So now we know why Alastair is such a huge bore and whinger - his father is one too. The epitome of your elderly curmudgeon, Shula's father-in-law has come to stay for the duration. However, those of us who hate this poisonous pair with a passion he could carry out all those major irritations that we'd love to impose ourselves. He does all those things intended to really rub them up the wrong way - doesn't show gratitude, he's rude and opinionated, disapproves of both his son and daughter-in-law but bizarrely believes Kenton is 'charming'. There will be blood on the carpet we can guarantee!
Emma Carter is out on the pull at the moment - as ex-husband Will has got a new girlfriend slash clinging goldigger. She's now caught a new squeeze called Calum. What she's failed to tell him is that she is a single mother and left her husband after a few months. She's disguised the fact that she's living with her mother and is a waitress/cleaner (part-time). She is having to keep a watch on the lies and keeping her story straight. Things could turn out nasty when he finds out the truth. Talking of something nasty Kathy's past has come to haunt her. The appalling Owen King who sexually assaulted Kathy during the pantomime a few years ago has now done the same thing to a woman in Bouremouth. Ex-husband Sid came to the rescue and 'ran him out of town' (Kenton was down under at the time). Dorset detectives are in the area wanting to find out about Owen's past (he uses a variety of aliases) and despite talking to Kathy she has refused to reveal the truth about the man. Will she come clean, and get rid of her demons?
Mike was having his first dates from the personal ads that he and Hayley placed. That didn't quite turn out as he might have wished - perhaps better and certainly no worse than he anticipated, after his first attempt a while ago turned out so badly. Perhaps you might have your own view - vote in my poll!
Meanwhile at St Stephen's Church the motorbike riding Vicar is causing great waves. He's suggesting that the pews are removed (and sold off) and the new open space is converted into a medieval multi-purpose community centre. Events ranging from rock concerts to badminton were on his agenda. This all provoked the appalling Susan Carter into aopoplexy and Jill to agitation. They were worried about profanity in the shape of a shuttlecock and competition to the village hall. On the other hand at the moment the Church seems to be used only once a week for services (even though these are remarkably well attended - most Anglican village priests would be surprised to see the kinds of numbers that turn up at Ambridge in total over several parishes in the wilds of the West Midlands). There's going to be trouble.
By the way - how long does it take to reveal the contents of a will?
Jennifer is in South Africa to join errant daughter Kate and see her new granchild (she's unlikely to get any from Adam, Alice or Debbie after all!). Now what we're all interested in is what Brian will get up to in her absence - he was extremely keen to get her out of the country. Perhaps he has plans for lovechild Ruairi? Am I alone in finding nauseating the attempts to force Debbie to cosy up to her 'new' half brother 'Oh darling aren't you going to give him a kiss?' Yeuk! Brian is so keen for Debbie to accept this new child as part of the family - surely he must realise that Debbie just sees him as a rival to her takeover of the farm - she needs allies though, hence her new found love for Adam. I don't think Ruariri will be spending much time with Adam & Ian in Jennifer's absence though - Brian is very wary of their 'influence'. How will Ruairi be entertained though - playing with the balers, or driving the combine?
Brian and Jennifer are now discussing whether they should hire a nanny for lovechild Ruairi (Rory to you and me). How alien there lives appear! They are certainly finding parenthood pretty tough. Now, they are also grandparents again, and Kate has produced once more.
would have given David a hard time.
Alice has been behaving very badly. But then bad behaviour is very common in the Aldridge family - clearly the Ambridge equivalent of the Simpsons of Springfield. At an intimate meal with the gay couple (Ian providing the Gordon Ramsay role without the swearing thankfully) Adam took the opportunity to ask Alice whether she ever intended to stop sulking and start talking to St Jenny. Alice, being so overcome with self pity, was somewhat taken aback by the onslaught, but maybe tonight's episode will see the Vicar rid of his unwanted houseguest in the near future.
after what seemed like hours of comparisons of the various breeds. Hence
me hedging my bets by showing pictures of two different kinds of cattle. On tonight's programme, however, there was great drama. Several cattle were found dead in the
Then it was discovered that there was a pile of rubbish dumped in the corner of the field. The cattle had been feasting on the contents. Inside the pile was discovered plastic bags - just right
of yew. Absolute poison! Traditionally found in churchyards - as a symbol of death perhaps, or was it to make the bows that made the foundation of English victories at Crecy and Agincourt.
