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Life in Ambridge: Comments week of July 28, 2018
Life in Ambridge: Comments week of July 28, 2018
Rosie Ruth Archer (Fairbrother)
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments' - Episode 8 Life Outside Ambridge Beach Chairs
Not a bit like Winston Churchill after all!!
ReplyDeleteSee she’s got her milk maids outfit already. By gum they start em young in borchestershire!!😁🐄🥛🍼
ReplyDelete😀😄
DeleteThanks for the Fairbrother history, Archerphile. So T❤️O❤️B❤️Y's grandfather (or great grandfather?) George Fairbrother, was Pip's grandfather, Phil Archer's first boss? What I'm not sure about is what Robin's sons know about past history, especially Robin's affair with Elizabeth?
ReplyDeleteIt had never occurred to me that Robin would stay anywhere but Grey Gables. Perhaps Carol would put him up - she knows the Fairbrothers of old. I suspect the scriptwriters are angling for Lower Loxley!
That's what I thought, Grey Gables and then Lower Loxley but would Elizabeth agree?
DeleteThink I have got that right, Maryellen. I don’t know if T&R are aware of the rather shady family history either, but assume Pip must know what happened to Auntie Elizabeth. Did Jill or Ruth tell her, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of Rosie at the top of the Page, just wish I could post a pic of our Rosie at that age, she was just as cute!
That picture is so sweet.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that Anisha kept a horse at the stables but that's history now.
ReplyDeleteWhen Alistair was with Lavinia Shula thought he'd been gambling, so it would seem the other way round now.
I agree Basia! Shula seems to want a lot of say in how " A" lives his life one minuet and then when he does wants to talk to her she cuts him off and walks out and clearly does not like the idea of him seeing (any) other women even though she does not want him. They should not be living in the same house it is putting my nerves on edge grrr!
Delete(In real life I know some people do have to do this for financial reasons at least for a period of time )
Oh Ruthy - "Rosie" is just adorable"
ReplyDeleteBB & PTBY both great comments ��
?? Should be 🤗
DeleteLove Rosie's photo.
ReplyDeleteI think she has her father's eyes.
Question.
Do Rex and Toby know of Robin's affair with Elizabeth?
(Sorry Archerphile I see you asked the same question)
Robin may not be aware that Elizabeth is the owner of Lower Loxley so may choose that place to stay rather than Grey Gables.
Elizabeth is unlikely to check out the guest list.
I doubt that Pip knows about the affair between Elizabeth and Robin.
I can't remember the first time round for them and I wouldn't mind them getting together again.
I rally should read other folk's comments before writing my own.
ReplyDeleteI see you asked the same question Maryellen about whether the boys knew about the affair between their father and Elizabeth.
I have recently been given a copy of "The Archers " by Wm Smethurst and in 1987 ,Elizabeth fell for an older man Robin Fairbrother,Grace's half brother.
He was 34 years old then so will now be about 65 by my reckoning.
It said that "Robin in the end was a bit wet.He abandoned Elizabeth to try to save his marriage to a hospital registrar in London."
I haven't time to read on but I just read that Robert's first wife is called Bobo!
.
I always feel irritated by Robert calling L, Lindy.
ReplyDeleteNow I hear his first wife was Bobo.
Speaks volumes for me !
As for Elizabeth and Fairbrother senior, it seems inevitable that the SW are setting it up to reignite their relationship.
Must say I do not see (hear) Linda as a Lindy guess it is Robert's pet name for her. Better than Bobo?
DeleteI agree that there's bound to be a confrontation between Elizabeth and Robin but Lower Loxley is not a hotel, although it provides accommodation for the people attending weddings and business functions. OK, so since Pip and Toby stayed there as Elizabeth's guests when Rosie was conceived, they may both suggest it, unaware(?) of past history but Robin can hardly slip in there unannounced.
ReplyDeleteWe are yet to find out Rosie's other grandmother's first name.
Ruthy, Great picture what a beautiful little girl.
ReplyDeleteWhat you can't see in Ruthy's heart-melting photo is that Baby Will-Always-Be-Doris-To-Me is wearing a tee with T❤️O❤️B❤️Y on it!
DeleteI think R &T do know enough of Dad's past history to account for the awkwardness when they heard from him just when they were having a (very) friendly cuppa with Jill. Otherwise, why the fuss about where he was to stay ? The area is not short of places.
ReplyDeleteThere's Jill & T. making a real effort to be relaxed & agreeable, successfully too, then Jill has a shock - most unfortunate.
Lady R (10.58am), agree with you about Shula; snappy & not allowing him to get a word in, a continuing pattern. I've no idea of he's going to go seriously down the gambling route again, but, poor man, the pressures are great.
Rather a touching farewell between Rex & Anisha, but best for both of them, I think. They acted like adults, rare enough in TA, AND, just for once, baby euphoria kicking in, Toby was genuinely sensitive towards his bro', where usually he tends to be mocking.
✔️✔️
DeleteWas Jill still holding the baby when she heard the shocking news? The title music may have masked the sound of one or both of them crashing to the floor.
DeleteAgain? (In Jill's case.) No problem, Toby will come to the rescue.
DeleteRobin sounds dead creepy.
I would like Robin F. to stay at Ambridge Hall, as, after all Robert and Lynda do run a B+B. There could be some very interesting conversations, over breakfast.
ReplyDeleteHave just read on Facebook about the sad death of the actress Carolyn Jones who played Ursula Tichener to such great effect . Apparently she had also starred the the TV soap ‘Crossroads’ many years ago. We shall not be able to hear Ursula’s dulcet tones again in Ambridge.
ReplyDeleteI still hope that Ursula will be able to meet the grandson she has been deprived of, so maybe the actor will be replaced.
DeleteA sad demise - remember that actor from the late 60s. What a meaty role she played so excellently in TA ! Distinctive enough to be irreplaceable for most listeners, I imagine; the m in l everyone loves to hate ! Unless the scales have fallen from her eyes (unlikely) I suppose the character would love to meet the grandson conceived by marital rape....
DeletePat seems to be able to love a grandson conceived by marital rape as do all Jack's immediate family. I doubt his conception is at the forefront of their minds. In any case, it may beJack himself who wants to meet his other grandmother, when he is old enough to have his say. I think Ursula is more to be pitied than reviled.
DeleteThe baby picture makes me smile every time I log on.
