The Archers

Writers: Sarah Hehir, Katie Hims & Sarah McDonald Hughes
Director: Peter Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe
Brian Aldridge… Charles Collingwood
Ben Archer … Ben Norris
David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Ruth Archer … Felicity Finch
Helen Archer … Louiza Patikas
Pat Archer … Patricia Gallimore
Tony Archer … David Troughton
Lilian Bellamy … Sunny Ormonde
Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman
Justin Elliott … Simon Williams
Miranda Elliott … Lucy Fleming
Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone
Eddie Grundy … Trevor Harrison
Ed Grundy … Barry Farrimond
Emma Grundy … Emerald O’Hanrahan
George Grundy … Angus Stobie
Tracy Horrobin … Susie Riddell
Esme Mulligan … Ellie Pawsey

Ruth susses something’s up with Ben, who’s been asked by Lily about moving into Josh’s room at the Stables. He’s decided to say no, having seen how upset David and Ruth are about Josh leaving. They admit they are a bit sad, especially with the bad feelings involved. But they’ll try to put things right and hope Josh comes round. As for Ben though, he doesn’t want to abandon them after they’ve been so supportive through his darker moments. They saved his life. Ruth gets a funny message from Josh, then she and David tell Ben he should take the room if he wants to. Later, David and Ruth agree their kids are brilliant.
George asks Brian for the money he promised him and wants to tell Brian his business plan, which no longer involves drones. George persuades Brian to go for a walk, explaining he wants to invest in five rare breed ewes. A farmer has offered to put them to his ram for breeding. George will ask Esme to keep them at Meadow Farm, but one day George plans on having his own farm. Brian’s response is crushing: it’s not going to happen. They agreed the money would be for George’s drone business, not this. It’s far too risky. Brian can only see George coming back to him for more money and he’s not having it. Angry George accuses Brian of lying about the offer to pay him and threatens to expose Brian, who walks off.

George promises Esme he’ll be back after his dentist appointment to help with the Lady Day celebration of her tenancy – unless she’s changed her mind about wanting him there. Esme insists they’re a team, before George tells her the truth about going to his tag fitting. He then wonders to Amber if he’s done the right thing.
Ed and Eddie choose cider for the celebration at Meadow Farm. Ed’s worried some of his regular work clients haven’t been in touch.
Pat tells Esme it’s the forty-eighth anniversary of their tenancy at Bridge Farm, so they can celebrate that too. Walking back with Amber, George admits he’s dreading seeing Esme after rushing off before. Ed and Eddie arrive with the cider, helped by Amber, while George goes ahead. Ed then realises why his clients are ghosting him: because Eddie left them in the lurch, selling his regular supply of hay to the highest bidder instead.
When George offers Esme his notice she turns it down, telling him she couldn’t manage without him. She offers to write a support letter to Reg, his probation officer, countering Derek Fletcher’s complaint. George then introduces Esme before she makes a speech, thanking people including Pat and Tony for all their help and generosity. Esme finishes by thanking George, her righthand man. She declares he’s such a hard grafter, she’s really fallen on her feet. George turns down the offer of a cider from Eddie, then whispers to Amber that Esme’s offered him a year’s contract. He hopes he can finally put the last year behind him.

David and Tony exchange thoughts on Esme’s Lady Day gathering and Josh’s sudden departure. David then confides his and Ruth’s doubts over their handling of the Brookfield inheritance. Tony sympathises, telling David about the Anguses and how he thinks Tom and Helen might see the future of Bridge Farm. Having your children tell you what to do is so hard, they agree. It’ll be the same with Pip before long, David thinks, before hoping he and Tony get more time for more chats like this.
Brian confesses to Alice that he’s nervous about moving back into Home Farm, before Alice suggests he’s been acting out of character lately. Even Lynda thinks something’s up. Brian dismisses their concerns, assuring Alice he’s fine, before conceding he occasionally fears he’s failed his children. Alice disagrees, even if Ruairi has had a wobble recently. More cheerfully Brian then claims full credit for bringing Rex and Alice together. Later, Miranda joins Brian and Alice for supper. Alice tells Miranda she’s happy about them moving into Home Farm, reassuring Miranda that Brian is happy too. If he's been stressed recently it’s nothing to do with the move or her. After the meal Brian admits he hears Jennifer’s voice in his ear when he’s cooking, before Alice leaves. Miranda then pulls Brian up on an earlier comment that the Home Farm house will be hers, not his. She wants it to feel like his home too, but queries whether it’s what he wants. Brian promises her he does, with all his heart.

Helen finds Tony with his Anguses, but he’s unwilling to talk about them. Later though Helen ambushes Tony in the kitchen, before launching into the farm audit’s conclusion that the Anguses are a drain on Bridge Farm’s finances. Tony argues strongly that the cattle represent years of tradition. Helen has no idea how much they mean to him. Helen takes refuge in the Farm Shop with Tracy, telling her she’s clashed with Tony. It sounds terrible, but she’s sure she’s in the right. Helen then discovers her offer has been accepted for the house on the Green. Helen’s suggestion to celebrate becoming new neighbours proves awkward though, with Helen not appreciating the contrast between her and Tracy’s circumstances.
It’s the day of George’s court hearing, but he hasn’t told his parents it’s happening. He has second thoughts though, and Amber goes to see if Emma will accompany them. Emma has to lie to Tracy to get out of helping her with Bert. Amber explains to Emma the hearing is because George was reported for urinating in public, by Derek Fletcher who boasted about reporting him. They both think it’s unfair, before Amber mentions the possibility of George being given an alcohol monitoring tag and Emma agrees to go. Under Emma’s instruction George braces himself for whatever will happen next. Afterwards, frustrated George hates being told by Amber and Emma that he’s better off not drinking. The tag’s going to be fitted on Wednesday, the same day as Esme’s celebration and the last thing George wants is her or anyone else to know about it.