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Miss Babs: “Mrs O – it’s a boy!” Mrs Overall: “Oh, I am pleased!” #AmbridgeAntiques #TheArchers

Mrs Overall holds Gainsborough’s Blue Boy, but in mauve. She’s as pleased as punch.

Ruth: “...and that’s how I found out there was no Santa Claus.” #TheArchers #Gremlins

A still from the film Gremlins (1984) featuring Kate (Phoebe Cates), and the caption: ‘And that’s how I found out there was no Santa Claus.’ In the scene, Kate has just disclosed to Billy (Zach Galligan) and Gizmo that her father went missing on Christmas Eve when she was nine years old, but he was then found dead in their fireplace several days later. Planning to surprise his family dressed as Santa, he accidentally slipped and broke his neck while climbing down the chimney. Still suffering from PTSD due to the incident, Kate explains that this led to her disdain for the holidays.

021

Tracy: “How was the driving lesson?” Brad: “It was great! I didn’t break any antiques!” Mrs Overall: “Oh, I am pleased!” #TheArchers #AmbridgeAntiques

Miss Babs clambers out of the Acorn Antiques van clutching a valuable antique chamber pot.

Jazzer: “The Riley’s looking a bit clapped out.” #TheArchers #OldMotherRiley

A black and white portrait of Old Mother Riley, a fictional character portrayed from about 1934 to 1954 by Arthur Lucan (pictured) and from 1954 to the 1980s by Roy Rolland as part of a British music hall act.

Natasha: “How’s Jill?” Ruth: “Playing #ThatsNotMyChutney with Carol, I imagine.” 😢 #TheArchers

040

Continuity: “Before we head to #AmbridgeAntiques, we’ve had a poem from a Miss Fallon of South Borsetshire: There was a policeman called Burns, Who took up some tango lessurns, He bumped into Lily, And showed her his truncheon, Which raised some legitimate concerns.” #TheArchers

Susie Blake has received a troubling limerick from a concerned listener.

0124

Thank you, #TheArchers tweetalongers. I’m off for one last game of #ThatsNotMyChutney. See you next week!

0101

Miss Babs: “72 baps, Mrs O – you slice, I'll spread.” Mrs Overall: “Ooh, I am pleased!” #AmbridgeAntiques #VictoriaWood #TheArchers

Mrs Overall, wearing a tabard as usual, carries a tray piled high with white bread rolls. “72 baps, Connie – you slice, I'll spread,” is a classic Victoria Wood line that sums up the British response to death and funerals.

Alan: “Can I get you anything, Carol? How about one of Mrs Overall’s delicious macaroons?” Carol: “I just wanted to say, if I should choke on this macaroon, how much I’ve enjoyed being in #AmbridgeAntiques.” #TheArchers

Mrs Overall gives a lengthy speech to a bored Miss Babs and Miss Berta, about how much she’s enjoyed being in Acorn Antiques, before choking to death on one of her own macaroons.

020

Tony: “Are we doing a #RepairShop crossover again this week?” Leonard: “No, I think it’s #DoctorWho this week.” Tony: “That reminds me: Tom’s greenhouse is bigger on the inside. As my old dad used to say.” #TheArchers

Patrick Troughton as the 2nd Doctor, leaning over the TARDIS console. Patrick Troughton was the father of David Troughton, who plays Tony Archer, and grandfather of William Troughton, who plays Tom Archer. Which explains their ability to regenerate (from Colin Skipp and Tom Graham respectively).

192

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Continuity: “And now it’s time for this week’s visit to #AmbridgeAntiques. And after last week’s exciting cliffhanger, let’s see if they’re any further on with mending Miss Jean’s umbrella stand.” #TheArchers

Susie Blake continuity announces this week’s Ambridge Antiques.

033

Miss Babs: “Mrs O, I’m going to have to cut your sick pay if you’re going to moonlight as a hairdresser in #EducatingRita.” Mrs Overall: “Oh, I am pleased!” #AmbridgeAntiques #TheArchers

Mrs Overall, wearing a tabard as usual and, unusually, a mauve wig, carries a tea tray laden with hairdressing equipment. She looks very pleased.

