The Archers Sun 7th November 2010: Harry really rates Lynda

The Archers: Jolene plans a day out … Peggy’s birthday plans … Con has been in touch … Nathan Booth is being naughty at the Panto … Poppies are selling well in The Bull

• Fallon’s working on her tunes again
• Does Jolene really just want bar supplies?
• Bill’s been on the pull
• Peggy’s having a birthday tea
• “Tom really has got his head screwed on, doesn’t he?”
• Con Lives!
• Robert’s making funny sounds
• Harry and Lynda up a tree?
• Ah, that’s why Lynda is so …
• Ruairi has his bottom pinched
• Vicky is not an ingénue
• I want to see Nathan’s Bruce Forsyth
• At last … someone realises Fallon can sing!

Fallon’s working on her tunes again

Oh, that’s a surprise.

Just when there’s a dire need for music in the panto.

If I was a cynical person …

Does Jolene really just want bar supplies?

She sounded very odd indeed.

And then she ‘reveals’ that Kenton is taking her to Borchester Bar Supplies.

That’s interesting. Very interesting indeed.



Bill’s been on the pull

Naughty Bill.

That’s Peggy’s sofa, that is.


Peggy’s having a birthday tea

Ah, how lovely. With family, and cake!

(and I’m not being sarcastic. That sounds like a lovely time for a lady about to turn 86).

[Peggy] “Don’t bother hunting out the right number of candles”

Bless her.


“Tom really has got his head screwed on, doesn’t he?”

No Peggy.

Sorry to disagree, but Tom is just an annoying little man who doesn’t have enough respect for his father to listen and discuss, rather than just railroad.


Con Lives!

And isn’t Peggy delighted about it.

On the one hand – Peggy is still married – on the other hand, it’s lovely to hear Peggy so happy and excited about something that’s just about her.

Might be good for all concerned?

[Peggy] “Thought [Con] was very gracious asking about jack”

especially as last time Con and Jack met, it was

[Peggy] “Like two stags sizing each other up”

Though as Peggy put it,

[Peggy] “How trivial that all seems now”

Either way, Con is very much alive and seems just as delighted to hear from Peggy.

He has a daughter Belinda, son Danny and granddaughter Amanda.

Peggy also thinks Con still has his sense of humour. Though I’d doubt he still had his own teeth.


Robert’s making funny sounds

Oh tee-hee Mr Snell!

In charge of the Panto’s sound effects, he’s having a grand old time to himself.

First a submarine sound effect

[“for when the rats dive away from the cook”]

then a ‘boing’ sound

[“King rat bouncing in the cooking pot”]

and finally a bit of a Pyscho soundtrack sounding sound

[“the littlest rat getting caught in the door”]

While Robert and Harry were having a right old titter at the sound effects, Lynda:

“If I hear one more raspberry or comic boing tonight, I will not be answerable”

At which point Robert ceases his schoolboy behaviour, and heads off to the pub.

Leaving Harry to sweet talk Lynda

(I kid you not!)




Harry and Lynda up a tree?

Harry is either trying to butter Lynda up for a swindle, or he genuinely adores her:

[Harry] “I can see how important you are to the village … you make things happen … life would be a lot duller … you deserve all the support you can get”

Oh Harry.

Sorry to be super critical, but I really can’t work you out.

What is Harry’s Game?!?


Ah, that’s why Lynda is so …

… extreme about the Panto.

Lynda reckons she was shy when young, (the wee poppet even got teased for being so quiet) but her head teacher (Miss Baxter)

[Lynda] “saw something in me no-one else did”

and casted her as Gerda in the snow queen. And that was:

[Lynda] “the best thing ever happened to me … I felt special”

So, Lynda is so focused on the Panto because she wants everyone else to have that feeling.

I do like Lynda. She’s just not the one dimensional obsessive she often makes herself out to be.


Ruairi has his bottom pinched

By the rather cheeky Molly Button.

Keep your eye on those two (but give it another 10 years for it to get properly interesting)


Vicky is not an ingénue

So says Lynda.

Honestly, Lynda and Vicky are the worst friends ever!

Vicky stabs Lynda in the back over the Peregrines – now Lynda is merrily slagging Vicky off when Vicky had actually stepped in to help Lynda out.

Still bereft of an Alice Fitzwarren for the Panton, Vicky read the part during rehearsals.

Not impressed by Vicky’s giggling and waving to Mike, Lynda is becoming increasing desperate to cast her leading lady.


I want to see Nathan’s Bruce Forsyth

Especially if he has managed to make Bruce seem more like Maureen Lipman.


At last … someone realises Fallon can sing!

Ah, we can always depend on Clarrie to speak sense.

And the penny finally drops for Lynda.

Trying the idea out on Jolene, Lynda realises that while it is probably too busy a time at The Bull for Fallon to take a full part in the Panto, she could always get Fallon to record the backing music.

Didn’t Vicky suggest that weeks ago?