The Archers Thurs 7th Oct 2010: Peggy reminds Kate why she’s the matriarch

The Archers: Hayley and Roy get a stern letter ... Kate gets a talking to from Peggy

• All isn’t well with Grey Gables?
• “Bert took the microphone and staged a coup”
• Hayley is simply not amused
• Kate and Peggy start off quite civilised ...
• A stroll and a chocolate muffin
• Hell hath no fury like a Hayley …
• “That really hurt, gran”

All isn’t well with Grey Gables?

Ian seems concerned about Grey Gables isn’t very busy.

Is a double whammy recession about to hit Ambridge?


“Bert took the microphone and staged a coup”

Roy was reporting back to Ian about last night’s quiz:

“really obscure questions”

Though he did also report that Bert had given Jim the time to find a few of his (properly) easier questions.

When all was said and done, Shula and Alistair’s team won (called ‘Horse Chestnuts’), and The Bull was heaving.

Which is the main thing.

But isn’t the point to get the punters in, but also make sure they keep coming back?

I don’t think the war is won quite yet.

We Love the Bull!

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Hayley is simply not amused

And here’s where Roy’s living hell starts.

Hayley calls him at work to tell him that Phoebe’s school has sent them a very stern letter.

It did sound a tad full-on for one “unauthorised absence”, but I suppose the school is having to battle the scourge of bunking off, plus parents taking their kids on holiday when it isn’t holiday (every little helps!).

Either way, Hayley is absolutely livid:

“we’re carrying the can”

“it’s aimed at parents who don’t give a stuff!”

“I’m going to ram this letter down her throat!”

“damn right I’m upset, and I want her to know it!”

“I’m not giving Kate the chance to manipulate the situation!”

Ian could hear Hayley screeching at Roy on his mobile from across the room.

Determined to confront Kate, Hayley also (literally) dumps Phoebe on him at work, so that she can tackle Kate unhindered.

But Roy starts a whole new world of pain for Kate by asking Peggy to take Phoebe for a few hours ...



Kate and Peggy start off quite civilised ...

Peggy and Kate are having a lovely time catching up, chatting about Kate’s college.

Though “daunted” by the amount of work, Kate’s finding College “stimulating”, and has even made a friend (Chanteuse (sp?), a single mum, who will soon learn that Kate is best avoided!).

Kate’s especially pleased that Peggy gives her a “generous” amount of money as a belated birthday present.



A stroll and a chocolate muffin

When Peggy later looks after Phoebe for Roy, Phoebe once again unwittingly drops Kate right in it.

To be fair, Phoebe doesn’t see what all the fuss is about (despite Roy telling her that “it was very wrong of Kate” to take her out of school without permission).

Having to first work out what Phoebe means when she says ‘mother’ (Peggy assumed Kate, Phoebe meant Hayley), Peggy and Phoebe have a right old time chatting about what Kate was like as a youngster.

Retelling the time when Kate, Helen and Brenda used Blossom Hill Cottage as their “den” (with the help of Will as a gofer), Peggy told Phoebe about the trouble Kate caused when she pretended to be Peggy when writing a letter to Con Korchmar (sp?).

Con was an American GI that Peggy had been ‘close’ to during the war. Con wrote to Peggy, Kate answered the letter, and poor Con arrived in the UK to claim his lady. But Peggy was already married (and knew nothing about the letters, as well as Kate and co squatting in her cottage).

[Phoebe] “Poor guy. Did you still fancy him?”

[Peggy] “well … we had been close during the war”

[Phoebe] “... but he was not marriage material”

(Eh? Where’s Phoebe picked that one up from?)

So, as well as adding “forgery to her list of crimes”, Peggy also mentioned that Kate had nearly burnt the cottage down.

What a gal!

In return for these blasts from the past, Phoebe lets slip about the letter from her school.

Which Peggy is not.

At all.

Amused about.



Hell hath no fury like a Hayley …

… really quite peed off!

Hayley drops in on Kate to give her what for.

Showing Kate the letter from Phoebe’s school:

[Hayley] “we’re marked down as irresponsible parents”

[Kate] “it looks like bureaucratic rubbish”

[Hayley] “I’d be very grateful if you wouldn’t do it again … please”

[Kate] “oh … whatever”

[Hayley] “this is only going to work if all pull together … Phoebe needs clear boundaries …are you prepared to cooperate from now on?”

(at this point, Kate’s ignoring Hayley, pushing Hayley to have to shout ‘KATE!’ to get any response)

[Kate] “well, it’s two against one, isn’t it”

As Ian said earlier on about Kate:

“she’s what my aunty Anne used to call a wee madam”

And as for a woman of 33 using “whatever” …*glare*



“That really hurt, gran”

[Peggy] “you didn’t ask permission - that can’t be right, surely!”

[Peggy] “it was highly irresponsible of you”

[Peggy] “apologise to Roy, Hayley and the school”

[Kate] “but Phoebe is my daughter. I gave birth to her!”

[Peggy] “only when it suits you, dear”

[Kate] “that really hurt, gran”

[Peggy] “the truth often does”

Ouch! Peggy really didn’t hold back from giving Kate a verbal kicking.

Although Peggy does seem Kate as Phoebe’s ‘real’ mother, she’s also very aware that it’s Roy and Hayley who are bringing Phoebe up.

They have the day to day authority, so Kate was utterly out of order for taking Phoebe out of school with their permission.

Also worried about Phoebe being confused about who has the say over what, Peggy’s simply not going to stand for Kate’s childish selfishness.

And hurrah to Peggy! It was about time someone put Kate in her place. Here’s hoping Kate actually takes this bollocking on board.

(though I think the chances of that are slim).

Peggy. You’re our hero!