The Archers

Fallon waves a white flag, and there’s bad news at Meadow Farm.

Lily catches her mum leaving to visit the hospital. Lily says she’s coming, everything is under control with Lower Loxley. At the hospital, Vince is upbeat and starts praising Lily for all the work she’s done to help Elizabeth. He asks about how all the repairs are going. Lily is hopeful they will reopen soon, but Elizabeth has her doubts. Vince suddenly has a twinge and suggests Elizabeth goes and gets a coffee. Vince asks Lily how her mum is really doing. He says that sitting up gave him jolts of pain and he nearly passed out, he j...

Alan is just trying to get through his Sunday duties. Usha laments how much of people’s time will be wasted before the formal complaint against Alan is dismissed. Alan says he hopes it will be dismissed, but talking about it won’t speed it up. He’s just grateful he can still do his job. As Alan gets into his cassock, he chats to Neil who has arrived to chaperone him. Alan knows Neil has been given an important safeguarding task and wants to make this as painless as possible. When Alan goes to get the plate, Neil says h...

Returning to Ambridge, Jazzer and Tracy look at all the damage the storm has caused. Tracy becomes emotional at the spot where the tree nearly injured Chelsea. At least Pip and Stella were able to go on their honeymoon. They’re unloading their suitcases when Helen approaches. She asks how their holiday was, before pointing out that a couple of fence panels have blown across the garden damaging some plant pots. Helen says she’ll leave it with Jazzer and Tracy to fix. Jazzer says isn’t it her boundary?

The Archdeacon arrives to talk to Alan. Alan w...

George arrives at Little Grange to check if Keira has gone to school. He offers to give her a lift, but Keira says the bus is fine. George says it is if she was actually going to school. Keira says all that time in A&E tired her out, and George points out they couldn’t find anything actually wrong with her. George makes her a cup of tea and forces her to talk. She says he’s being horrible. He argues that Will was in a state yesterday and it took an hour to calm him down; Keira know...

Zainab thinks her dad is avoiding her. Azra says he’s just on a plumbing job in Penny Hassett. Zainab says she can protect herself and that she’s already dealt with racism, recently from Lawrence at the golf club. Azra says she might have to arrest people she’s sympathetic to, but Zainab says she’s hardly the first Muslim woman to join the police. Azra says she would be the first in the family, to which Zainab points out their cousin Usman is a detective. Later, Azra says they’ll support Zainab’s decision.

Will is driving K...

Ed calls Storm a “little bruiser” whilst George recounts some of Will’s storm puns. Keira pulls a face at having to go to catch-up classes during half term. Storm then needs changing, getting them off the topic of school. As Ed double checks Keira has everything, she becomes teary and begs not to go. Keira says she’s getting flashbacks and can’t be around people. She pleads for one more day at home to recover as Ed says he’ll call the surgery. Ed and Emma agree she must go in tomorrow but can have today off. George says...

There’s chaos in the kitchen at No. 1 The Green with baby things everywhere. Ed and Will discuss baby Storm’s name. Will says he’d be besotted even if the baby was called Donut.

Akram proposes a family breakfast as Azra doesn’t have work until lunchtime, but Zainab says she wants to talk to them both. She has been thinking about her future, and she wants to help people for a career. Akram keeps interrupting until Zainab says she’d like to join the police. Akram is worried about the possible hostility she might face from the w...

Eddie and George are trying to rescue a turkey. George refers to the turkey as Stormzy as they slowly catch him. When George says he and Amber will be coming to the community orchard later, Eddie doubts anyone will turn up.

The Maliks are heading down to the orchard after Akram takes down his broken greenhouse at the allotment. Zainab offers to help but Akram is feeling sentimental. Elizabeth knocks on the door with a bouquet of flowers to thank Zainab. Akram’s shocked to hear how brave Zainab was during the storm. Azra makes Elizabeth a cu...

Pip and Josh catch up on the way to visit Vince in hospital. Pip can’t believe Josh wound them all up, pretending he wouldn’t be coming back for the wedding. Josh doesn’t yet know if he’ll return to Patagonia.

At Lower Loxley, Elizabeth admits to Lily that a long sleep and food have put her in a better place. She feels up to catching up with some work before visiting Vince. Lily admits that she really likes Harrison and hopes they’ll be accepted as a proper couple one day in the community. Elizabeth...

Zainab thinks she’s seen Joy’s missing cat Ena on the roof of a neighbour’s house. She borrows a pet carrier from the vets while Harrison fetches a ladder, and they work together to get it down. Harrison is hesitant – not because he’s afraid of heights, but because he doesn’t like handling cats. Joy is delighted - she’ll get Ena fed and checked over and let the cat chat know she’s been found.

Elizabeth is on a short visit home to Lower Loxley – Lily worries this this will be her fourth day at Vince’s sid...

