The Archers

Lily attempts to build bridges, and Eddie is on a quest.

At The Stables, Harrison is trying to find a clean bowl and questions if it annoys Lily that neither of her flatmates can use a dishwasher. Lily says Grey Gables are asking when she’ll be back, but she’s still needed at Lower Loxley. Harrison says the milk is off and invites Lily over to his. Lily is not comfortable, even with Fallon out working. Josh emerges half-dressed from the lounge to their surprise. Harrison offers Josh a lift to Brookfield on the way to drop Lily’s phone at Lower Loxley. When Chelsea spots them, Josh says he’ll walk instead. He offers to be an ear for Chelsea until he returns to Patagonia. Josh is praising Chelsea’s horsebox and compares his own business. Chelsea can’t help but scoff when he complains about only inheriting 30 acres and Glebe Cottage. She points out he’s had a headstart.

In the Lower Loxley office, Elizabeth is telling Fallon of the issues the abattoir is facing before asking about Deck the Halls. Lily arrives shocked to see Elizabeth working. She says her and Fallon can manage so Elizabeth can go visit Vince. When Harrison gives Lily her phone, she tentatively asks if he’s seen Fallon. Harrison says this treading on eggshells makes him feel like they’re having an affair. Elizabeth walks in as they kiss goodbye. Lily realises Harrison has dropped off the wrong phone, but when she goes to give it him, she finds Harrison awkwardly asking Fallon if Lily can come over to the cottage tonight. At the cottage, Lily apologises to Fallon about this.

Lynda is pitching all the changes her dog field would require to Martyn Gibson. As much as he loves the idea, it’s a business venture and BL will require a share of the profits, and a monthly rent. Lynda is taken back as this wasn’t the plan.

Freddie tries to revive his school meals idea from before the attack last year to a very busy Donal. Donal says until Vince says that he wants to do it, he’s not doing it. They both receive a message saying Midwoods Foods has gone bust. Donal starts to plan for the fallout of this problem as they’re going to be left with a few hundred thousand pounds’ worth of pork meat on their hands. He tells Freddie to contact suppliers. Later, Donal catches Freddie and suggests a couple of options but says they need Vince’s knowledge.

At Berrow Farm, Neil and Jazzer are on a tea break when Jazzer quizzes Neil about chaperoning Alan. Neil says it was meant to be secret. Jazzer apologizes for letting slip that Martyn is thinking of downsizing the team. Neil says it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Martyn interrupts Neil and Jazzer’s conversation to tell them about the Midwoods news, but then questions why they were talking about redundancies. Neil takes the blame and says he suspected changes were coming. When Freddie calls asking to delay the next batch of pigs, Neil and Jazzer point out that it would only work for a couple days. Lynda calls to talk more about the dog field, but a busy Martyn promises to get back to her.

At Lower Loxley, the staff prepare for the two-minute silence as Lily says everyone is really excited about the reopening. When Elizabeth says she’s not visiting Vince today, Lily becomes concerned. Freddie swings by the office to ask if there’s anything he could do to help. Lily starts talking about all the insurance paperwork, losing Freddie. He moves onto his ideas for the abattoir and how he wants to show Vince the business is in safe hands. Lily says she’s noticed something’s changed with Elizabeth and Vince. She’s worried Elizabeth is spiralling.

After Alan leads the wreath-laying at the war memorial, Lynda comes to say it was a very moving service. She says more could learn from Alan’s words including those making comments about Alan. Alan starts pointing out who was absent to Usha who tries to calm his nerves by saying they must have had ordinary reasons for not attending. Lynda bumps into Alan on a stroll, she lets slip about the additional comments online.

Later, Usha visits Elizabeth. When asked about Alan, she can’t hide her distress and tells Elizabeth that Alan has been accused of stealing £6,000 from Carol Tregorran, and now he’s not allowed to work unchaperoned. They start to talk about Vince, and how helpless he is. Elizabeth knows you lash out at those closest, but she doesn’t want to be a punchbag. Hearing a noise, she finds the twins eavesdropping. They volunteer to visit Vince, but Elizabeth says he just needs time.

Elizabeth is visiting her dad’s grave when she bumps into Alan, who asks after Vince. In the hospital, Vince won’t stop messaging Freddie, but Elizabeth says he can’t run the abattoir from his hospital bed. She asks if he’s heard more about the rehabilitation centre. Vince is tired and asks her about Lower Loxley. When Vince shifts uncomfortably, he snaps at her questions asking for her to get a nurse. After they’ve changed the bed and Vince’s gown, Elizabeth says they’ve got to be honest with each other. Vince confesses he wants to scream and smash things, instead he’s got strangers wiping his backside. He yells at Elizabeth to get out.

Susan and Neil are bickering when Neil says that she shouldn’t be angry at Jazzer. Neil says maybe redundancy wouldn’t be a bad thing. He’s nearly seventy and the mortgage is paid off. Alan arrives to be chaperoned on a visit to Pauline. In the car, Alan apologises for making Neil miss bonfire night, but the conversation shifts to Neil’s report to the Archdeacon. Alan is grateful to have Neil on his side. After praying with a parishioner at the hospital, Alan and Neil run into Elizabeth. She’s been debating whether to go back upstairs to Vince. She asks if Alan would go to speak to him, he agrees but when he tries to go, Neil stops him. Elizabeth didn’t realise Alan needed a chaperone and says not to bother. Elizabeth returns to Vince who tells her to go home. He gives her the silent treatment until she leaves before crying alone.