ReplyDeleteMe too Gianna I absolutely love it and yes it does bring a smile every time 👏
DeleteRuthy hope your health is improving each day, a double whammy Summer cold and a bite to contend with!
I reckon that Jill's main problem with the Fairbrother family is Grace not Robin.
ReplyDeleteAt the time of THE affair she was probably more annoyed that Robin was a Fairbrother rather than that he was a married men.
I was a second wife and initially that was hard but after many years was not a problem. I can’t understand Jill’s problem but agree it is rooted in Grace more than being about Robin. You would think this would be out of her system after her long marriage to Phil and bringing up 4 children with him. Looking forward to Robin’s return to Ambridge! Could be a meaty SL!!
DeleteI agree that it's more about Grace than Robin, we had many discussions about it on the BBC blog. Jill was haunted by 'the tragic Grace', the circumstances of her death and the unknown of what might have been if she hadn't died.
DeleteI too was a second wife of a widower ,Ev.
DeleteWe only married when I was 60 .
I inherited lovely step children and Mr LJ inherited two great step sons.
I never found it a problem although someone once said that she couldn't understand how I could live in the same house that Mr LJs first wife lived in.
She and I were obviously chalk and cheese but bit by bit over almost 18 years we have changed virtually everything.
I have never felt anything but that this is a lovely happy home.
What a lovely post LanJan!
Delete❤️❤️❤️
DeleteSo we don’t think he will be offered a room at Brookfield with Josh demoted to the sofa again or the disappeared Ben’s room?
ReplyDeleteI think the upcoming family gathering for the twins ‘ 60th will prove the perfect venue for some soap style frisson.
I have missed the very sad news about Carolyn Jones. Although Ursula was a manipulative character in the Rob/Helen story, I admired the personna. She was the Mother-in-Law who was certainly interfering into that marriage, leading to that final
ReplyDeletesituation. I had hoped that Bruce + Ursula would buy Home Farm, giving them every opportunity to see Jack, and Rob to also return.
How cosy that would be !
DeleteI wish I did not have such a vivid imagination!
Delete🤗😂
DeleteMiriam, I wish you didn't either, the very thought of the gruesome threesome being all cosy in Ambridge is too much to contemplate.
Delete👹Rob,👺Bruce, 👿Usual.
Ursula. 👿
DeleteMiriam, you were right, Robin is staying at Ambridge Hall, a very pleasant voice but that gaffe about Phil, pure nonsense. And Harrison doing 'The Full Monty', what a load of rubbish.
ReplyDeleteWhen Robin was ill and Rex went to look after him, he would have found out all the gossip about the Archers and as you say Basia it is a load of rubbish that he didn't know that Jill was a widow.
DeleteAlso the Harrison stripper business was also stupid..
Chris's voice is starting to irritate me as well.
Apart from all of that -a reasonable episode.
Well, well, the Fairbrother 'charm' isn't cutting much ice with the stolid Archers, is it ?!
ReplyDeleteAt last, something interesting about Harrison - a colourful past. Liked the way Chris dutifully refrained from laughter, but he's going to find it hard to keep shtum....
The baby was clearly impressed and so was I! Shades of Nelson Gabriel! This is going to be a fun week (and perhaps longer).
DeleteAh yes "dear" Nelson those were the days- do I recall black satin sheets 😂 and good old Walter " Me old pal me old beauty". Tom Forest and " The village pump" his party piece!
DeleteMany others too of course so many characters and no worry about voice recognition .
I did like Robin's voice let's hope for an interesting week. Sleep calls now!
This week’s SW is Keri Davies so hopefully we should be in for a week of great Archers scripts.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile, I do hope you are right.
DeleteWhat a load of old toss, Mr, Uptight Harrison a male stripper!!
ReplyDeleteToby to Chris, "are you a god botherer"?
Mr Fairbro senior, having just arrived opens the champagn and starts guzzling and drooling over poor little Rosie. Pip, Ruth, Josh, and Ben missing.
David and Jill astonished at his inappropriate utterances, no wonder Rosie was crying.
Rex was most likely having more fun at the cricket match, and that is saying something.
Maybe, (I drink too much) Robin F will suddenly take a turn and be whisked off to hospital, I would diagnose liver failure.
Come back Alison Steadman, there is a vacant cottage in Ambirdge you can join up with Emma and Pat to form the, 'we hate JE group.
Otherwise we might have three Fairbros in Ambridge.
Actually, three and a half!
DeleteAnd another thing, Robin says: I import it myself from an artisan producer in Crémant (?), crémant is a sparkling wine very similar to champagne and pleasant to drink, some buy it out of protest at champagne prices. All the same I'm looking forward to what sort of discoveries Robin will make going down memory lane.
ReplyDeleteLighten up, folks! It is the silly season after all, and I guess news editors are not the only ones affected.
ReplyDeleteI had been looking forward to Anthony Head’s debut in the Archers but have to say I was rather disappointed. His voice didn’t have the warm, sexy tone I had been expecting (unlike that of his ‘son’ T❤️O❤️B❤️Y) and he behaved in a crass and boorish manner. I suppose I should reserve judgement until I have heard a few more scenes with him but so far I am not impressed.
ReplyDeleteRobin was taking to David, Toby and Jill. He might have sounded warmer and sexier if Pip, Ruth or indeed, Elizabeth, had been present!
DeleteI thought he was just too smarmy. Not a bit like Nelson.
DeleteSince I had no expectations I was not disappointed.
ReplyDeleteIt would seem that yet another character added to the cast who arrives and immediately sets the teeth on edge of Ambridge regulars and listeners alike.
Shades of Anisha ?
Hang on, Mrs P, Robin has only spoken to his son and two Ambridge residents not disposed in his favour - plus Lynda and possibly Robert. It's their unbiased view of him I'd like to hear. And he's only set three bloggers' teeth on edge - the rest who have commented seem okay with him.
DeleteAs I remember, Anisha didn't set anyone's teeth on edge in the village apart from one misogynistic client and finally the sulky Alastair. She'll be a loss to the cricket team. Bloggers were split about her, but I reckon the majority liked her.
.
Have just listened to the advent of Robin. Jill so obviously antagonistic, his complete disregard of this and his arrogance were superbly acted. We may not like him but he does add to the drama. I hope we will be there when he meets Elizabeth again! He really is on planet Robin!
