Archers Addicts.

I thought the Sunday christening episode was dreadfully plotted and written. At least give Robin some lines. Shula's wobble, Toby coughing so the name couldn't be heard and, yes, that creepy stuff from Jill at the end.

Her enduring jealousy over Grace is ridiculous. Phil and Grace were married for five minutes. The poor woman died in tragic circumstances. The Fairbrothers were very generous to Phil and Jill when they married. Jill had decades of happy marriage with Phil, four children, seven grandchildren, a successful farm, long-lasting friendships and a revered standing in the community. Elizabeth forgave Robin a long time ago. Time Jill got over herself.

Yes but I can't remember why they chose the name Grace.

All that was missing from Jill last night was the demonic chortle beloved by children's baddies.

I can't either, Lully. Was it a suggestion of Robin's in honour of his late half-sister? He's been the driving force behind the christening and (silently) directed the proceedings of the day. Maybe it was always his dastardly plan to lob a stinkbomb into the christening ceremony and finish Jill off, revenge for having been so bitter towards his sister all these years.

Shame we didn’t hear Robin (Anthony Head), maybe they couldn’t afford him.

I don't know how far in advanced TA is recorded but Anthony Head is filming at the moment - Sideshow with April Pearson and Les Dennis - although I'd prefer to think of him relaxing somewhere with a nice cup of coffee.

I believe the budget only allows maximum 7 characters per episode. I had a phase of counting and it seemed to be true.

Remember Prue Forest? She went mutely on for yonks

Listening to WH right now Women and the Archers!

Have missed some of TA lately so really good to catch up on here. You are such a brilliant and witty lot. I love that Susan is a psychologist in RL, who'd have known? I like Nocasha's new moniker too! My predictions are that she will end up taking Tom & family to the brink of bankruptcy with her hare brained schemes before he belatedly sees the light, Elizabeth will be slipping between the sheets with Russ thus alienating Lily, and that Shula will get it together with Jakob and they will live boringly ever after. All predicable I know but slow burn fun anyway.

Mereline. I think you are right about there being a max number of speaking parts per episode although there must be a surplus to use up since all we heard for about a year was Helen and Rob.

Kathy Perks has been doing a Sterling job (pun intended) running Grey Gables (shh... ) very, very quietly.

Lazigirl. Nocasha is busy persuading Tom that there really is an internet market for Montbeliarde cow placenta pate (apologies to anyone having a late breakfast).

Just imagine Freddie's reaction if Russ gets it together with his mother. His loud whining will drown out the sound of ... Jill's loud whining.

Shula will pulling out all the stops on Jakob's organ.

What's keeping me awake at night is whether Leonard is able to paint a horse.

Fountain Pen. You’re right. Perhaps the Rob/Helen saga was bbc economy drive.

No. It was Sean O'Connor on an ego trip and an storyline that went far beyond what it was ever meant to be but it did wonders for BBC listening numbers. Many fell away once the programme returned to Bert and his potatoes (or poetry) or Peggy's trips to Fabrice. There was another surge of excitement with Pusscat and Tiger. Edge of the seat stuff wondering who'd left Matt Crawford for dead in a ditch.

I was quite confused yesterday. Shula is a Churchwarden; we have never heard of her training as a Lay Reader or someone who would deliver a sermon/talk. Where did that come from. We had a talk by an Archers scriptwriter - yes there are only a certain number each week. Anyone remember the time when a plot was all done and dusted before a Friday...…...except for Nelson and the post office robbery! Fountain Pen you keep me keen and reading/listening; thank you!!

Ooh, I don't know, eGJ. I thought the reading was just a plot device to have Jim make her wobble over her hypocrisy. Worked too!

Was that the famous post bus heist when Auntie Laura broke her false teeth? Those were the days ...

Did anyone notice the line about Auntie Chris giving Jill and Leonard a look? Green-eyed monster? Was he keen on Chris before realising she had no money and has now turned his attention to an Archer who does? He's far too nice and humble. There must be a story there waiting to be unveiled.

With any luck Freddie will beat the hell out of Russ when he catches him canoodling with Elizabeth, and go down for gbh. And yes, Sunday's episode was a mess.

The proposed horse painting might be a revelation!

(I mean painting of a horse, not that Leonard is going to actually apply paint to a horse, although.............)

We have yet to be reassured that Leonard can actually recognise a horse when he sees one c/f the scene when he kept saying dumbfoundedly: It's a lamb. It's a lamb. Once we have gotten over than little hurdle (another pun intended) we'll see whether he's a latent Stubbs. Of course, he could come up with something akin to The White Horse of Uffington in which case everyone will think he's a genius.

I feel I've missed something. Who is Xanthe?

Adult Xanthe was keen on Rex at the time he was getting it together with Anisha but there is also a younger Xanthe who Henry was pushing around in the playground a while back. Must be the highest concentration of the name outside of Greece.

Gosh, the intrigues of Ambridge. Perhaps Shula will get together with Neil again. I seem to remember them in the hay loft together.

I think I am missing Nigel, he would sort them out...maybe.

Isn't Rex one of the Fairbrother pair? Getting confused. Never heard of Zanthe.

You would think that at Jill's age she would have realised that things are very rarely "perfect"!

Lully. Both Xanthes or Zanthes are silent which explains why. Yes, Rex is Toby's older, steadier brother.

Neil had a lot of girlfriends in his day before a certain Susan Horrobin won a pig at the village fete, sealing his own fate forever. Before that Neil recruited Shula to help run the youth club, and she recruited him for the Young Conservatives which shows just how keen he was on her!

phoenix Both of Jill's daughters are going through difficult times so things are far from perfect. If Freddie has just broken the terms of his licence he could find himself back in prison which could tip Elizabeth over the edge.

I realise that FountainPen but I'm sure you was saying something on Sunday about wanting the christening to be perfect!

I said I thought the Sunday christening episode was dreadfully plotted and written. I have never liked Jill. She and Peggy are possibly my least favourite characters along with Kate, Alice and Lily Pargetter.

Yesterday, Cara Courage and Nicola Headlam from Academic Archers on Woman's Hour talking about how Ruth isn't a popular character but I like her. She's one of the few women in the drama who is a farmer in her own right as opposed to a farmer's wife.

"You was"????????? Jill was saying!

Oh yes, what I thought . I think I have forgotten Anisha already. As I get older names can be a problem.