Most of the family are totally unrealistic when it comes to their nearest and dearest. I recall that when Ruth was diagnosed with breast cancer David was adamant that the biopsy would show all was well, his words were it is "highly unlikely" that she actually had cancer. I do of course understand that we all want to support our loved ones at times like this but thought it was not responsible of the production team to have approached that story in that way. That was several years ago and they are doing no better with Helen's story, with the true Pat having been deleted out, and not just recently, this has been going on for months.

Feeling your pain Bach. Anyone who is both a BB and Archer's addict must be having STFU Carole moments.

Yes and the comments about how competitive Bert is when it comes to the produce show and his garden.

It was like a little balm on my indignant wounds inflamed by Pat mk 2.

An T
I am not really an Archers nerd but keep the pocasts to listen to on long car journeys.
Did Richard Locke say he remembered doing a DNA test on Rob?
I was going to look for the time Rob went to have it done. At the time we all thought he would "fiddle" it to produce a false negative. If someone can give a rough date I could have a go at listening to the "doctor visit" details.

By the way what does BIB mean?

Good. I'm the only nerd in this thread!

And to contradict myself. I don't remember everythig really and I don't recall the bit to do with Richard being onvolved with Rob's DNA test. But as others seem to remember it, I am content to accept it as official history.

ETA. Just did a Google search and the subject of Rob taking a DNA test is coming up inb blogs for April 2015.

Sorry mised that BIB means Bit in Bold.

Only just realised how new you are. Welcome. If it helps other acronyms that come up a lot are

IIRC - If I recall correctly
AFAIK - As far as I know
TPTB - The powers that be
FMs Forum members.
I think the others are pretty obvious such a WTF and TBH.

Just a quick post as I have to rush.
Rob went with Helen for the DNA swab with Dr Locke - yes it was him (but I don't think Helen noticed who the doctor was as she didn't go in with Rob) on 4 Apr 15.
The results came on 24 Apr 2015.
Rob did show a lot of interest in the way the results were sent out etc - but he would wouldn't he!
I am not sure if I can find any more clues but will have a longer check later.

When Pat was with the barrister, Legal Aid was mentioned. Surely Pat and Tony are too well-off to qualify, even though Helen isn't?

New Tom has certainly done Helen no favours by giving Jazzer a smack and then firing him.
You could hear that gobshite Susan champing at the bit wanting to broadcast that one.

Definitely thinking New Tom and Kirsty are going to get back together now - the way she cooled him down, her deep concern, his gratefulness. It looks pretty plain.

Narratively works too. What made Tom jilt Kirsty was his own introspection and self-centredness really. But now, as Kirsty said, "We've got to forget everything else Tom, and get Helen out of this".
And in forgetting they will remember what it is like to be a partnership and a support etc.

I just wish Real Tom was still there to do all this - it's a good story for him

But Helen herself won't have large amounts of money, particularly as she is on maternity leave. She is not dependent on her parents for financial support, so she should qualify for legal aid in her own right.

I agree. it would have been great to have the two of them working together - not quite the same with New Tom.

Lordy, Pat's coming apart at the seams now.

At least Lynda's shepherd's abode, complete with incongruous chimney-cowl, has been erected.

I'm not sure how he could do that when it's the doctor who swabs the mouth.


I don't think he has yet. I don't think it matters any more anyway.


The bill will be Helen's.

The 'scene' I have in mind regarding Richard Locke and Rob is a different one to the DNA test. I don't actually recall the latter but if others do then fair enough.

I am remembering a scene at an outdoor event maybe something on the village green like bonfire night or the summer fete or something at the cricket ground ( there was the match when Rob got someone - Adam?- run out and of course the annual single wicket) . Richard Locke is talking to someone; it may have been two people and one of them may have been Shula. Rob comes along. Whoever Richard is talking with introduces Rob and Richard. Richard says something like "Haven't we met?" to Rob and Rob quite defensively declares he doesn't think so.

Of course it might relate back to the DNA test again. It may be that Rob doesn't want to have the paternity issue publically known. But I am not sure why this would be a secret.

IIRC though Richard seemed to have dim recall of Rob, but couldnh't place him. Rob knew exactly why Richard recognised him but seemed to want it kept quiet. Or at least that was my impression of the 'scene'

Question is was this outdoor encounter before or after the DNA test. But as Seejay says it doens't much matter.

The outdoor scene was after the DNA test.

Interestingly, the letters in the radio times from listeners, seem to say that people thinks the story line is a good one bit, the stabbing by Helenis not.

It seems listeners would have preferred Helen to have left Rob and the story follow on from that. I must admit I feel the same. How many abused wives attack their tormenter in real life?
This will carry on for months now, and at present is not looking good for Helen. I feel certain Rob will fight for custody of poor little Henry and the Babywith his horrible Mothers help

That's how I remember it too. I think it was at the bonfire or the switching on of the Christmas lights.

Have to say that Helen and Pat are both grating on me at the moment. They're both living in cloud cuckoo land.

Nice to be brought back to basic with Linda, whose surely been taking lessons from Margo Leadbetter!

Did anyone hear Sean O'Connor on Boadcasting House yesterday morning? Apparently they take a lot of their inspiration for storylines from Thomas Hardy and the Helen/Rob sl is - loosely - based on Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

And when he was asked how long it had to run, his answer was 'around 20 years', because of the repercussions on Helen and Henry. He admitted to not being entirely serious but said The Archers team had always referred to characters' back stories when they were developing storylines.

The story line will outlive me at that rate.

The story will never really end as this is the Archers.
Interesting interview with Sean O'Connor on Broadcasting House the other day:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03r9wsq

They're thinking as far forward as Henry going to university and how he will deal with the people in his past.

On a more positive note, he does say this portion of the story will have a 'redemptive' conclusion, which hopefully means the exposure of Rob and aquittal for Helen.

Goodness - ditto or what?! We must have been writing our posts at exactly the same time!

And we all know how that ended

Fortunately I don't think the Archer's producers are desperate enough for listeners to run an execution story line.

I'm looking forward to them moving on to The Mayor of Casterbridge. More frumenty, Alistair?

Which character would sell his wife?