DeleteMaryellen, what is there to like about him ?., from the short clip I found him arrogant, self centered and dismissive of Rex, when to give Toby credit he did mention him and his business.Typical of his ilk, that isn't to say that I wont enjoy his contribution
DeleteCowGirl - that's what I'm waiting to hear from Lynda, who doesn't share Brookfield's ( and some bloggers') bias. I'm not surprised if Robin is dismissive of Rex - the two things the Fairbrothers have majored on historically have been charm and business sense, and Rex hasn't inherited either. Hopefully the newest Fairbrother has inherited both!
Deletemaryellen. I liked Anisha, she was confident, had drive and knew what she wanted. She is a bright young woman,and I hope she returns in the future to run an equine hospital. She is a good role model for many young women and I hope the Button sisters learnt something from her.
DeleteI'm confused as to the current status of Carolyn Jones (Ursula Titchener) Articles relating to her experience of playing that character read as though she is still very much alive. The only other Carolyn Jones I can find is an American actress who died in 1983. Can anyone help me out here?
ReplyDeleteOn the BBC Archers blog: 'The actress Carolyn Jones has died peacefully at home after a short illness aged 77. ... In 2016, Sean O’Connor, then editor, created a role especially for Carolyn, Ursula the villainous mother of the abusive Rob Titchener.'
DeleteDo you think that Alistair bet on the horses and that's why he handed to Shula vet bills for the last 3 months?
ReplyDeleteHe tried to tell her that he had slipped up and I took that to mean gambling. He seemed to have had a late night out somewhere as Shula angrily assumed he was seeing Lavinia and had just got home? Yes I thought that he wanted the money for gambling.
DeleteAt the mediation meeting Alistair told Shula that he'd be charging her for the services provided to the Stables and most probably put a bet on the horse after a tip from Jazzer.
DeleteThank you. Sounds like bad news for Alistair. Going at this rate, he won't have a penny to his name.
DeleteI do wonder if Alistairs slip up, is due to another reason, rathet than the gambling angle. I am thinking along the lines, that he slipped up with the partnership agreement with Anisha, and all the massive loans etc. are purely his problem. He was talking to a lawyer, and perhaps as the news wasn't good, he went on a "bender" at The Bull or similar. I just really hope that he is not gambling again.
ReplyDeletePS I listened earlier, to the two final Cabin Pressure episodes, that I had downloaded. One of the characters, in the latter part of this wonderful radio "sit-com" was played by
DeleteAnthony Head, which I only picked up on today.
Sorry!!!! My imagination seems to have gone a little bit too far, yet again, with my comments about Alistair. I must try and keep my off tangent thoughts, to myself. What happened to Latif??
DeleteLove cabin pressure. When Anthony Head arrived as robin last night I didn’t recognise him at all.
DeleteWho did he play in 'Cabin Pressure'?
Delete
ReplyDeleteI found the whole of this evening's episode unbelievable.
Are there really people like Robin F around?
I felt as though we were listening to a play set in the 1930s.
Afternoon tea in the Orangery with one's former lover.
How jolly.
As for Shula and Alastair it gets from bad to worse.
I thought at first that the same fate was to happen to Shula as happened to her father's first wife.
I think Alastair has been gambling again .
I also wish that Freddie would hurry up and go to South Africa.
I can't stand his voice.
It is being so tolerant that keeps me going.
Miriam, you've hit the bullseye twice - where F B senior is hanging out in Cambridge, & Alistair back to gambling ! ( I'm assuming 'Maurice' was some kind of mentor in the past). Poor man, with ghastly Shula shouting at him, no understanding that he's in trouble financially with losing his partner, apparently no redress there ( why not?) regardless of gambling, & this awful soap convention of not listening & continuing to get the wrong end of the stick ( about Lavinia).
ReplyDeleteFB continues to give entertainment, full of himself as he is, with smarm passing for charm... Elizabeth seemed to quite enjoy getting reacquainted, however.....
Carolyn - the point is that AL had made it clear to Shula that their relationship was now client-and-professional, emphasised by him presenting his bills for his professional services. She had agreed to the prompt payment he demanded - only to have him fall down on his professional obligations when his services were urgently needed. The positive outcome of her very understandable protest was that it shocked AL into realising the enormity of the situation he had created for himself and (as you rightly surmised) contacting his previous Gamblers Anonymous mentor for help.
DeleteCarolyn- Maurice was Alistair 'buddy ' at Gamblers Anon.
DeleteA fellow ex gambler who supported A In retreating from his habit.
If Shula hadn't been so unreasonable towards Alistair, he might not have lapsed. She seems to see him just as her inconvenient, soon-to-be-ex-husband, not as a fellow human being.
DeleteThink you're spot on there, Bootgums, Shula's lack of humanity & seeming blindness to the state he's in has accelerated Alistair's decline. Yes, he is responsible for his own weaknesses, but...Maryellen, of course you are right that her angry reaction was justified, as being 'on call' means precisely that ! She was also upset about the horse, but I still think, instead of stomping off in high dudgeon, she could, & should, have then taken a deep breath, & listened to the man.
DeleteThe apple (Lily) did not fall far from the tree...
ReplyDeleteNor did the Toby Apple fall far from the Robin tree....In fact, that was the most amusing thing the other night when he arrived, like father like son, except son is on best behaviour at the moment.
DeleteI guess Rex is waiting for T❤️O❤️B❤️Y to tell him which way is down....
DeleteCarolyn - I do agree with you on Toby Apple and Robin Tree. I wonder when Toby will be tired of being "new dad". I thought Pip was being considerably nice to him also, for the time being.
ReplyDeleteA second chance to hear pRobin Fairbrother tonight and this time, Maryellen, he was speaking to an attractive woman i.e. Elizabeth. So what did I think of the tone of his voice this evening?
ReplyDeleteJust one word for it - syrupy!
I await further chances to asses his character with interest.
I thought it was warmer and sexier, Archerphile, like melting chocolate (milk rather than dark, perhaps?) and I suspect, like melting chocolate, inclined to leave a mess! I'm very fond of chocolate but I'm mostly interested in the size of his bank balance - is he in a position to invest in local businesses or buy the Home Farm farmhouse? The sports car is a good sign.
DeleteIt’s interesting to me that Rex decided to stay on at Ambridge when there really isn’t much there for him. I guess in “real” life, he would have moved with Anish and try for better opportunities. Rex could be the visiting uncle. What will happen to Rex now? Still believe there will be a developing relationship with Pip.
