Lol! There was a time in the 1990s when the Archers had nearly become the Grundy Show and was full of their japes in every episode.

To help you to put a 'face' to Hazel - she is played by Annette Badland, who is also Babe in EastEnders. She sounds posher as Hazel though.

She also played a Slitheen in Doctor Who, and whenever she's on I just picture her as a Slitheen . They were also very unpleasant.

[quote=miaow_sponge;80300754]I am trying to get used to the voices still but one of the old boys' voices reminds me of the man in The Vicar Of Dibley who started every sentence with "no, no, no...".

I feel really sorry for the Grundys. Is horrid Hazel ever heard or is she an "off screen" type character?

Edit: forgot to say, why are the Grundys homeless? Was it their farm that all the cattle died on?[/QUOTE]

BIB The Grundy's home was flooded in March when the village was flooded. Caroline let them move into her hotel (Grey Gables) while the cottage was dried out and then done up. Hazel is their landlord and, having done the cottage up to a high spec, she will want a lot more rent than the Grundys could afford so she wants them out. It wasn't their farm where the cattle died. They died at Berrow Farm.

Which is a high density, living meat factory rather than a traditional farm.

Thanks guys

Just listened to tonight's episode. Rob is so annoying! "Good girl" he says like Helen is a dog or something!

I'm trying to guess what the people are doing or where they are while they're talking. It's not always obvious but I like trying to imagine the scenery etc.

Wish I'd started listening to this years ago. I'm really enjoying it!

It annoyed me too. The patronising git


Don't, whatever you do, look at any videos or programmes which show the 'behind the scenes' or 'making of' the Archers. Interesting as it is, it does spoil it somewhat (for me anyway) as sometimes the mental image of them in the studio pops into my head. I do try to force it away and 'see' Ambridge as it should be


It is addictive isn't it?

I just knew Charlie would be straight on the blower to Adam after his bruising at the hands of the awful Justin.

Adam couldn't meet him for a drink though because Ian had something special planned.

Adam is such a tease

Justin seems a right git

I hadn't realised how horrible he is till tonight. Though he did offer the money for a new village hall as long as it was named after him

I'm wondering if the business he wants to settle could be asking Rob to come back

I have a really strong mental image of the Brookfield kitchen, the Bull pub and the dairy at Bridge Farm. When Clarrie and Susan are chatting as they pot up the yogurt, I can see them in my mind's eye just as well as I can see Rita at the counter of her shop in Corrie.

I think radio drama can engage you more, it's somehow less passive than watching tv. You have to put a bit of yourself into it.

Yes I agree

Regarding tonight's episode, I do wonder where the Grundys are going to end up. Poor things

I'm just wondering whether there are any empty properties that we know about in Ambridge? It would be a shame for them to have to move away. I can see Joe dying of a broken heart if that happened

Fast forward forty years and I see Helen ending up like Claire in Unforgotten.

With the other BBC Soap in terminal decline, it is nice to see new listners to the Archers.

I did have my doubts about the new editor, but I can see where Sean is going with the show now. Initially I was a bit unsettled with some of the sackings and new voices coming in, but I have got used to the majority of them now. Sean is the Kate Oates of Ambridge and Kate actually learnt her craft on this show.

I think Adam, Ian and Kirsty will be Helen's saviour.

I shan't forgive him for sacking Proper Tom and hiring New Tom - who is the son of some actor or other. Reeked of nepotism and croneyism.

He's the son of the man who plays his dad in The Archers - absolute nepotism!

Crikey David, don't come between Ruth and her semen.

It absolutely stinks. It would not be tolerated in any other publicly funded organisation.
I support the BBC but it wears thin when they pull stunts like that. It totally fuels the idea that they think they are a law unto themselves.

Tom Graham (Proper Tom) did a fantastic job, and to me was the real McCoy - he even had the accent nailed (i.e. a little bit middle class RP, with hints of a rural burr).

I wonder what kind of waitering job William Troughton was rescued from so he could go to work with Daddy every day?

Caught up with a couple of episodes tonight. Was good to have a party atmosphere for the Friday night.

As for Ruth, she has a lovely accent but she did moan a bit didn't she? Is it justified?

Also, I didn't catch who Brian was - a relative of someone?

I agree Tom Piper was excellent.

.... Oaakeea pet.


Brian Aldridge - the Ambridge lothario senior citizen. The Aldridges are another wealthy farming family, and Brian is related to the Archers by marriage to Jennifer.

Adam Macy (the gay one having a will they / won't they bonk? frissance with Charlie) is his stepson. Also mainly 'offscreen' Debbie is his sort-of daughter.

Incorrigible Kate is his biological daughter, and he is Phoebe's grandfather.

He is a Troughton*, so I don't think he would have been doing any waitering jobs - it seems he did a lot of theatre work, and he has done some tv too. His cousin played Dudley Dursley in Harry Potter.

* which does show the nepotistic side in the acting world - if you are from an acting 'dynasty' it seems to be easier to get acting work than if you are the first in your family.

Yay Tony, you tell him!