Writer: Liz John

David Archer…. Timothy Bentinck

Freddie’s looking forward to hosting the Academy Trust for lunch at the abattoir and suggests newly returned Rochelle takes a charcuterie producer on a guided tour instead of packing with her bad arm. Freddie promises her a security pass for the day with full access to the site. Once he’s gone Rochelle phones Saskia – it has to be today!

Helen, David and Vince are all there for the lunch, while Rex shocks Rochelle by turning up for the guided tour with the charcuterie manager. Once the tour’s over Rochelle and Rex head to the Conference room where Rex joins Helen and David. Rochelle goes outside to find Saskia and the other protesters, including pushy Carl. But there are more of them than Rochelle was expecting and they’ve got balaclavas. She tries warning them off, but they’ve hacked into a big screen at Felpersham Shopping Centre, determined to live-stream the protest. Rochelle pleads with them to stop, but Carl grabs her pass and lets them into the building, shutting Rochelle out.

The protesters storm into the Conference room, barricade themselves in, then handcuff Vince and Freddie. Rex confronts Carl, who threatens both him and Freddie with a broken bottle, before David assures Carl they’ll listen to what they have to say. Saskia states her case against animal agriculture to camera, picking out farmers as villains of the piece. As the protesters leave Saskia claims they’ve poisoned Casey Meats produce, before locking Vince and the others inside. Once they’ve gone Helen unlocks the handcuffs and remembers she’s seen Saskia before, with Rochelle in Felpersham.

At Beechwood Tom and Natasha are worried about the disruptive effect Jack and Henry moving in will have on their family set-up. They’re not sure Helen is even seriously looking for anywhere else yet. When Helen appears she mentions several ground rules she has, which Tom in particular thinks might be rather challenging for them. Later, Tom checks in at the Packhouse, where Helen’s covering the veg-box packing for Adam. Helen gets irritated when Tom suggests a potential property rental for her, before leaving Tom to finish the boxes himself. Back at Beechwood later Tom apologises, then confesses about the vase Seren broke. Helen’s surprisingly phlegmatic though and offers herself as a babysitter so Natasha and Tom can go out tonight.

Tracy helps Lynda with a belated tidy-up after the Cricket Pavilion was left in a mess, following defeat in the previous home match. Natasha approaches with her proposed options for teas and catering, with Lynda determined that Ambridge will prove its worth on that front at least. Later, Tracy promises Lynda the changing rooms won’t be left in such a state again and suggests Fallon as an alternative source for the catering. They then open a parcel containing their newly designed kit, provided by Vince, which Tracy loves. Lynda spots an old bat under a bench which looks like it might’ve belonged to the mystery RAF man serving in Ambridge during the War: Reginald D. Natasha then rings and assertive Lynda persuades her to offer her best tea at the lowest price for Sunday, promising it’ll be win-win for both of them.

On his boat Rex encourages Rochelle to do her physio exercises so she can return to work, but it’s very painful. Rex then leaves for a meeting. While he’s gone Saskia turns up and tells Rochelle their protest group is ready for action. Specifically Saskia means Rochelle and Casey Meats, putting the pressure on her to return to work asap.

At the Shop Zainab tells Joy how much Azra adored the new wedding photos. They chat about Jack and Henry joining Helen at Beechwood tomorrow, and how crowded it will be. Zainab mentions a possible job for Rochelle as front-of-house at a new vegan restaurant in Felpersham – it’d be much more her thing than the abattoir. Initially Joy doesn’t want to interfere, but changes her mind later and contacts Zainab to get the restaurant’s number.

Joy then goes to see Rochelle on the boat and is supportive about her elbow and the cricket, before giving Rochelle the number of Zainab’s contact, explaining about the position coming up. When Rex returns he agrees it sounds perfect. Joy offers to bring over a vegan moussaka she’s cooking, plus a meaty version for Rex, for taking care of Rochelle – though Rex and Rochelle quickly assure her they’re just mates. Then Rochelle disappears inside to take a call from Saskia, who insists Vince needs to be present for their protest at the abattoir – and it has to be this week. But Rochelle makes it clear she’s not ready yet, so it’s not going to happen.

At Beechwood Natasha throws away a vase gifted by Helen that Seren has broken, worried how Helen will react when she moves in today – she’s bound to notice. Now they’ll all be squeezing in together Natasha frets to Joy about Tom stressing, until Helen finds somewhere else to rent. When Helen arrives later she finds most of the cupboards already full and the twins’ mess everywhere. Joy gives a hand carrying all grateful Helen’s stuff in, then has to explain to Natasha about things being awkward between her and Rochelle.

Lynda phones Joy and fulminates about the shockingly poor last-minute cricket tea organised for the previous home match by Freddie. Later, at the Tearoom, Pat tells Chelsea about the slideshow of Peggy’s wartime photos they’re putting together as a surprise for Tony and Lilian. Chelsea mentions Elizabeth’s exhibition at Lower Loxley that she and Brad helped with, featuring a mysterious RAF officer, Reginald. Lynda informs Chelsea that Robert managed to identify his role in the RAF. Lynda then badgers Pat about getting Natasha to provide the cricket teas this season, starting with next Sunday’s match against Lawrence’s Roserran-in-the-Vale, before Pat bemoans the manner in which she and Tony were fired from the team.