ReplyDeleteAs I remember it, When the the Fairbrothers arrived in Ambridge they were receiving on an allowance provided by Daddy. Hence never having to do a proper job, or be trained in any profession. Then not long afterwards Rex conveys the news that the allowance has been stopped because Daddy hasn't got the funds to carry on. Rex gets various labouring jobs and Toby sponges off Pip In between running off to Brighton.
ReplyDeleteDaddy nonchalantly walks in on the Pargetters lunch and until Shula arrives is happy to drink Elizabeth's wine. I don't think Robin F has any money, but he certainly has a drink issue. Maybe that is the reason for his illness and Rex rushing off to care for him.
Stasia - wrong on so many counts!
DeleteWe now know that the other grandmother's name is Simone.
ReplyDeleteAs for Shula and Alistair they are both responsible, perhaps if she had listened previously he might not have neglected his duties last night.
Lanjan, yes, there's often a horse involved in high drama, last night I was thinking of Caroline's horse being frightened by a passing driver and Mark getting killed by trying to avoid it.
It wasn't the first time Alistair had neglected his duties. Anisha complained she had to take over because he was unaccountably absent when supposed to be on duty. In Shula's case it was more that just neglect - a deliberate refusal to take a client's call, if he was in fact answering his phone - she was certainly hearing lies at that point in the conversation, no wonder she wasn't inclined to listen to more, especially after what she had just been through.
DeletePressed publish by mistake.
ReplyDeleteGrandad Fairbro is all show, I don't think he has any money, the car is a front to give the illusion that he can still live the life of a playboy. He won't be buying Home Farm.
Lanjan, it's OK to be intolerant in fantasy land. I'm a member of the cynical club.
Out of general interest, I'm researching where it was on the Fairbrother Estate in Ambridge that Robin was born and spent his early childhood years. My book refers to Manor Court, at the time of publication owned by John and Carol Tregorran and described as a fine eighteenth century gentleman's house set in three acres.
DeleteMy guess is that Carol inherited it on the death of her first husband, Charles Grenville, the businessman who bought the Fairbrother Estate when fellow businessman George (Robin's father) sold up. To go back a bit, when the Lawson-Hope Estate (most of Ambridge) was split and sold, Ralph Bellamy bought half, George Fairbrother the other half, resulting in the Bellamy Estate ( inherited by Lillian and some of it sold) and the Fairbrother Estate.
I don't know where George and his family lived on their estate. I can't find anything more modern written about Manor Court and I don't recall recent references to it in the programme. I've a feeling I'm missing something obvious!
Both research & guesswork impressive. At the very least, you show FBs have a long & affluent history in the area.
DeleteI don't think Robin stopped the allowance because he was hard up (though he might have said that to Rex??), rather that illness was a wake up call, & he saw these two lads, well into their twenties, getting nowhere fast - Rex trying to develop the goose project, Toby never there when needed, chasing skirt instead. Now, being the sort of man he seems to be, T. is favourite, having some success with his gin, a business of obvious interest to dad, whereas Rex is pootling around with a taxi service & helping out with pigs. Not Dad's bag at all.
ReplyDeleteI assume that Robin knows that like Jill, Elizabeth is also a widow, due to the fact that Nigel's death was more dramatic in 2011?
ReplyDeleteHe certainly referred to her running Lower Loxley as if he knew it was a solo job.
DeleteElizabeth did seem to get on well with Robin - no awkwardness and now they have the wine in common and just happen to be free and single....
ReplyDeleteWhen is Freddie leaving for South Africa? I fear there may be something brewing for him before he makes it there. All this talk of unwell pickers and them asking for more money...surely Freddie’s luck will run out. I just hope it doesn’t spoil Fallon’s wedding. A raid at a policeman’s wedding won’t do a lot for Harrison’s aspirations to become a sergeant.
I too am, such as others, thinking along the lines that "Papa F" is not as financially viable as was first thought. He is staying at Ambridge Hall not Grey Gables, that is the first clue, My second clue is his interest in the LL wine. I am thinking that he will try + buy in, to the detriment of Elizabeth. These are just my initial thoughts, after Day 3.
ReplyDeleteI think that I must "dust off" my Miss Marple crochet hat, which hasn't been worn for a long time, not since that night at Blossom Hill Cottage!
DeleteI think I made a mistake when I posted that Robin would "buy" - this should really be "muscle" in to the LL wine business.
DeleteI have six books on the Archers and they give very little information on George Fairbrother who bought a farm and moved to Ambridge in 1950. He had made a lot of money after the war in plastics. He and his first wife had a daughter called Grace who married his farm manager called Phil Archer. Later George married a Helen Carey (42years old) who came to Ambridge to stay with the Squire, she had a son called Alan who was 25 years old when she gave birth to Robin in Feb, 1953. George, Helen and Robin Fairbrother moved from Ambridge in 1959. I have yet to discover why Robin turns up in Ambridge and gets in volved with Elizabeth 14 years his junior. By my calculation that makes him 65 years with only six years of of a connection with Ambridge. My books don't indicate where the Fairbrother farm was, or who bought it. It's all a mystery.
ReplyDeleteWow. 6 books! I didn't know that there were so many. I cannot find a current one, which would help with the previous Ambridge history. I certanly need one, as I have many vacant memories.
DeleteHannah accused Neil of nepotism, quite rightly so, she was supportive of Emma's petition but won't be any more.
ReplyDeleteLily is upset most probably because she hasn't heard from Russ or he's called it off.
I feel very uneasy since the horse's death.
Basia - I thought Lily said Russ has taken his wife on holiday and that was the reason why he has not called. I hope her lost of appetite is attributed to that.
ReplyDeleteThink you're right, & she may at last be seeing through the lying toad...
DeleteI don't entirely agree with you there,Basia.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Hannah had any right to speak to Neil in the way that she did.
Is he not her boss?
When the idea of an estate of houses was first mooted there were a certain number of affordable homes being built
Neil as Chairman of the Parish Council had a perfect right to question Justin .
The fact that his daughter wants to live in one of the affordable houses is purely incidental.
I don't think he should have spoken to Lilian though.
(I suspect that "Justin" is otherwise employed on another acting commitment.
I think Hannah is trouble.