So Peggy told Lillian and Tony about the impending arrival. Lillian talked about 'support' and was on Jenny's side. Tony went berserk and decided to 'confront' Brian about him forcing Jenny to accept the result of his liaison with Mrs Hatthaway. Debbie returns from Hungary and she spends a lot of time trying to calm Alice down. Things can only get worse once the lovechild arrives from Ireland. Poor kid - little does he realise what is going to hit him once he enters the number one dysfunctional family.
The picture above is of Kate in the 'happy' time when she was involved with Roy (the father of her first offspring - abandoned in favour of a life in South Africa). Apologies to Anne who commented before I completed this post!
So finally the truth will come out - on Thursday. Debbie and Alice will be told - at least that will be before the lovechild is slipped in from Ireland. The village will have some distractions from Lillian and Mike's affair (not true) Nigel & Lizzie and the problem of Uncle Rupert, and Eddie playing music to the cows to improve the milk yield.
I'm not sure whether the storyline and treatment of Siobahn's was tasteful or not - it was fairly sensitive but at times a tad mawkish, especially at the time of the funeral. Exciting times ahead I think!
Now I do know the difference between the Dalai Lama and the furry South American creatures much beloved of Mrs Snell. But just for a microsecond I thought the Tibetan religious leader in exile had died and his successor had been found in Ambridge. It would almost be as believable as no one noticing that one of Linda's pets had been pregnant for almost a year (let nobody say the Archers is not education - the gestation period of the llama is in fact 345 days - give or take a week or so).
Now as Doris used to often remark 'As one door opens, another closes' and as the new baby Salieri joins the inhabitants of Ambridge poor Siobahn's life is drawing to its close. Jennifer is going to take in the lovechild - but how is she going to explain it to Alice? (Let alone Debbie!)
Peggy's version of concern and support is to berate Jennifer for her acceptance of her fate - the prospect of Brian arriving and parading the product of his infidelity in front of the County is just too much for Peggy (who has clearly forgotten her cockney roots). Her idea of making up for her sharpness is to suggest a fun day out together at the Chelsea Flower Show. That'll make everything better!
is one of those (linda Snell falls into the same category). I'm especially grateful that Lillian is back with a vengeance - this time conning Mike Tucker to give her dancing lessons - largely as a result of Matt running a mile at a recent Grey Gables Dinner Dance. He labelled her a very bad dancer. Tonight we discovered one of the causes - Lillian thinks of herself as a man - when it comes to dancing. No wonder she treads on so many toes! This interlude meant we could put events in Dublin into the background, although Tom kept making comments to Adam about Brian's continuing absence. Lillian, of course, has overheard plenty of conversations between Jennifer and Brian or Adam to have her suspicions about what is going on with Brian. It is only a matter of time!
I'm really getting bored with this story line now - The constant arguments between Jennifer and Brian about the fate of the silent lovechild. Friday night's episode ended with Brian saying 'Well I'm going to Ireland, whether you come with me or not!' As if Jennifer was going to drop everything to go to Ireland to see Brian's mistress. Maybe I'll be surprised on Sunday.
Now the man pictured here is Bert Fry - another example of a cast member looking nothing like the voice that comes out of the wireless (to use a very old-fashioned term!)
The doomed Siobahn was convinced that Jennifer would welcome Rory into the bossom of the Aldridge family, because Brian blatently lied to her. Jennifer cannot bear the idea of having to announce top the world about Brian's infidelity - Alice is totally unaware of Brian's affair and its' results. Tom (desperate to talk about his sausage empire) stumbled into Jennifer on the warpath. She declared that Rory would never enter into her life - especially as at her age she had no further desire for motherhood when she was keener to retire with Brian into being full-time grandparents. This really cannot end well!
really are flying - big time!
Brian finally tracks down Siobahn after many weeks of leaving messages. She revealed that she now has probably terminal cancer and asked Brian to take on Rory as his child in all senses of the word - but only after he's discussed it with Jennifer. Stands backand waits for the explosion! The implications of this news are going to rock Ambridge to the core.
