- Not so convincing Barwick Green
- Alice and Chris getting married
- Alice and Chris arguing
- *sigh* more hidden microphone time for Jamie
- Thank goodness – an adult!
- Alice gets drunk
- Jamie to turn thief?
- The verdict? 15 minutes of Kevins and Judes
Not so convincing Barwick Green
Quite decidedly odd indeed.
Especially if Ambridge Extra is meant to be aimed at young ‘uns.
Like changing the theme of Top of the Pops – trying to be modern with a classic opener generally falls flat.
Or is that odd tone that pops up on Sunday omnibus time? I’m never up early enough to hear it.
(is Top of the Pops still going, by the way?)
Alice and Chris getting married
I was a tad confused at the opening lines of Ambridge Extra:
[some American bloke] “The description of marriage is love. Love is patient, love is kind. Love is not rude. Love is not envious. If the two of continue to love each other and do not tamper with one another’s trust, you’ll have a great and long marriage. Will you do that?”
(then all become clear what was happening
[Chris] “Yes”
[Alice] “Yup”
The microphones have travelled down to Alice at University, where she’s home watching her wedding video with her friends.
One of whom is call Paulie.
The other Chas.
And they all like jelly vodkas.
Od dear … this didn’t bode well at all ...
Alice and Chris arguing
Chris calls Alice, and drops the bombshell that he won’t be seeing her that weekend as he’s off to do snowboarding in Leeds at his mate’s stag do,
Alice is not amused that Chris has chosen a stag do over her. And in Leeds, of all places.
Chris doesn’t even text Alice later on, so she’s now worried that this is all “not like they really are.”
Sounds like love’s young dream isn’t that dreamy after all.
Which I suppose nit the point of Ambridge Extra – all we normally get to hear of Chris and Alice is when they’re back in Ambridge, all loved up and glad to be together.
Anyhoo – Alice is fine, as she has ‘Chas’ to drag her away from her study off out to a club.
*sigh* more hidden microphone time for Jamie
Which is a shame.
Despite my misgivings about Ambridge Extra, I was looking forward to hearing from Rhys, and maybe some of the other silent residents.
I didn’t really want to hear more of the moronic banter from that there Jamie.
(which adds to suspicion yet again that this is all for the young ‘uns. I suppose the can identify with Jamie’s grunts).
Jamie’s proudly telling Marty that he’s moved into the bull. What’s more:
[Jamie] “It’s my dad’s pub, it’s mine now … Jolene’s cool. And she feels guilty … and I have her wrapped round my little finger”
He does clarify that he only has a share, and only when he’s 18, but it’s a snifter of the arrogance that is Jamie.
Let’s hope he says something like that around Jolene. He’ll be back begging Kathy for a place to sleep in no time.
Thank goodness – an adult!
Kirsty pops up in Ambridge Extra … hurrah!
But not so quick … she’s there to tell Marty and Jamie off for knocking over Jaxx’s menu board, and to try and persuade Jamie to take part of a Fun Run taking place next week round Lakey Hill.
(Kenton also makes an appearance, but mainly to try and get Kirsty into a costume for the Fun Run. Steady on matey!)
He is not impressed. Especially as his mates can hear.
[Jamie] “Of course not. Why would I want to do something stupid like that!”
So off they pop again. Dragging their knuckles off to their mate’s car, to do the (very old) boy racer routine.
I’m still in shock that one of them was heard to mutter: “What’s going down here then?”
“going down”?????
Not before the watershed, surely?
Alice gets drunk
“Chas” is plying Alice with tequila, and talk of how marriage isn’t really his thing.
But never fear – Chas turns out to be a good ‘un.
Which is more than can be said for some other bloke called Shaun. He spots Alice is bladdered – tries to chat her up – seems to be having some sort of result (which his mates are shouting “Get in there Shaun!” in the background).
Rather than be horrified at this blatant molestation, Alice seems to welcome it:
[Alice] “You’re very, very bad …”
But she is rather drunk. Which is when Chas steps back in to remover her from Shaun’s clutches.
But not before someone takes a photo.
On a Facebook near you soon? Chris will just love that.
Jamie to turn thief?
Now that Jamie has boasted that The Bull is part his, his mates want him to slope off some booze.
Which he doesn’t want to do (still something good like about the boy?):
[Jamie] “I’m not doing it, okay. It was my dad’s pub and I’m not ripping it off”
[Marty] “It’s not like your dad can see you!”
But Marty does point out that Jamie’s other mates will be impressed – surely just a matter of time before he gives in, steals, gets caught by Fallon/Jolene and has to go back home?
Either that, or a serious lack of cashflow might do the trick. He’s already trying to get out of paying his share for fags and petrol.
The verdict? 15 minutes of Kevins and Judes
I was trying hard not to dislike Ambridge Extra. I had been prejudging it as a Hollyoaks wannabe. And someone quite rightly pointed out to me that I shouldn’t judge before I’d heard it.
My excuse was that (a) I’m an Ambridge Eavesdropper (so course I’ll judge!) and (b) the BBC promos made it sound like a Hollyoaks wannabe.
Which, quite frankly, it was.
So looks of teen blokes acting like atypical Kevins – and lots of Uni blokes acting like that god-awful Juuuuude (there’s a thought – wonder when his visa runs out …).
BUT
It was just the first eavesdropping episode. And I’m interested enough to listen again.
Will Ambridge Extra bring hoards of teenies to Radio 4 Extra to start their lifelong love affair with Ambridge?
I doubt it.
Is it ‘added value’ for us lifers?
Remains to be seen.
Was it worth of Ambridge?
Hmmm. Jury is out on that one, for me. After all, even the ‘adult’ Ambridge can sometimes have its off days.
2 comments:
What one earth was it about? Seemed like it was over before it started. Title music a tragedy. Maybe it grows on you?
I'm trying hard not to hate it, but yes - the title music kinda set the tone!
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