Lanjan, yes, Hannah likes to confront people, that's what she's there for. She and Neil got on splendidly at work but the conversation took place at the pub where the hierarchy does not apply. As chairman Neil has the right to question Justin but in an official capacity otherwise it does look like he's intervening on Emma's behalf, which *we* know he is because of the nagging from Susan and at least she's happy even though Justin may not hear of his intervention.
DeleteHannah went off on one because no one had had a shouty fit for several episodes. Groan. If she's really like that, Jazzer and Tom are better off without her. And she seemed such a promising character!
DeleteI am starting to wonder, how much longer, Neil will remain in charge at Berrow Farm. I am not a betting person, but I do bet, that it won't be for too long.
ReplyDeleteMaybe my moral compass needs adjusting, but I think Hannah overreacted, & should mind her own business. Aside from extolling him as the magic pig man one minute, & accusing him of corruption the next ( he only asked Lilian a question ) who does Hannah think she is ? A newcomer, suddenly a champion of village rights, defender against parish council wicked machinations ?
ReplyDeleteAgree with both comments above.
Delete👍👍👍
DeleteWhy didn't Neil tell Susan that through doing what she wanted him to do he is now in jepody himself after being overheard by Hannah...who has not been back 5 mins but has decided she should take her bosses morals to task!
ReplyDeleteStill at least we had some pig farming talk tonight 🐖👏
✔️
DeleteEmma herself was at first reluctant to use her position as a parish councillor to raise the issue of a reduced number of low cost houses because she is biased. Hannah supported her petition, saying that she herself couldn't afford to live independently in the area. Justin and the appropriate authorities should be held to account for the change through the official channels. It seems to me that what Hannah objected to was nepotism, but this is Ambridge way of doing things hence conflict/drama. Blossom Hill cottage is empty now, who next?
ReplyDeleteClearly Hannah perceives Neil to be a pushover. A nice man whose job she is aiming for? What she heard was Lilian saying that Emma would be first on the list for one of the affordable homes and jumped to conclusions. From being complementary in the morning, she suddenly became verbally vicious. Is she about to become a nasty piece of work, emotionally blackmailing Neil because she thinks he is doing some insider manipulation.?
ReplyDeleteWho is she going to complain to, Justin, the the council standards committee?
I thought Neil was very astute in the way he brought up the housing issue, he didn't mention Emma that was Lilian.
Hannah another personality change?
Agree.
DeleteLikewise, & very well remembered. Not sure H. is after his job or looking for blackmail opportunity, but certainly possessedby crusading zeal, shout first, reflect later, if at all...possibly a replacement for Anisha & Kirsty, the former having left & the latter not heard for ages ?
DeleteNeil is such a nice man and this was totally uncalled for! It’s actually none of her business and she was so rude to Lilian as well in refusing the drink she was buying for her. Jazzer steer clear! You had a lucky escape!
DeleteI love Jazzer, the true "pig man" and I also love that he lodges with Jim. They are a wonderful but true "odd couple" sharing a home.
DeleteJazzer does need to avoid Hannah. She will just "eat him for breakfast" and spit the remnants out. Jazzer really needs some-one more caring, gentle and loving. But who?
I am thinking along the lines, that Neil might find himself in a position soon, in which he will have some major conflicts.
ReplyDeleteHe is "the Chair" of the Parish Counsel.Emma, his daughter is a Parish counsellor. She is opposed to Justin, with his new planning application in regard to the affordable housing. Neil would really like to support his daughter as this her chance to have a home for her family. Neil is however employed by Demara and answers, indirectly to Justin. I am wondering as to where his loyaties will actually lie - family or "job".
I have my own thoughts, in that I think that Susan will not be shopping in "Underwoods" for very much longer.
Robin thinks that a name like Rosie is common and finds Rex's work contemptible, that's how I imagined him to be, I wonder how he'll try to ingratiate himself with Jill. At least Toby is supportive of Rex, however, I don't think Neil will want to part with his pigs in a hurry.
ReplyDeleteRobin a male version of "Mrs Bucket"? 😂
DeleteDo people like Robin Fairbrother actually exist?
ReplyDeleteWhat a pompous priggish snob he is..
They do. I met some- one on a holiday,, 18 months ago and the description of pompous was cetainly an understatement - and if be told us about his 2nd home in France once....! I managed to "squash" him by talking to, and being very friendly with his wife, who came out of her shell, and told him to just "shut up"! It worked.
DeleteYes, he's pretty repellent, isn't he? Jill will speedily disabuse him when his smarm fails to melt her. It's heartening that, at last, Toby is standing by his brother, even slightly embarrassed that dad is lionizing him.
ReplyDeleteRather a nice conversation between Brian & Ruth, but has he an undeclared agenda ? Why does he want her to return as Ruairi's attorney ?
Robin F much as I expected.
ReplyDeleteJill will eat him for breakfast.
Don't give him the time of day Elizabeth.
I thought it was Neil's conduct that was questionable rather than Hannah's. It smacked of moral cowardice and showed a disregard for democratic procedure. He failed to stand up to Susan by maintaining the argument that it was inappropriate for him to use his employee's access to Justin to promote unrelated personal or parish interests. Having agreed to approach Justin about Damara's change of plan, he took the softer option of approaching Lilian who rightly rapped his knuckles.
ReplyDeleteAs Chair of the Parish Council, he clearly represents the village's views and interests - but first needs to know what those views and interests are. Damaris has not been a recent agenda item (as far as we know) and he does not have the PC's mandate to approach Justin/Damaris on its behalf.
He also prevaricated to Susan.
Poor show, Neil! You could take lessons from your daughter.
As for Hannah, she is condemned to the confrontational style favoured by the current editorial team, but has every right to challenge dubious practice in village affairs.
The only thing that Neil did wrong was to approach Lilian rather than Justin..
DeleteIf a certain number of affordable homes was /were promised then that number should not be cut .
The fact that Emma is one of those wanting an affordable home is of no consequence.
Had there been a discussion in a meeting then Neil would obviously have to declare an interest.
As for Hannah.
Quite honestly I am getting a bit sick of these forthright ,often rude young women that are being introduced into Ambridge.
We have just got rid of one.
I can be doing with not having another.
I do think though that Neil is weak.