When Natasha gets back from helping Helen move in she’s delighted to hear from Pat about Lynda’s tea request, so long as they’re not expecting it for free. Bullish Natasha reckons it’ll help rebuild the Tearoom’s reputation, then reassures Pat that everything will be fine with Helen and the boys at Beechwood too.

Freddie frets as the cricket team struggle in their match against Adderton, while Rochelle fends off calls from Saskia about accessing the lairage at the abattoir. Later, while batting, Rochelle’s struck painfully on the elbow by a shot from Rex. After he’s out guilt-stricken Rex takes Rochelle to hospital, where to their relief they discover she hasn’t broken her arm. Rochelle then makes fun of Rex being overly concerned, before accepting his offer to stay over with him rather than face Joy making a fuss and everything degenerating into a row.

On her wedding anniversary Azra is packed off to a spa day at Grey Gables by Zainab and Khalil. It’s a ploy to get her out of the way while Akram is photographed in his wedding outfit, as part of their plan to replace the pictures lost in the sewage spill. The outfit needs letting out so Akram heads to Birmingham with Zainab and Khalil, where they have lunch while a friend does the tailoring. The photoshopping process is explained to Akram, who loves the photos they’ll be using of Azra in her wedding outfit taken recently by Chelsea. They’ll be stopping at the Botanical Gardens on their way home for colourful background shots, plus adding in guests from pictures emailed by Adil. But Akram thinks adding Azra’s parents, who weren’t there originally, is a step too far. Later, both Azra and Akram are delighted by the newly created digital “wedding album”, spotting Khalil and Zainab peeping out of one picture just as if they were really there!

Joy and Leonard enjoy their walk up Lakey Hill inspecting the footpaths and reminiscing about street parties gone by. Suddenly Joy spots one of David’s very graphic notices about the dangers of neospora. She’s shocked. Leonard starts to dismantle the sign just as David approaches. Leonard explains to annoyed David that he feels the notices are inappropriate, but David counters that the reality of the image is exactly what farmers can face if people don’t heed the signs. They start to argue, and Joy intervenes. She agrees with David on this as it happens. It’s an important message. She persuades the men to apologise to one another, and David agrees to put the sign somewhere more unobtrusive.

Rex needs an explanation from Rochelle as to why she cancelled on him. She assures him she likes him and isn’t playing games. He’s not the problem. Before she can expand on this Rex moves in to kiss her. He can’t get her out of his head, and wonders if this could be a thing. Later Rex admits his heart rules his head in romance – when he’s in he’s all in. Rochelle rows back on their earlier moment, saying she just wants some fun. She can’t commit to more; she might have to leave Ambridge soon. Rex isn’t up for a casual arrangement, and he doesn’t want to start something that doesn’t mean anything. He finds her tricky to read – perhaps it’s good they’re being honest with each other now. They agree to park things as just friends.

Ben gives David a hand on the yard, appreciating the screen break. David jokes that Ben’s NHS work is to give him a break from the family farm. Ben observes his Dad can’t resist another dig over his views on inheritance tax. Joy asks if anyone from Brookfield’s available to help to check out the routes up Lakey Hill ready for the VE Day beacon lighting. Unsuspecting Leonard appears in the nick of time. He’s happy to help. He and Joy agree to meet tomorrow. David and Ben agree something needs to be done about dog walkers not picking up after their pets, risking neospora affecting livestock. David tells Ben he’s having some signs made to put up around Brookfield. Ben remarks on the hard hitting nature of the image but David maintains it needs to be impactful to get the message across.

There’s a thaw between Joy and Rochelle as they make the baked cauliflower postponed from last night. Joy suggests tentatively that she has some money set aside to help Rochelle get her own place. Wrongfooted Rochelle’s unsure. Joy presses on. It would be somewhere to bring the kids and have friends – like the one she met in the café the other day. Rochelle won’t be drawn. Instead she accuses her mum of wanting to reinvent her from head to toe. Rochelle feels judged. Joy insists she’s just trying to improve Rochelle’s lot – she’s not always thinking the worst of her. She knows Rochelle likes Ambridge, and just wants to help her stay around. Rochelle insists that’s not going to happen any time soon. She knows Joy and Mick want their space, and besides she’ll soon be back with her own family.

Joy calls in to see Helen at the Beechwood house and helps with finishing off the packing and cleaning. Joy declares she’ll miss Helen even though she and the boys will be around a while longer. Helen assures her they’ll still visit one another. She presents Joy with an attractive gift, which Joy loves. She invites Helen to dinner; Rochelle’s cooking. Helen mentions her sighting of Rochelle with a friend at the cafe yesterday, but her description doesn’t ring a bell with Joy.