Archers Addicts 4!!

This sounds like a take-over programme for the Archer's spot phoenix

That was a reply to post of 21.41, btw.

This is the zip that I was avoiding yesterday. Now the bag is finished I can't believe it made me quake . I am so glad I had the thread to distract me. (I am really bad at taking photos but it turned out quite prettily thankfully)

That's a tough one, perhaps the world will stop spinning on its axis, the seas may run dry, Jeremy Corbyn might stop looking like recently rehabilitated homeless person, the Gransnet Collective will stage an undercover coup and take control of certain Government Departments, without the other ones even noticing, having been distracted by unexpected deliveries of cake, and one might be able to buy pork chops with a slice of kidney attached.

I don't remember the fox idea Phoenix but it is one they should pick up on if they haven't already done it.

What will happen if some things are never explained ...

Phoenix, that sounds a strong possibility, the half a fox I mean. I missed that but again, it suggests Rob. I know its a stretch but, could he have nicked the fox that the hunt killed on the occasion when he attacked the sab and Shula didn't dob him out because a) he bulled her b) she didn't want to upset Helen and c) she feared getting her beloved hunt into trouble.

So, Rob smuggles the fox body to Berrow farm, hangs what's left of it over the feed, job done.

I'll get a grip honestly.

I am I might be wrong (often am) but I think that the dead dog at Before Farm turned out to be a fox? Of course it would still probably have been planted, there was the worry at the time that it might have been Scruff, as he was missing after the flood.

Now you're suffering from overactive imagination Iam I like the story line though. We could do with some happy ones.

I missed Monday evening but heard tonights
Is it possible that Stefan's body is the cause of the water raising problem at Carolyn and Oliver's home, whoops the Grundy's farm? Wouldn't that be a joy, not for Stefan of course. His body is found during the investigation to find out why the house is damp, it's blocking some stream so its diverting into the house. The body is found and there is DNA evidence linking Rob to the death. This is real evidence that he has a foul and uncontrollable temper. Helen, at last, begins to talk about her own experience.
Rob is arrested and charged with murder.
Helen is acquitted because the jury believe she acted to defend herself, her unborn baby and Henry.
She returns to Ambridge and BHC, Rob goes to HMP for a very long time.
Shula gets a grip - maybe she could be Anna's new lover thus cheering Anna up as well as herself.
Right, I'm going to get a cup of tea, quite exhausted now.

I was hoping Max would come to Helen's rescue!
Elizabeth and Richard had a lovely evening with their hamper!
I hoped to hear something of Lilian at the opera, Brian and Jenny Darling are in for a shock! Lilian WOULD be that silly, so would Justin!
Loved Joe's cunning manipulation of Oliver, playing the wistful nonagenarian for all he was worth, cue violins!

There are more spoilers on the Mumsnet thread but they are saying little more than we have already seen except, perhaps, for the last two lines of the Total TV Guide ones but still nothing startling.

Anna really got on my nerves tonight. Poor Helen having to rely on her to get justice. I hope she pulls herself together.

Well I didn't guess Merlot. Pity Max isn't Anna's barrister. Need some female SWs who don't portray the current plot women characters as weak - Anna and Shula, not including Helen & Caz.

It seems like another diversion to me merlot, perhaps just to keep us going until Sunday. At least Shula sounded more sad than mad today - more believable imo.

Just remembered Rob's comments to the detective about H's relationship with Kirsty; it will be interesting if he comes out with that in court.

Well it was a surprise at least!

Max is a woman!

Was that supposed to be a shock?

Just caught up with Sundays episode. I blinking LOVE Ian!!

Merlot - thanks, you're right, Stefan was a dairy worker.
Ugh - this afternoon I heard the trailer with Rob kindly reminding his unfortunate small son to tell the truth and not say mummy was nice as she wasn't. Poor confused little boy, it will take a lot of love and care and skill to get him over this.

thanks Gracesgran for the link to the BBC website and to merlotgran for the media pack, though I just realised I read a page no 17 of that. I'm mid cooking so will try and 'wade through' the rest at a less busy time.

I thought last night's episode was good. I was relieved to know Helen was phoning home with news of Caz and the scene where Rob threatened Ian was classic.

I have a question. It's puzzled me for months. Why oh why haven't David or Jennifer gossiped about the possibility, according to Stefan, that Rob blocked the culvert. Well, another question, where is Stefan, did he go home to an eastern european country, will he ever return to dob on Rob. Who put the half a dead dog over the feed at Berrow farm - well I know the answer to that one, at least, I think I do. Rob did.

Lazigirl. I had to go for it while I felt brave but that is why I missed the tabs off the ends. I have decided to keep doing zips until I get over this silliness so it looks like everyone will get a makeup bag or similar for Christmas!

I think you have every excuse for stopping a lot Merlot if it is anything like it is here. You must keep hydrated but you are definitely leading a couple of us astray. (Someone has to take the blame)

I have decided Helen is taking Jack to court because she if feeding him. Having said that I make everyone laugh because every time an ambulance goes past I always say "there's another baby coming into the world". I could be being over optimistic [sigh]

Here's another one

I am supposed to be painting a fence but it's so hot I have to keep stopping for a look on here nice cool drink.

It'll be like the Forth Bridge at this rate.

Good grief Gg you've done zip already. My DH even has to take his buttons to be sewn on at sewing place in town! I won't let him see this thread........✂️

Brilliant merlot. I thought the "Q&A with Tim Stimpson, script writer for The Archers" was interesting. These two questions caught my attention:

Is it hard to write for both Helen and Rob and get into the minds of two very different characters?
I've spent so long living with Helen and Rob in my head it wasn't hard to write for them. Even a person like Rob will convince himself that he's a good person, and if you follow those psychological contortions you can usually find the core of who they are. If anything Helen was harder to write for as she has had to bury so much deep in her subconscious.

During the trial how have you ensured Helen’s experiences are portrayed realistically?
We have had a lot of assistance from professionals and charities to make sure that the portrayal of Helen's experience is correct. A barrister has helped us devise the storyline and we've had lots of advice about what Helen's life would be like in a Mother and Baby Unit. Having to bring little Jack with her to court means Helen's experience is quite unusual.

That last line made my heart turn over when I read it.