Joe's mother's secret ingredient was tea. Or so he said

I think it was tea leaves.

I agree with you about black pudding. I'd rather vomit than eat the stuff.

Oh, of course, I remember them mentioning that they could taste it.

I used to love black pudding when I was younger, then I was told what it was made of and never touched it again. Bleurgh!

Love black pudding. No FEB is complete without it.

Black pudding is one of those things that sounds revolting (because of the ingredients) but is actually delicious! Well I think so anyway.

Slow week in the Archers really. Thoroughly bored of Rob/Helen now.

Helen really is anorexic again.

I listened to about 30 seconds of tonight's episode and switched off.
Mum did so weeks ago.

The way Rob taunted Helen at sunday lunch "You're not setting a good example to Henry are you darling? Shall I cut up mummy's food like I do for you Henry?"

He knows she has had an eating disorder and that is just sadistic - completely sick.
I have worked with young people for many years, and have cared pastorally for boys and girls with eating disorders on at least four occasions.

It is deeply upsetting and I think I'm switching off till the storyline is finished.
For me (and I stress it's just for me) they've crossed a line.

As for the black pudding - me too - I love it. I am a Londoner born-and-bred, now living in Devon. As far away from Black Pudding Country as you can get, but crisply fried and put into a sandwich, decent Bury black pudding is wonderful...

Have to agree: how on earth can they end this?

Anyone else think that Rob will forbid Helen taking Henry out tomorrow with Kirstie and Roy?

Eventually, Helen will realise that she's being psychologically abused (Kirsty is within a gnat's cock of sussing it out) and will leave him and go back to Bridge Farm. She'll have a breakdown. Her immediate family will support her, but the likes of Peggy and Chris will refuse to believe that heroic Rob can be such an evil creep.

Then there will be a divorce in which Rob tries to get Peggy's inheritance off her as part of the divorce settlement, and possibly custody of one or both the children, because Helen is "mentally unstable". Then the others see him for what he is.

The knives will be out and he won't dare set foot in Borsetshire again.

While it's distressing, it's a very good portrayal of a controlling psychopath and how they manage to completely destroy their victim's sense of self, autonomy and identity.

Definitely. Kirsty is suspicious already (esp. after Helen was out in the garden when she phoned her last night), she'll suss it out and start asking awkward questions.

Helen really is unlucky with men. Maybe she should try batting for the other team, Ambridge is about ready for a lesbian couple.

Well thought out and possible. But with a person like Rob the knives being out for him in Borsetshire would only inspire him and drive him back to wreak revenge and more trouble and heartache. Such is his character Rob would never see himself as doing anything wrong, all the others are wrong, not him.
I was wondering if Helen might actually kill Rob (in self defence of course) when she comes to her senses?

It's the little, subtle chipping away of her self-esteem, all done in a happy, "aren't I being perfectly reasonable" tone of voice.


And she'd probably end up in prison for it.

I wonder if he was the same with Jess, but she just didn't see what he was doing to her?

I think I might join you.they don't need this sort of story line. The Archers has been going since 1951. It has got by for all those years without unpleasant story lines,we have already been through Helens anorexia before, we don't need it or Robs psychopathic behaviour.

Was Helen making herself sick the other day when Henry interrupted her in the bathroom? I do wonder if she will risk losing the baby

I think we do need it. This storyline has got us talking. It's been well written and has taken forever (not rushed like in telly soaps). I'm enjoying it and can't wait to hear what The Sinister One does next.

And Tom could feed his body to the pigs!

Rob would end up in the black pudding, which is a fitting end for such a blackguard. Helen would never eat a sausage again.

That's possibly all a bit dark for the Archers though.

I agree - well, I'm not sure about enjoying it, but I'm certainly finding it compelling listening.

Anything that raises people's awareness of psychological abuse is a good thing in my book. It's more common than people realise, I'm sure.

Rob was sounding even more menacing than usual this evening. He's a very disturbing man. He's going to stop her going out at all soon. I bet he'll be taking her phone off her too before long so nobody can contact her. Surely someone other than Kirsty is going to start to twig soon?

Due to Mr Lakie coming home later than usual and feeling compelled to tell me about his bad day at the office, I missed how Rob found out about the planned day out. But yes, he was scarey.

We should run a book on who might be the next to realise what's going on. Tom, possibly? Then he and Kirsty would have an excuse to rekindle their flame.

I think Adam is too busy being broken hearted to get involved yet, and Helen is still persona non grata with Ian, so I think that rules them out for the time being. And I can't see Roy really getting it.

I supposed Fallon might be a possibility.

I knew Rob was going to check Helen's phone. I really bloody hate the guy after tonight, not that I liked him before!

Rob was driving past the school and saw Helen's car. As she's not allowed to drive anymore , Rob stopped at the school to find out why she was there. What an episode!!!

Ooh what was happening there with Helen?!

I think she's probably collapsed from lack of food. Either that or the drugs The Evil One is slipping into her coffee have had an adverse effect.

He's obviously the one altering the orders and blaming her. And how vile of him to try and poison Henry against her