DeleteHe wants an easy life and gives in to Susan too quickly
Pa Fairbro is a man without boundaries, barging his way into the conversation between Ruth and Brian and ignoring Ruth's protestation that Jill wasn't at home. He is a upper class bore of the worst kind, invading Ambridge and looking down on everyone from his extremely high horse. I'm not a fan of the Fairbros, but at least Toby did stand up for his brother, who is clearly passive to his father's bullying.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder how much wine he sells as he seems to drink a lot of the stuff, and he has a heart problem. He won't last long on this earth given his life style. I can do without listening to his Prince Charles sound alike voice pretending to be squire of the village. Hopefully he will be gone on Friday.
Is he upper-class, or, as Jack Woolley once said of the Snells, a bit nouveau? Arriviste, even.
DeleteHe's certainly a 'type', Stasia ! I'd quite like him to linger a while, until he gets his comeuppance, which he surely will...
ReplyDeletePoor old Neil, caught between the devil & the deep blue sea. He mostly can't stand up to Susan, so he forged a compromise by having an informal word with Lil; nothing untoward about that, it was private, no councillor or employee hat on, & he has every right to say what likes to anyone, simply as a concerned local & a dad. He balks at approaching the Main Man, as he works for him, & it would be inappropriate, demonstrably taking advantage, & perhaps endangering his employment.
Hannah was out of order, making assumptions as she did.
I agree with you, Lanjan, the proper place would be the parish council, declaring his personal interest - he probably wouldn't be the only councillor. What stops him there, of course, is fear, given his work relationship with JE.
Which underlines yet again that he should not have taken the job with Demara.
ReplyDeleteOr he should have resigned from the PC.
Neither of which Susan would have allowed of course.
A lot of what Robin Fairbrother said in relation to his sons was true, so bound to be unacceptable to some listeners. This unacceptability is rebounding on the man who said it. It was sweet of T❤️O❤️B❤️Y to try to defend his brother by saying he is a very hard worker - a whopper ( given Rex's work record before Christmas) but understandable, as there wasn't much else he could say. Good to hear his gin operation can now support two full time staff ( him an Stan).
ReplyDeleteStan is only working there for a couple of weeks, not full time as you say. Toby is hoping that may happen in the near future.
DeleteOkay - let me change "can now support two full-time staff" to " now offers the prospect of employing two full- time staff". Still a measure of Toby's success (pun unintentional.)
DeleteI must say that I am rather disappointed with Keri Davis’s handling of the character Robin Fairbrother this week. I usually prefer Keri’s scripts to anyone else’s but last night seemed almost farcical to me (though perphaps that was the intention!)
ReplyDeleteThe way he denigrated poor Rex and showed such obvious favouritism of Toby was, I felt, very exaggerated. The change in tone of voice when speaking to, or about, a woman was ludicrous, I could almost see the moustaches twirling in the manner of a Victorian rake.
Too over the top by far, Keri. Robin promised to be an interesting addition to the cast, even if in the guise of a piece of grit inside a pearl, but it was all too much, too soon. Less is sometimes more, especially in scriptwriting for a long running serial. Anthony Head played the part as written but, to me, it all seemed ver clichéd.
I think Keri Davis is under orders, Archerphile. Now Toby is turning out to be such a decent chap (which one or two f us always knew he was!), business on the brink of expanding and a natural with the baby), the Jills among us are short of a Fairbrother target and Robin has been created to fill the gap.
DeleteSeriously, I agree with you that there was a lot of good plot potential here and once again it is being frittered away. Most annoying.
Could it just possibly be that RB is being assessed solely on the way he's coming across ? He had a bad press with the Archer family anyway & now he's meeting expectations. I suppose he's been introduced to stir up conflict & trouble in various ways, & so far, so good - it'll be interesting to see what develops.
DeleteOne thing I was pleased about - the meeting Robin arranged with EP in the Orangery was convincingly civilised and cordial, and in no way confrontational. In fact his interactions with the Archer/Aldridge clan so far have all been remarkably civilised and non-confrontational.
DeleteHe could hardly bound in, smacking lascivious lips with, ' Lizzie, sweetie, let's pick up where we left off, eh, eh ?', could he ? What I didn't like about that scene was when she said the conventional, 'I'm sorry' after he said he had divorced & he answered, 'I'm not.' The implication being he'd landed in a terrible marriage, with a ghastly woman. Not quite the gentlemanly image he seeks to project.
DeleteThere are many people like Rex, they don't do any harm and by being there they make the dynamic and vibrant individuals shine even more, there is place for all.
ReplyDeleteSalt of the earth, people like Rex
DeleteCan anyone else see a similarity in the way that father Robin regards his sons, and the way in which Rob's father favoured one son (Rob's brother - forgotten his name) and denigrated the other?
ReplyDeleteNo.
DeleteIf I remember rightly it was Rex who rushed home to look after Robin when he was ill. How many times I have heard of sons or daughters looking after parents and not being appreciated indeed coming in for criticism where another offspring who never bothers is idolised. It seems that favouritism comes early on and continues so that the more caring one can never do anything right! In the early days Toby was portrayed as the ne’er do well but has had a personality change recently so let’s hope it continues now he’s a dad!
DeleteRex moaned being the one to look after his dad and rubbed it in. Toby was trying to sort out an ex-girlfriend's problems around that time.
DeleteOr so he said . . .. OK, we were led to think the worst of Toby when the Fairbrother brothers first hit Ambridge, or one of them hit it and the other stroked it gently.
DeleteIf this is going to turn into a rerun of the Grundy brothers and Emma, something will have to happen to Toby for Rex to have a breach to step into. Perhaps he will sacrifice his life to save Rosie! Or Jill! Or just turn out to be a wrong 'un after all. Or, more believably, he and Pip just know they won't make it as a couple (which they're not, at present), and both would be better with someone else.
Rob's brother is Miles.
DeleteThanks Miriam.
DeleteSuz. Exactly. The only difference I can see is that Robin Rednose doesn't sound like an army Sargent Major. Otherwise very controlling.
Delete√, agree, but who are the vibrant & dynamic characters ?! OK, not fair - there's Emma, Kirsty (back seat currently), Pat sometimes, Jim has his moments, Usha perhaps, Lynda & Susan in their caricatured way, Lil & er..um... I'm stumped.
ReplyDeleteJolene !
DeleteYes!
DeleteKirsty + Emma.
DeleteWhat about another silent one, Tracy, Susan's sister living on The Green.
