How are we going to cope without The Archers?

Lillian was the drink dependant character but her drinking has been morphed into humour.
I’m dreading a FAS baby storyline. The damage caused by the extent of Alice’s drinking in these key developmental stages can’t be dismissed. FAS has no happy endings for anyone.
Yes I accept a FAS baby could be a public information story like the Helen-Rob coercive abuse, and do some good in informing people. A FAS story line can only bring misery.
Sorry to be such a misery guts

I haven’t listened for ages but heard a snatch the other night and it does seem to have more interest now.

I am in two minds about the FAS storyline. I have known cases of this and indeed it does bring misery Iam. At least in the Helen Rob storyline there was a happyish outcome. However it is only a storyline and if it encourages just one person to seek help to quit drinking during pregnancy, it will be worth it.

I think Alice will have an abortion or will have a miscarriage due to the drinking. I assume alice deliberately chose Lillian to talk to about the drinking because Lillian is quite reliant on alcohol. Alice is very unhappy, she needs to leave chris.

TA came about as a public information programme about farming and there have been a nUmber of storylines on different issues over the years. We have listened regularly for a long time and really disliked the dire monologues.
The coercive story with Helen was powerful and informative and if the Alice pregnancy story goes down that road then it would hopefully inform people of the dangers of alcohol in pregnancy.
Things were so different when I had my children in the 70s when there were no instant tests. A missed period the next month, a wait fir a couple of weeks in case it was late, then a visit to the doctor, the tests were sent off.... a wait til you heard, so often mothers didn’t know they were pregnant until well into pregnancy. Some waited til they had missed 2 periods. I was 8 or 9 weeks when I knew. Luckily had no symptoms so nothing to warn me. Not knowing otherwise, women carried on drinking and smoking as usual. Awful.
I feel for Kirsty because Philip is even worse than Tom who also let her down badly, she deserves so much better.

Silver lining, yes I agree we missed two periods before pregnancy tests but, not many of us were drinking to the extent Alice has been, in fact my memory was we didn’t drink at home except “dinner parties” , thankfully rare events. We went to the pub and lots of us drank halves of beer rather than glasses of wine that contain half a bottle. I’m not being judgemental just saying things change.

Galaxy, that’s my hope, that Alice has a miscarriage before too long. That could push her either way but hopefully in to rehab and therapy. She’s a bit lost and needs to find her self before it’s too,late.

True Iam, things were different then, we didnt have the money to spend on too much drink or cigarettes, well that was me and most of the people I knew. One drink, maybe two that was it, apart from those occasional 'dinner parties'.
I havnt been listening to the archers lately so not au fait with the Alice story.

She's told Lilian, who informed her that she drank whilst pregnant with James.

Thing is, Lilian might have been referring to the odd g&t, and a few glasses of wine.

I think Alice's problem is a bit more than that!

Phoenix, interesting she chose Lilian!

In the distant past I think Lilian did have a drink problem, not just the odd G&T. James?? Say no more

I had thought it might have gone two or three ways, abortion, leaving Chris..., until she confided in Lilian. But I don't think anyone, including Lilian, has any idea that Alice is an alcoholic. She's covered it too well.

I agree, it looks like it'll develop into a FAS storyline, plus the problems of alcohol misuse on Alice. This could be a rocky ride!

I am sure Lilian does have a drink problem, the way she drinks at her age. However she isn't a secret drinker and doesn't get drunk or nasty. In my experience a problem drinker doesn't get roaring drunk, just very nasty.

I have taught children with FAS and it can be devastating on the brain development.I

Chris doesn't seem to understand Alice's difficulties which surprises me. I would have thought a few family members would have seen it with her erratic behaviour. They are pretty dysfunctional as a family I suppose.

I dont think Chris knows Alice at all.

Looking forward to seeing how long the peace and agreement between Jennifer and Susan lasts!

At one point, before anyone else knew of her pregnancy, I thought there was a possibility that Gavin would accompany Alice for a termination. They each also seemed to have strong feelings about getting out of Ambridge and making a new start in life. Just a thought...

We haven’t listened since everything stopped! When did the ‘normal’ Archers resume?

It hasn’t! However, the dreaded monologues have gone, to be replaced by an increasing number of cast members (mostly the ‘youngsters’) as safe recording methods have been discovered. As promised, some of the juicier planned storylines have been kept back and are beginning to come into their own. Coronavirus is being written in so all’s set for the full six day a week offering (currently just Mon-Thurs). Why the BBC can’t announce the date is a mystery.

Thank you, Kate54. I'll check to see when the monologues finished - we only listened to a couple, and found them dreadful!

Good to hear Siobhan’s message to Ruairi tonight which enabled him to believe in his sexuality. AND so good to hear Jennifer’s support. But when will Philip get his comeuppance. Not sure the house swap idea with Helen having the joy of Joy will work out!

And still no sign of a return to normal scheduling.....

I thought the Jenny and Ruairi scene was one of the best pieces of writing/acting on the archers in months if not years.

It was a good scene, Galaxy, although I think some of the Helen/Rob stuff was equally commendable.

I notice in the Radio Times for next week it says that Alice finally comes clean to Chris, and it looks it might cause a few problems!

Just a few problems phoenix. A really well acted two hander tonight. Very atmospheric and alarming at the same time. Chris really comes up trumps!

Strong stuff, great writing and acting. I found it painful to hear.

eGJ
Yes, Jenny and Ruairi listening to Siobhan’s tape was also an outstanding episode.

I get a little bit irritated with them when they do this (no pleasing me). There have been three or four outstanding episodes in the last week, all the scenes involving ruairi and jenny and now the chris and alice ones. When I compare these to some of the dross they churn out well it seems such a waste. Alice's character has just been left for years with no purpose, I didnt even realise she could actually act.