Keira and Eddie are surveying the damaged trees at the Community Orchard the day after the storm. Many trees have been destroyed and there are hundreds of apples to collect before they start to rot. Keira’s glad to have mild injuries, enough to allow her off school for the day. Eddie comments on how the storm is good for the tree surgery business. After half an hour of collecting apples they’ve still not made an impact, so Keira suggests raising an army of apple collectors. As a community, they’ve all been through the mill so maybe making...

The storm continues into the early evening of Sunday. At Lower Loxley, David approaches Elizabeth with the news of Vince’s accident and that the ambulance can’t get through. Pip and Stella want to help and remember they have the tractor and front loader.

As Chelsea and Josh wait for the ambulance, Chelsea praises unconscious Vince for saving her life by pushing her out of the way of the tree. As they drive to the accident scene, Elizabeth reveals to David that she fought with Vince on Friday. She’s scared that she won’t get to say g...

It’s still Sunday and Ben and Ruth are enjoying the buffet and looking forward to the brides’ first dance. Ruth wishes Josh was there to be part of it – he shouldn’t be missing his own sister’s wedding over a girl he’s just met.

Out in the storm, Vince finally regains consciousness encouraged by Chelsea. She doesn’t want to move him, and can’t raise the alarm on either of their phones, which are trapped in the car. Vince is disorientated but Chelsea promises to run to get help. She hears a voice approach – it’s...

At Brookfield bungalow, Chelsea is hurricane-proofing Pip’s hair with extra spray when Stella comes in. The brides admire each other’s beauty – they’ve decided not to follow the bad luck superstitions of not seeing each other before the wedding. David arrives with the tractor decorated with fairy lights and Stella drives Pip to Lower Loxley in the pouring rain.

Clarrie and Eddie are ready to leave when they notice damage to the pole-barn roof. There’s no option but to move the turkeys to the shed a mile away. Once that’s done, they decide not to ventu...

Officially finished work to concentrate on Sunday’s wedding, Pip and Stella visit Lower Loxley to hear Elizabeth’s wet weather contingency plans. The brides-to-be are upbeat and confident. They’re determined to make the most of it, whatever the weather.

Stella reveals to Pip that she and David have possibly fallen out over her comments about Josh. David joins them with an apology about his outburst. He does actually agree with what Stella said about Josh on Wednesday and realises he’s been a hypocrite. David asks if he can still walk Stella down the aisle after al...

After two days of being ignored by Khalil, Keira has had enough and confronts him on the bus to school. He thinks she should know why he’s not talking to her, but she is adamant that she hasn’t got a clue. Later, Khalil reveals to Henry that Keira broke her promise, telling Henry about Khalil’s childhood cancer. Henry reveals that he actually found out online via a fundraising page featuring an old picture of Khalil. Henry suggests Khalil should apologise to Keira in person. She says this fallout could have been avoided by speaking to her direct...

At Berrow Farm, Martyn Gibson is concerned about costs in their challenging pig industry and warns Jazzer that they’ll need to make hefty savings. Jazzer fishes for information – does he mean job losses? Martyn assures him that Jazzer's job at least is safe. Jazzer is worried. Hannah’s put an offer in for her first house – and what about Neil?

After talking about the stormy forecast for the wedding, David shares with Brian that he feels Josh has been alienated from Brookfield, and now they’ve lost him. Brian argues that David and Ruth are doing much bette...

Keira and Henry wish Khalil a happy 16th birthday and promise him a treat at the school shop. Keira is looking forward to dancing and celebrating with the boys at the wedding, however she’s less impressed at having to go to school over half term for catch up lessons. Waiting in the shop queue, Henry almost lets slip that he knows about Khalil’s childhood cancer and covers himself, however Khalil isn’t fooled. When Keira arrives, Khalil’s sharp with them both, saying he doesn’t want them to buy him anything.

Freddie is annoyed that the ‘...

Pip and David discuss AI in farming, which they think can’t be ignored. Pip tells David that Stella’s mum is still coming to the wedding but won’t be walking Stella down the aisle. David offers his services instead of Stella’s mum. The weather forecast still isn’t good for the wedding and Josh messages to say he won’t be back from Patagonia in time.

Ruth wonders to David and Pip if Azra will keep up the hostilities forever, after a frosty meeting in the shop. David encourages Ruth not to give up, and to take...

Pip and Stella are in wedding planning mode and discuss their first dance, practicing lifting each other. On a more serious note, Pip is worried about the lack of silage stored for their pasture-fed herd. They’re running low even before the cows come inside for the winter. They’re interrupted by a message – Stella’s mum’s in A&E. Nothing is broken but she has a bad sprain and won’t be able to walk Stella down the aisle as planned. Pip suggests asking David to do it – Ruth will be with Pip. As Helen helps her brother harves...

