The Archers

Writer: Sarah Hehir
Director: Kim Greengrass
Editor: Jeremy Howe
Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood
David Archer …Timothy Bentinck
Pip Archer … Daisy Badger
Jolene Archer … Buffy Davis
Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman 
Miranda Elliott … Lucy Fleming
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
George Grundy … Angus Stobie
Will Grundy … Philip Molloy
Brad Horrobin … Taylor Uttley
Alistair Lloyd … Michael Lumsden
Adam Macy … Andrew Wincott  
Kate Madikane ... Perdita Avery
Kirsty Miller …. Annabelle Dowler 
Oliver Sterling … Michael Cochrane
Bill Gordon ... Matthew Gravelle
Anne-Marie Gordon … Kate Ashfield
PC Nicola Trueman … Clare Corbett

Brad’s showing Kate how to make beds at Grey Gables when they hear a noise in the wardrobe and Fletch the budgie flies. Alerted by the commotion, Oliver helps catch Fletch, stating they can reunite the Maliks with their budgie. Brad continues showing Kate the housekeeping ropes, chatting about Zainab handing Fletch back to Akram, before moving on to unrequited love. Brad reflects sadly on his doomed relationship with Amber, without mentioning her name. Kate’s advice is to do everything he can to move on, because he deserves better in life – but only Brad can make that happen.
Whilst waiting at The Bull to speak to Miranda, Brian tells Kirsty he’s relieved David no longer blames him for the dog attack. Kirsty and Jolene are impressed by George and Amber’s social media campaign for the Borchester Show, before Miranda walks in. When Brian asks for a word, she tells him there’s nothing to say and walks off. Later, Brian tells Jolene he’s going round to see Miranda. Jolene reckons it’s a bad idea, but Brian’s determined. However, Brian finds Oliver sharing a nightcap with Miranda on the terrace at Home Farm. She tells Brian frostily her sympathies are with Adam over Home Farm, then rejects Brian’s request to take him back.
Kirsty shares reassuring news with Kate about her unborn baby’s blood test results before Brian turns up, wallowing in self-pity. After giving him some blunt advice Kate softens, since she wouldn’t wish a broken heart on anyone.

Before Bill goes to meet Amber at his car showroom Anne Marie wonders if Amber’s avoiding her after things went badly last time they met. Bill can see Amber might have taken exception to Anne Marie’s suggestion of an abortion, while Anne Marie concedes she could have been more subtle. Bill wants to be sure they don’t scare Amber off again. Later, when they meet, Amber makes a good sales pitch to Bill, while Anne Marie apologises for last time. She wants to be part of Amber’s life but accepts she’s made mistakes, before admitting she’s not thrilled by Amber’s choice of partner. But they still love her. Amber answers their baby questions awkwardly, then Bill invites her for lunch.
David and Pip are still shaken after yesterday’s terrible events. David feels Brian could have done more as landowner to protect the sheep, while Pip will get more warning signs printed. PC Trueman calls – they haven’t traced the dog yet, but forensics are working on the evidence they gathered. Later, she takes their statements, assuring them the police are doing all they can to tackle these incidents. When David expresses doubt about continuing with the Show, Pip says he can’t let this defeat him. Then Amber rings to tell David that Bill’s agreed to take the trade stand.
David and Pip were thrilled, Amber tells George, before admitting she had lunch with her mum and dad. But Amber insists, she’s not going to let them buy their way back into her life.

David and Pip make an extremely shocking discovery out in the fields and which includes some very graphic descriptions.
Brian, Alistair and Jolene muse on Jim’s possible whereabouts on his travels. Alistair’s missing him and will let them know when the first of Jim’s postcards arrives. Brian wishes he could still go on holiday with Miranda. He sees himself as the victim in all Home Farm’s current travails.
Whilst checking on their sheep at Home Farm, David and Pip make a terrible discovery: the sheep have been attacked by a dog, with up to fifteen dead and many injured. David’s extremely upset but Pip helps him focus on calling Alistair, while she calls the emergency services, with the dog still nearby. Alistair then gets David’s call and Brian sets off after him.
PC Nicola Trueman establishes the facts with David, but thinks they’ve probably missed their chance to catch the dog. Alistair gets to work on treating the surviving ewes and lambs, with shocked David’s help, while Nicola and Pip take footage in the field. They both despair at how frequently this kind of incident happens, despite signs all over the countryside. Nicola outlines the investigation procedure then recalls meeting Brian, Home Farm’s owner, recently. Meanwhile, David angrily casts aspersions on dog owners while Alistair saves one ewe at least. Brian is full of righteous indignation when he arrives, before David takes him to task in front of Nicola and Pip for not managing his land properly. David demands compensation, before accusing Brian of being unfit to be in charge of a farm!

George tells Amber his big surprise for the baby should be ready tonight. Amber’s been putting off asking her dad to take the trade stand at Borchester Show but George persuades her to go for it. Later, Amber thinks the upcycled Grundy family cot George reveals is gorgeous, before Bill replies belatedly to her message about the trade stand, asking her to meet for a talk.
Seeing George fly his drone over the Green Adam baits him with remarks about Brian backing him and how well he’s recovered from the attack. George has heard Brian’s ‘lost it’, then mentions New Year’s Eve, realising Adam knows Brian was there. George mentions Ruairi confessing to the attack, and presumes Adam will try to protect Brian, like Ruairi. Adam denies this, wishing George well. Later, Adam helps Kate and Alice prepare Xander and Martha’s sleepover. Adam declares he’s done with fighting for control of Home Farm, revealing that Brian passed his mental capacity test. Alice is hugely relieved Brian hasn’t got dementia, but Adam felt like Brian enjoyed crushing him. When Brian arrives, ready to babysit as previously arranged, Adam tells him to go home, swapping barbs before Brian leaves. Alice and Kate try talking Adam round from shutting Brian out of Xander’s life, but Adam’s determined to protect his son. Brian returns after Adam’s gone out, but Kate can’t let Brian say goodnight to Xander, under instruction from Adam. Since Brian’s the winner of this family feud maybe he needs to think if it’s really worth it?