072

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Justin: “I want to look like that.” *shows picture of Princess Diana* Mrs Overall: “Oh, I am pleased!” #TheArchers #EducatingRita #AmbridgeAntiques

The scene from the film Educating Rita (1983) where hairdresser Rita (Julie Walters) has a client (a middle-aged woman) who says “I want to look like that”, and shows her a picture of Princess Diana. Julie Walters would, of course, later go on to play the starrier role of Mrs Overall.

171

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Continuity: “And now it’s time for this week’s visit to #AmbridgeAntiques. And after last week’s exciting cliffhanger, let’s see if Mr Martyn’s any further on with ordering that foot spa.” #TheArchers

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Miss Babs: “Mrs O, I’m afraid we’re going to have to return the Vino de Milo Yiannopoulos, because it’s leaning too far right. Even for ICE.” Mrs Overall: “Oh, I am pleased!” #AmbridgeAntiques #TheArchers

Mrs Overall, wearing a tabard as usual, has collapsed on the floor, having choked on one of her own macaroons. Miss Babs and Miss Berta stand over her. Next to them (to the far right) is a large cardboard box marked ‘FRAGILE’ diagonally all the way up it in red capitals, and with ‘VENUS DE MILO’ written at the top and bottom in smaller black capitals. The whole box is upside-down.

062

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Elizabeth: “Your class ideas look fantastic! I just have a bit of a concern about turning #AmbridgeAntiques into a health spa?” #TheArchers

Miss Babs speaks to a couple of regular customers in mauve 'Acorn Antiques' bathrobes, in the episode in which Acorn Antiques has been turned into a heath spa.

072

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Continuity: “And now it’s time for this week’s visit to #AmbridgeAntiques. And after last week’s exciting cliffhanger, let’s see if they’re any further on with changing that barrel at The Bull.” #TheArchers

052

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Miss Babs: “Mrs O, we’re having a Tango night at #AmbridgeAntiques!” Mrs Overall: “Oh, I am pleased!” #TheArchers

Mrs Overall, wearing a tabard as usual, carries a tea tray with a can of Tango on it. She looks very pleased.

091

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Continuity: “And now it’s time for this week’s visit to #AmbridgeAntiques. And after last week’s exciting cliffhanger, let’s see if they’re any further on with mending that fence post.” #TheArchers

Miss Babs: “Mrs O, put that disposable barbecue out! You’ll burn your delicious macaroons, and also the planet!” Mrs Overall: “Well, sometimes that’s God’s way of telling you you’re dead.” #AmbridgeAntiques #TheArchers

Mrs Overall, wearing a tabard as usual, carries a tea tray with a flaming disposable barbecue on it. She looks very pleased.

1123

Lilian: “Monty’s just a big softy. How can they think he did those appalling things to David’s sheep?” #TheArchers

041

Khalil: “Don’t worry, Alan – I can give you a haircut!” #TheArchers #KhalilScissorhands

Johnny Depp as Edward Scissorhands. From the 1990 Tim Burton film of the same name.

150

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

🚨 Severe Alert: It’s time for #TheArchers!

A ‘Severe Alert’ message, in the style of the UK Government alert about disposable barbecues that scared us all to death on Friday. The text reads:

Severe Alert
Issued by the Agricultural Story Editor – 1m ago

There is a very high risk of The Archers nationally. Characters, producers and studio managers should not undertake any activity that could start an omnibus, including disposable scripts, microphones, mixing desks or sound effects. Even a small episode can rapidly develop into a weekly omnibus placing characters, locations, dialogue and emergency storylines at risk.

Follow official updates and report signs of contemporary drama in a rural setting immediately by tuning in to Radio 4, BBCSounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Search bbc.co.uk/thearchers for more information.

1144

Don’t forget it’s BIN DAY! 🗑️ 🚮 #VoteBinface

081

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Reminder: Never look at The Sun.

