure.

I really did wonder if Rob had done a kidnapping flip/flit!!!