DeleteKate, possibly, but she's another who often trembles on the brink of caricature (or a bouncy castle). Lily, potentially, but she is due to go to university soon, and unless it's Felpersham (I think she's more ambitious than that) she'll be away a lot. I think Jennifer can be quite vibrant and dynamic. Toby is, I guess, but then why I am still having trouble distinguishing him from Rex? Vicky was (not always in a good way), but she was banished. Elizabeth? Sometimes, but recently she's just been a mother and hasn't had much scope. Hannah nearly was, but has apparently just turned into a ranter. Jazzer, of course! Fallon used to be.
DeleteI am wondering how will "Scruff" Gin compete against the latest Aldi gin. It is blue in colour, turns pink when tonic is added and has a friuts of the forest flavour? The gin market does seem to appear to be very competative. I am having doubts that Toby can actually make his empire, unless he diversifies.
ReplyDeleteDidn't I say Jill would eat him for breakfast.
ReplyDeleteI could have written that script myself !
What an old bat! (Jill, not you, Mrs P!) But I guess one should feel sympathy because she' going to carry her hang up about Grace to the grave.
DeleteSo you did MrsP, Jill was incensed by Robin offering her a drink in her own kitchen and trying to be friendly, she was highly energised after her acqua-fit.
DeleteWhat's Robin playing at? First he seemed to be running Rex down and favouring Toby, then he ran Toby down, though perhaps more gently, and with a view to getting David's opinion of him, having loosened his tongue with port.
ReplyDeleteWould David really have gone to bed before Robin left? Who locks up at Brookfield?
Was the 'conversation' between Emma and Hannah EastEnders-ish? I think Emma actually said 'You cow'.
Perhaps he"s deciding where to leave his money? Maybe they will each have to perform three impossible tasks as in all the best fairy tales.....
DeleteGot it! It's come to me in a blinding flash! The reason Robin Fairbrother is paying this visit to Ambridge is ..... DRUM ROLL.... the doctors have told him he hasn't long to live.....SOLO VIOLIN.".
DeleteBrilliant,Maryellen.
DeleteThen we find out that Robin is heavily in debt.
Apart from the few vintage bottles of wine and port he has in his cellar he has very little else.
Has he got a funeral plan?
Has he any life insurance?
Is Toby a chip off the old block in as much as helping to produce a child out of wedlock?
maryellen. That is fairly obvious given the amount of alcohol he drinks. He probably has multiple health issues, including cirrhosis of the liver.
DeleteWhat about Hannah?
ReplyDeleteShe has certainly gone down in my previous expectations. I had hoped for so much from her.
We now know Hannah has an agenda in that she wants a house for herself! What makes her think that as a newcomer to the village and a single lady with no dependents that she should be in the running with the Grundy pair and their two children? Also she should surely have the wherewithal to rent or buy a small flat or cottage. She has had good jobs and does not have the expense of children. Ambridge owes her nothing!
DeleteBoth Rex and Toby have cars and live next door, why did Robin call a taxi, I expected Rex to turn up.
ReplyDeleteI've definitely read over a hundred books throughout my life, like most people I think, I don't believe in 'bucket lists'. I can't be bothered with the rest of the episode.
She was vicious. EastEnders or not, I'm hard pushed to see how else Emma could have reacted. So Hannah had her own agenda, after all, as did RB. See it as you do, Bootgums, two faced, presumably to find out what his boys have been up to, how they are thought of, what strings might be pulled for them & so on. Jill, of course, gave him short shrift, as you predicted, Mrs P., & I, probably others too - can't recall. I doubt it is anything to do with Grace, it's to do with RF himself & Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteYes agre Carolyn, its the RB / Elizabeth affair that stuck in Jills craw.
DeleteNot Grace, so much as the family F
Not what people here were saying earlier. Elizabeth has long got over it, Jill could take a leaf from her book. I'm in the 'Grace at the bottom of it' camp.
DeleteHannah was the "pot calling the kettle black" last night. Why do the script writers continue to antagonize the listeners in this manner.
ReplyDeleteWho writes this rubbish?
ReplyDeleteHow many people do you know who carry vintage port around with them?
Who drinks port nowadays.?
My mum used to drink port and lemon but that was 60 years ago.
Jill was hardly being very Christian.
We know why she doesn't like Robin -mainly because he is a Fairbrother but also because Elizabeth told her that he had let her down.
Do we know that is the truth?
Would he have returned had he been so dastardly 20 + years ago.?
I agree with Bootgums,there is no way David would have left Robin sitting up with the rest of the port and gone to bed.
As for Hannah.
I agree with Emma .
She is a cow -sorry Cowgirl that is insulting the animals you love.
Why should she,a single girl walk into the village and expect to be allowed to buy one of the affordable homes rather than Ed .Emma and the children who were born there ?
Her behaviour was way over the top
Sorry LanJan, but I love a glass or two of good port after a celebratory dinner ( have to be careful these days though).
DeleteNo insult to my cows, I had one I would have described thus, still loved her though!
Lan jan have just read this having posted almost the same sentiments about Hannah! Glad you feel the same!
DeleteLanJan - agree with all your points!
ReplyDeleteJill has seen right through Robin and his smarmy talk. I thought he was being very manipulative in talking to David about Toby. I laughed at Jill's final comment - b...sh..t indeed!
ReplyDeleteWow! That was some episode! Smarmy Robin and his port getting David all squiffy and then trying his charm act on Jill. Fortunately she saw right through him and put a stop to his nonsense!
ReplyDeleteThen that performance from Hannah, so self- righteous and critical of Emma. Who does she think she is - been in the village 5 mins and thinking she has the same rights as Ed and Emma to a low cost house. What a revelation that conversation with Emma turned out to be. Think Neil really ought to watch his back now, Hannah will
not hesitate to put the poison down with Justin if she gets a chance and could get Neil sacked if he is not careful ... and who would be ready and waiting to step onto his shoes ?😠
√√, & the emoji is a perfect fit, Archerphile. See what's happening, folks? We love a bit of villainy, &, unusually, the TA comments are outstripping the chat this week ! Listening nos. soared during the Titchener/Helen period, & now we have RF & Hannah - so much more Meaty than whingeing Shula & odd surrogacy SLs.
DeleteNot that I'd forego the chat blog for a moment - love reading about bats, cats, ants, all of it, which reminds me...