The notorious Kelvin MacKenzie Sun front page headline "The Truth". Published on 19 April 1989, four days after the Hillsborough disaster, the article contained a number of lies alleging that Liverpool supporters were responsible for the incident.

050

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I’m away from the wireless today. But I might go to the theatre in a few weeks. (Any #TheArchers tweetalongers planing to go to the #Woking edition of #TheArchersLiveAt75?) #TheArchersAt75

The laser display screen outside Woking Theatres & Cinema promoting ‘The Archers: Live at 75’ on Sun 06 Sep 2026 at 14:00.

Jon Reed @jonreed.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Rajan: “His readers treasured his love of mischief and pellucid prose.“ Webb: “A great writer and a great editor.” Me: 🤮 #R4Today

A Rod Liddle column in The Spectator from 29 Sep 2012, in which he says: “the one thing stopping me from being a teacher was that I could not remotely conceive of not trying to shag the kids.”

The full extract pictured reads: “I never found out because the one thing stopping me from being a teacher was that I could not remotely conceive of not trying to shag the kids. It seemed to me virtually impossible not to, and I was convinced that I'd be right in there, on day one. Were talking secondary school level here, by the way — and even then I don't think I'd have dabbled much below year ten, as it is now called. I just thought we ought to clear that up early on. At my old comprehensive…”

182

Miss Babs: “Thrilling news, Mrs O: you’ve just been elected the new Mayor of Manchesterford!” Mrs Overall: “Oh, I am pleased!” #AmbridgeAntiques #TheArchers

Mrs Overall, wearing a tabard as usual, and, unusually, a heavy mayoral chain, carries a tea tray with a mug on it. She looks very pleased.

050

Neil: “Your father’s a right ****.” Susan: “It’s just his way.” Father Jack: “Feck! Erse! Drink! Girls!” #TheArchers #FatherTed

Father Jack from Channel 4 sitcom ‘Father Ted’ (1995-1998).

053

Chris: “Grandad reckons you’re going to take all my money and live the life of Old Mother Riley!” #TheArchers #OldMotherRiley

061

Fallon: “I want to start by saying how much I’ve enjoyed being in #AmbridgeAntiques.” #TheArchers

Bert: “Sun cream? What a load of nonsense. Sun cream can’t stop climate change – we should embrace Mediterranean life!” #TheArchers

The headline from death cultist Allistair Health’s Telegraph column from 29 July 2026, written as the world burns around him: “Britain can't stop climate change. Scrap net zero and embrace Mediterranean life.”

051

Continuity: “And now it’s time for this week’s visit to #AmbridgeAntiques. And after last week’s exciting cliffhanger, let’s see if they’re any further on with mending that umbrella stand. I mean marriage.” #TheArchers

040

Miss Babs: “Great news, Mrs O – Mr Andy is bringing Number 10 to Manchesterford. And he wants you to be Minister for Macaroons!” Mrs Overall: “Oh, I am pleased!” #AmbridgeAntiques #TheArchers #Reshuffle

Mrs Overall, outside 10 Downing Street, wears a tabard as usual, and carries a tea tray with a mug on it. She looks very pleased.

0104

Fallon: “That was a great game!” Alice: “One game of of #ThatsNotMyChutney and we’re obsessed!” #TheArchers

082

Elizabeth: “Want to run my Croc Barn?” Fallon: “No thanks.” #TheArchers

A Croc shop. Selling Crocs. (The shoes.)

040

Continuity: “Hello. Now it’s time for Birthday Parade. Again. Seren and Nova Archer are four this week. Their granny says can they please have four beaver bounces each from Barry Beaver. No, they can’t. I’m an announcer, not Fatima Whitbread.” #AmbridgeAntiques #TheArchers #BirthdayParade

Susie Blake is thrilled to read out the birthdays in Birthday Parade, complete with wallaby hops from Wally Wallaby. (Within reason. She’s an announcer, not Fatima Whitbread.) From ‘Victoria Wood As Seen On TV’ (1985-1987).