At the Rewilding site, people gather on a beautiful day for Carol Tregorran’s send off. Fallon makes a fond joke about Carol. Jolene’s pleased to see her daughter laughing again, especially after seeing Harrison apparently move on so fast, with Lily. Fallon needs a blank canvas and Jolene suggests legal advice about Woodbine cottage. Fallon comforts emotional Anna, who’s ignoring calls from Alan. Anna is convinced Alan absolutely knew Carol’s money was in his bank account all along.

Meanwhile, anxious Alan is at home fretting about what to do, but tentatively arrives at the even...

Helen complains to Alistair about Lovell James’ price hikes and the impact on her and other farmers. At Alistair’s lack of conviction, Helen vows to take the fight on herself, by writing a letter to the company for others to sign. She’s cheered on by Paul, to Alistair’s annoyance. Later Alistair admits that while he supports Helen, he’s worried about how it looks for them. Paul states that Alistair needs to decide – either he agrees with Lovell James and backs them, or fights alongside his clients.

Usha is moved by Alan’s eulogy for Carol, and...

At the cider party for Amber and George’s baby, Eddie remarks on how the baby heralds the new generation of Grundys. Clarrie basks in how different things feel from a year ago, when George was still in prison. Clarrie notes how good Keira is with the baby, and how nice it is to see Keira and Amber getting on. Driving, Anne Marie is sober as Bill gets drunk on strong cider. Anne Marie tells Amber it was important to her to be here, but Amber comments that it was to stake her claim. Amber feels tired and irritable, an...

Anna feels she should have been more present for Carol, and Alan reassures Anna, praising her ideas for Carol’s Celebration of Life. They discuss the lovely Green Burial site, service plans, and Alan’s role. Harrison shares his condolences, and Anna’s full of praise for Alan’s way with Carol. Harrison’s invited with Fallon to the ceremony at Rewilding for Carol, and he explains that he and Fallon are no longer together. As they discuss the glow worm release that’s happening, Anna regrets that Carol won’t be around to see them mature enough to glow. Anna fee...

Keira has a horrible toothache, and Clarrie manages to get her an emergency appointment. Eddie takes Keira, after a brief stop to see the baby. The health visitor confirms all’s ok - Amber’s so relieved, having had concerns about feeding, and lets Keira have a hold of the baby. Amber feels silly for being so emotional but is reassured, as the health visitor offers support with pain and comfort – and points out that Keira is a great helper. Amber avoids Anne Marie coming over, convinced her own place is a tip. She takes the baby to the showro...

Elizabeth and Vince are getting ready for Vince’s birthday party. Lily is yet to appear and Elizabeth worries over her relationship with Harrison. With most of Ambridge, and the Casey clan, invited, Elizabeth hopes she did the right thing by encouraging Lily to invite Harrison, knowing how much the village loves gossip. Vince tries to comfort her and jokes that he works in the perfect line of work for body disposal should the relationship go sour. At Woodbine Cottage, Harrison tells Fallon he’s going to Vince’s party with Lily. Fallon says he guessed from his aftershave and do...

Indignantly, Brian visits Ian at work. Brian reports that Kirsty was very effusive when thanking him for his donation of a child’s gardening station to Rewilding Ambridge. Brian wants an answer on why Xander’s gift has been passed on. Ian answers that Adam didn’t want to accept the gift. Upset, Brian points out that Xander will be thinking his grandfather has abandoned him, and asks just how long is Adam going to keep him away? Lynda attends a business lunch alone with Martyn Gibson at Grey Gables. She gives him her dog field enterprise plans and he ask...

Admiring Clarrie’s knitted blanket on the baby, Susan hears from Amber that her son is still being called ‘baby’. Amber’s had some great products from sponsors and feels it’s nearly time to do some baby content before she loses followers. Susan inadvertently tells Amber about Eddie’s betting book. Later, at Grange Farm, Susan prompts Eddie to apologise to Amber. He defends the action, saying it was just to get George and Amber some name ideas, plus he’d hoped but failed to get them some money on the side. Amber says she was upset not to be told, bu...

Freddie and Elizabeth are up early delivering clothes options for Vince’s party to The Stables. They catch Lily having breakfast with Harrison and it’s uncomfortable. Later, planning the wedding, Pip and Elizabeth look through crates of games to occupy the young wedding guests. Freddie will teach the macarena and start the night with family friendly tunes, before moving on to Motown classics and noughties indie to please both of the brides. Discussing Lily, Pip defends the issue of age gap relationships, with her and Stella as an example. Elizabeth doesn’t sound convinced. However later, visiting Lily, she is...