Archerphile - you can't blame Robin for David getting squiffy - he didn't tie him to a chair and force the port (a generous return gift) down David's throat. David is old enough to know his limits but wasn't sensible enough to say no. I find it hard to identify what exactly Robin has said or done wrong. As far as we know, he can back up his various offers of help. He has tried to help Rex jobwise and been turned down. Charm isn't a criminal offence! Jill was unpardonably rude to him (as she has been to Toby in the past) on no grounds other than he was offering her the port which was his to share (maybe she mistook it for the Brookfield sherry, but still no excuse). Oh, and he happened to like a modern classic.
DeleteIf you are fed up with forthright and rude women, LanJan, look no further than Jill Archer!
Indeed ,Maryellen.
DeleteI have never been a member of the Jill Archer Fan Club.
She has spent most of her life being jealous of a dead woman and disliking any member of that person's family on principle.
At least we haven't heard her ridiculous laugh recently .
Is RF charming? I think not. What he's done or said wrong: setting aside his treatment of Elizabeth many years ago, he's been unpleasant to (Rex) and about (Rex and Toby) his sons. He's oleaginous (not doing or saying, just being). But on the whole I hope he reappears, hopefully to develop beyond a stereotype and because I want to know what he's up to!
DeleteMaryellen, Robin’s offer to help Rex job wise is more to do with himself. How much better to say your son is in the city than well, actually he’s a pigman who drives taxis on the side! As Rex said though he would not be happy in an office!
DeleteWell done Jill.
ReplyDeletePa Fairbro's taxi arrived just in time, otherwise he would have had to exit with tail firmly between his legs. I think Robin Rednose got David drunk in order to ascertain how far Toby had been in corporated into the Brookfield setup. He knows that Toby's gin venture will not be sustainable, he practically condemned his business acumen, by saying that whilst his son had charm he wasn't very mature. When he asked David's opinion on Toby's maturity the response was delayed and hesitant and reluctantly given.
I don't think one unfinished bottle of Port would have caused both to become drunk, slurring their speech and sounding well tiddled. Rediculous.
I thought Robin seemed admirably unperturbed by Jill's unprovoked and over the top tirade (well, only provoked by the fact tha he is Grace Archer's half-brother, which I think everyone would agree is not something he can do much about.) Jill pulled the old trick of scuttling off before the victim of her. Renal attack could reply, but he sounded entirely cool, calm and collected when ordering his taxi. Jill fears charm - she suspects Home made lemon drizzle is no match for it - and fortunately for her and any others like her, Ambridge isn't awash with it!
ReplyDeleteI think it is Robin Rednose who is most likely to have "renal" problems given the amount of alcohol his kidneys have to process in a day.
ReplyDeleteMind you I wouldn't say no to a case of French fizzy. I wonder did he drink the lot whilst wetting the baby's head, then two bottles at lunch with Toby who didn't seem keen to join him in the drinking.
Well, we seem to have a real difference of opinion on this site - between those who see Robin as an untrustworthy charmer and those who see no wrong in him. Similarly between those who thought Jill was magnificent in repelling his charm offensive and those who regard her as a rude old bat. I have noticed similar battle lines are being drawn up on the FB Archer sites too.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good and healthy thing. It means we can have real discussions about the pros and cons of the characters and storyline progression. So much more interesting than everyone just agreeing and not bothering to comment because the serial is boring and anodyne.
Roll on the Archer/Fairbrother test match!
But do I detect that nobody much approves of Hannah at the moment and her unexpected haranguing of Emma?
Archerphile - I see no wrong on Robin Fairbrother at the moment because I haven't been shown anything wrong. I'm quite prepared for him to turn out to be the spawn of Satan that J🦇I🦇L🦇L believes he is, but I'll need more evidence than making a favourable comment on Lolita!
DeleteArcherphlile - I think Hannah's uncharacteristic outburst was a desperate manouevre by the scriptwriters, best ignored!
ReplyDeleteThe S/Ws haven't as yet, or more to the point JE hasn't indicated the relationship between the affordable housing, a Housing Association, the council housing list and shared ownership. As part of the planning application JE would have been expected to build a percentage of AH's. If it is a straight forward plan, without part ownership, then from my little experience it is first come, first served so long as the buyer meets mortgage conditions. It is in JE's business interests to shift his houses as quickly as possible.
ReplyDeleteI think Hannah is out of order accusing Emma of nepotism, thereby blocking her from buying a house. Justin can sell to who ever he wishes, unless part ownership was stipulated and that may include those on a waiting list. If the council or housing association have bought the affordable homes then I don't think Hannah stands a chance, locals will come first.
Maybe Emma and Hannah should do a bit of homework.
The S/Ws need to bring in an expert not just on housing but on how to decant a vintage port. 🍷🍷🏡🏡🏠🏠
√√√
ReplyDeleteSurely you just pour it out of its bottle into a glass or recycleablle plastic cup if handier - anything else would be affectation.
ReplyDeleteNo, No, No Maryellen, It all depends on the age of the port, the older the port the more likely it is to have sediment, younger ports need oxidisation. A ruby port, the sort you have with lemon, would just be poured from the bottle.
DeleteYou mean you pour it through a tea strainer into the glass? 😀
DeleteNo, you have to make sure the bottle has stood for quite some time to ensure that the sediment is at the bottom. Then you slowly decant it, you need a steady hand, into a decanter or jug. My father taught me to use a small piece of muslin as a precaution. The older the port the more sediment, and of course more expensive. There is of course a lot of snobbery as with all vintage wines. Its years since I have had a really good bottle. There are special glasses too called port sippers that has a tube to sip from, that is supposed to increase the oxidisation and improve the taste.
DeleteThis has reminded me I have a forgotten bottle of port that I inherited three years ago. I just Googled it and apparently it's a blend with ruby port, so I guess it doesn't need special precautions. What did Robin do that was amiss? I could add it to his portfolio of wrongdoing, along with commenting favourably on Lolita 😀
DeleteWe visited Porto and the beautiful Duoro Valley region last year as part of our Portugal and Spain trip last year.
ReplyDeletePort is going strong and the higher vintages are going for a lot of money. I myself do not really like port, ruby or any of the higher vintages. They all have a sweet mounthy feel to me and I rather like crisp and dry wines.
At last Harrison has made an arrest ! He got to say the famous line ! I bet the actor was chuffed.
ReplyDelete