The celebration at the Orchard is getting into the swing as Alistair helps clear space for Susan’s Malvern pudding. He asks where Neil and Alan are and Denise says she doesn’t blame Alan staying away. They start to question Susan until she’s saved by Esme who wants to thank the vets for their kindness. Later, Josh is telling anecdotes from Patagonia and watching the World Cup. Esme is disappointed when Josh says he’s got his return ticket booked. She confesses to him about the state of Meadow Farm and the fall out with George. Josh says she’s just got to hang on, but Esme says for how long for when everything is a trainwreck.

Jazzer is delighted when the housing association confirms the fence is shared ownership between them and Helen. He says he’s going to tell Helen at the Orchard tonight. Tracy says no way as this evening is about bringing everyone together. Jazzer is watching the pennies and says whilst we can afford half now, they need to save. Tracy smells a rat and demands Jazzer spill. At the orchard, Tracy asks why Jazzer is worried if he’s been told either Neil or Helen will get the chop. Tracy tries to get Jazzer to spill the beans to Susan who thinks it’s him who’s spread the Alan gossip. Tracy says it was Bert who started the gossip, and then says Jazzer’s keeping Martyn Gibson’s secrets. As the fireworks start, Jazzer crumbles and says Neil might be out of a job.

Anna is meeting Helen at the Tearoom. The auction valuer came round to Glebe cottage and her Dad’s Georgian furniture isn’t worth much as no one wants brown furniture. They move onto the complaint against Alan. Anna says there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute so the complaint was all she could do. Fallon interrupts the conversation saying she doesn’t believe Alan is taking advantage of anyone vulnerable. Anna becomes annoyed because why was this confidential investigation the topic of conversation in the pub?

At Lower Loxley, Lily is checking on the pop-up café in the gallery when Fallon apologies for yesterday. She really wants to work with Lily to make the workshop programme work but of course Lily has a lot on her plate. Lily becomes teary. She can’t help but open up about everything she has to do to keep Lower Loxley going. When Fallon asks if there’s anyone to help Lily, Lily says there’s only so much family can do. She’s worried her mum’s depression will come back. Fallon offers to help with Deck-the-Hall to take some of the stress.

Alan and Neil are planning Alan’s visits to parishioners. He’s sorry Neil has the hassle of having to chaperone him. Anna bursts into the church calling for Alan. Anna states the Clergy’s code of practice says any attempt to put pressure on the complainant is improper, so why is Alan going around currying favour in Ambridge. Alan tries to explain but Neil interrupts saying the two of them shouldn’t even be talking. Alan asks Neil to tell the Archdeacon what happened

Alistair and Denise are inspecting a wounded cow. Esme says they got injured in the storm. She confesses the cost of a call out put her off but the cow started lying down a lot. Alistair calmly explains unfortunately it’s too late, the kindest option is to put her down. Esme apologies for not staying till the end. Alistair says the cow felt nothing. Esme laments about the costs, she should have called them out when it first happened. Alistair takes pity on her and says he won’t invoice for the visit. Denise says head office won’t be happy. Alistair says they don’t need to know.

Alan asks Lily about Vince, before waving Fallon over. Fallon says she needs to talk to Lily about the workshop programme. Lily says to find her in the office and heads off. Alan apologises, forgetting things might be awkward between them. Fallon tries to ask Alan about something she heard in The Bull, but he rushes off. Lily’s on the phone to Harrison, she quickly ends the call when Fallon arrives. Lily’s not sure how much help she’ll be, but Elizabeth won’t be back for a while. The storm means all the plans must change. Fallon says they can’t just fire her. Lily must go meet the fire inspector, saying she’ll think about it.

In the Bull, Alistair is shocked to hear that Alan is coming to the Orchard on Thursday. Alan wonders why and Fallon says there’s a rumour going around. Alan complains about the insinuation of his motives for visiting lonely people when it’s a vicar’s job!

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 just doesn’t want Elizabeth fretting. In the car, Elizabeth says she knows Vince is putting on a front. She needs Lily to not worry about her, and to focus on Lower Loxley for Elizabeth.

As they search for Susan’s casserole dish, Tracy moans about Jazzer’s obsession with not paying for the fence. She thinks the housing association will say it’s their fence in the end anyway. Susan becomes distracted and says she really shouldn’t tell Tracy this: Anna has accused Alan of stealing her mom’s money. Tracy brings the missing dish to the shop to return it. She starts gossiping about Alan and the village fete unaware that Usha is there. Usha questions how Tracy knows about this confidential investigation. Usha is frustrated by the accusation and knows the Archdeacon made it clear this was a sensitive matter. She’s disappointed they would gossip openly about it.

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 he’s changed the code and asks Alan to leave the room. During Alan’s sermon, Usha tries to get sympathy out of Neil who takes his duty seriously. Later Alan tells Usha he got to try to rise above the complaint.

At No. 6 The Green, Jazzer is trying to prop up the old fence panels. Tracy says the posts are too rotten. Tracy just wants to buy new panels to sort it quickly. Jazzer says they don’t even know the fence is theirs, and Helen is just trying to put the bill on them. Jazzer rambles about how Helen even made Brad pay for driving in her gate. Tracy tries to help him but the panels fall over, revealing Helen who has been listening to the whole conversation. Helen says she thought the housing association would pay, but Jazzer says he’s not even sure it is their fence. Jazzer is convinced that Helen knows it’s not their fence, but he needs proof.