The Dark Side of Ambridge

[Gob]

Sensational storylines have seen thousands of listeners switch off from the Archers.
And for those who long for the quieter days of Ambridge, scripts from the very first episodes have come up for sale.


The pilot episodes show the famous character of Doris Archer was to be played by Nan Marriott Watson, rather than Gwen Berryman who made the part her own.



The scripts for the first five episodes originally belonged to Harry Oakes, who played Dan Archer, the patriarch of the farming family who live in fictional Ambridge.

Throughout the scripts amendments have been made, such as changing ‘yes’ for ‘aye’, to make the characters sound more rural.

Originally described as ‘an everyday story of country folk’, the Archers is now billed as ‘contemporary drama in a rural setting’.



The opening line was by Dan Archer who said: ‘And a happy New Year to all!’ His wife Doris responded with: ‘A very happy New Year, Dan.’ During the episode, Dan’s son Philip shares a kiss with a nearby farmer’s daughter, Grace, as he drives her home from a party and they discuss his job interview for the next day.

The episode ends with Philip being angry at brother Jack for not returning his car, which makes him late for his job interview.

The storyline of the pilot episode - broadcast as a test run in the Midlands only - involves Dan and Doris Archer and their three children, Jack, Christine, and Philip, an apprentice mechanic.

It begins by talking about how Dan’s cow, Daffodil, is ready to calve, and introduces the audience to Philip, who is keen to get his father’s investment in a business idea.

Christine is also keen for some money as she is planning a trip to Switzerland with her friends during the school holidays.

Opening lines: The rural atmosphere is set by directions including 'Cow mooing!'

Jack’s wife, Peggy, is keen to learn farming techniques so she can help her husband around the farm, but they argue over a discussion about white fly destroying the tomatoes.

Jack says: ‘You look after the home and the kids, I’ll run the holding, that’s my job.’

The show ends with Peggy asking Doris to look after the babies for two days while she finds a job and appearing to leave Jack.
The typed scripts belong to a private collector and are estimated to sell for between £2,000 and £4,000 when they go under the hammer at Cuttlestones auctioneers in Wolverhampton on September 7.

Earlier this month it emerged that a string of sensational storylines may have caused ratings to slump - as new figures reveal they audiences have dropped by 400,000 year on year.

The drop came after some complained the show had ‘sexed up’ storylines, branding the newer plots ‘ridiculous’, ‘unrealistic’ and accusing the broadcaster of dumbing down.

The programme’s acting editor John Yorke, a former executive producer of television soap EastEnders, had promised to make the plotlines ‘darker and bigger’.

The serial has already been convulsed by recent dramatic stories, including a hit-and-run that left one character in a coma, witness intimidation, and a horrific arson attack dubbed ‘Farmaggedon’.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... z24Q5ARgL6

[Lord Jim]

Been meaning to respond to this:

But you hated David Tennant as Dr Who didn't you?

Actually, of the three actors who have played the role since the new, hour long real production values series was created he is my favorite...

My reaction to the newest Dr. Who, Matt Smith, has been much like Daisy's...

I'm not nearly as disappointed as I expected to be...

(Especially when I learned that the guy was only 22 years old...he has a lot more gravitas than his age would indicate, and his interpretation of The Doctor is very similar to Tennant's)

Besides, what's not to like about Amy Pond?:




I did not at all care for the original Doctor in the new series, (ninth overall) as portrayed by Christopher Eccleston:



(He may be a fine actor, but I found his interpretation of the role a little too "dark" and "working class" for my taste....)

My all time favorite Dr. Who of course remains Tom Baker, the Fourth Doctor, from the original low budget 30 minute version (which was the first one we saw here in The States, back in the 70s)

[Gob]

Did it for me. Not that I ever watched Dr Who...

But hey, what about the Ambridge totty?



Jolene



Fallon.



Clarrie (luve)



Lynda

[Lord Jim]

Billie Piper's a hottie, no argument there....

[Lord Jim]

BTW Strop, in doing a little researching here on Tom Baker, I discovered that one of his "companions" is married to that heathen philosopher you're so keen on:

Sarah Ward known as Lalla Ward, is an English actor, author and illustrator. As an actor, she is known for playing the part of Romana in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. She is married to evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalla_Ward




Small world...

[Econoline]

Well, small island, anyway....

[loCAtek]

I like Dr. Who....

But you hated David Tennant as Dr Who didn't you?

I didn't hate Tennant; he was the first to kiss Captain Jack; recruited Martha Jones and reunited Billie Piper with her parents. Not to mention, absolved The Master.


Don't get me started about Captain Jack Harkness and Torchwood - great initial idea, but went pair-shaped fast. He so longed for death, that he went about killing anyone and anything at any oppertunity? Grand! Jolly! Meanwhile, he so loved Gwen Cooper that he never so much as touched her, but banged dudes in his office between slayings? Yeah, that makes sense.