Brian and Martyn are watching the stags rutting when Lynda approaches to ask Brian about having the dog field at Home Farm. His outlay would be the installation of secure deer fencing and a water supply. Brian thinks the idea of letting dogs roam wild on his land after the attack is absurd. Even if secure, how could he look David in the eye if he backed it? In The Bull, Martyn tells Lynda that Brian had been harsh and the idea has potential. He’d be confident that he could get a positive majority board decision if she an...

Eddie and Emma are impressed at Little Grange when George straps the baby to his chest in his sling, calming him. It’s a little crowded at home, and Eddie says they’re always welcome to come up to Grange Farm for some space. She promises to bring round some Victoria sponge which she’s made as Ed’s birthday cake. When Eddie arrives at The Green bearing a supply of Clarrie’s home-baked food, George sensitively tells him that Amber’s not sure about Joe as a first name for the baby. She wants something more unusual. To George’s rel...

As Amber breastfeeds, she wonders to George whether the baby suits the name Joe. George hovers around wanting to help, but being not much use to Amber, goes out with a shopping list and to walk Holly.

Susan has just served Harrison in the shop and gossips to George, wondering if he and Fallon have got back together now that he’s moved back into Woodbine. Susan remarks that George’s list will need a supermarket, and she promises to fetch the items after her shift.

George visits Eddie and helps him load troughs into a va...

Amber is craving ice cream so drives over to the shop where she meets Keira and Brad. She shares that she’s been up since 6am with backache and Keira points out that it sounds like she’s definitely in labour. Amber agrees and they ask Robert, who’s arrived to shop, to take Amber to the birthing centre.

Initially uncertain of going with him, Robert re-introduces himself to Amber, puts a picnic rug down on his back seat and asks Brad to accompany her, all the while keeping them distracted with birth tales from his first marria...

Starting a batch of Sterling Gold, Helen shares with Tracy that Slavko is coping well with milking the increased herd. Helen has paid extra for fast-track tickets for the family to go to a theme park at half term. Jazzer endures giving a struggling Brad another driving lesson. Jazzer shares that working in the pig industry at the moment is hard. However there’s been good news from Jim, visiting the ruins of ancient Carthage – he’s happy for the Riley to be sold. As they finish the lesson, Brad’s attempt at reverse parking ends in disaster for Helen’s...

Anna visits Willow Farm, where Kirsty is trying to relax by reading one of Kate’s fantasy books. Anna wonders if Rewilding Ambridge would host her mother’s funeral. Not the interment, which will be at the green burial ground, but the celebration of her life. It will be pagan in nature and quite unconventional, and Kirsty is happy with the ideas. She tells Anna that she’s actually off sick with high blood pressure, but that Rex will be able to help. Despite needing to rest, Kirsty decides to do some research into pagan ceremonies. Kate arrives and tells...

Pip hasn’t slept well worrying about the child-free wedding policy. Deciding to invite Seren and Nova, Stella passes on the news to a delighted Natasha. However when Pip tells Rosie, she’s stroppy as Rosie finds them annoying – can’t they invite her best friend Maddie, Lottie’s daughter? Stella and Pip think this would be ok, but then what about Xander? And Stella’s family’s children? They jokingly suggest eloping.

Anna shares with Alan that she feels responsible for her mother’s death. If she hadn’t put the bat outside, Carol wouldn’t have gone to look fo...

Ruth calls in at Glebe Cottage, waking Anna, who realises she’s late for court in Bristol. Ruth suggests that Anna should perhaps call in sick, or ask for compassionate leave. Anna says there’s no time to instruct alternative counsel, even if she wanted to. She accuses Ruth of interference when she tells Anna that her stress could affect the case and her career. When Anna returns home, Ruth is at Glebe. Ruth shares that she lost her mother very suddenly. Anna replies that Ruth’s mother was much younger and her death unexpected. Carol was 95 and in hospit...

George and Eddie collect apples in the community orchard for cider-making. George reports that Amber is overdue and uncomfortable, but that he can’t wait for his cast to come off on Tuesday. Eddie is quiet and thoughtful and shares that he’s thinking about his dad, Joe, who would have been 105 years old. They reflect on his life and Eddie feels he doesn’t have the same legacy to pass on. George disagrees and says he’ll be able to talk about him to his own children in the orchard in the future. George tells his Grandpa that they’re...

Lily cautiously approaches Fallon at the Cruck Barn and asks if she should avoid Lower Loxley. She doesn’t want to make things awkward for Fallon. Fallon doesn’t need her to, and Lily stresses that she wasn’t having an affair with Harrison, no matter what Kenton thinks. Fallon doesn’t think they were, and doesn’t want Lily and Harrison to hide away on her account. They agree that they needn’t avoid each other, they will be civilised but not over-friendly.

Anna and Usha are excitedly visiting The Laurels ahead of Carol’s proposed respite stay...