Writer: Nick Warburton 

Ben Archer.... Ben Norris

Stella and Ben explain to Pip that whilst Rosie wasn’t at fault yesterday, both Rosie and Cleo need to learn how to react with each other in a challenging situation. Pip is persuaded that Cleo’s trainable, and agrees she can stay on the condition that if the dog shows any aggression Rosie and Pip won’t come to Stella’s any more.

Azra’s hoping to meet Charlotte Smith at the Flower and Produce on Sunday and wants to make sure she can engage her in intelligent conversation. She seeks Stella’s advice on farming talk, declaring her starting point is to ask Charlotte what her favourite cow is. Stella suggests not talking shop, recommending instead that Azra chats about ordinary things.

Ruairi feels like he’s being fobbed off at Home Farm. Adam insists he’s coping fine on his own but Ruairi can see he’s stressed. Adam maintains he has Ruairi’s interests at heart – anyone can see his life’s in London. Ruairi’s not so sure. He’s not getting a lot from his graduate scheme and he’s fed up of trying to prove himself. He feels useless. Adam reminds him how caring he is and suggests he gives himself a reset to work out what he really wants. They agree that after Brian’s recent mistakes it’s time he considered retirement. Ruairi offers to talk to him. If Brian won’t go, they’ll need a farm manager unless they can persuade Stella back. They need some of these plans to work, otherwise the next storm might see Home Farm blown away.

Lynda tries to steer Lily off the topic of the cricket payments and toward the Flower and Produce Show, but after a cursory agreement that Dane’s idea of a Medieval theme is thoroughly naff, Lily swings the conversation back. Why did Lynda do it? People are blaming her and whilst she’s taking responsibility, it wasn’t her idea, it was Lily’s. Lynda explains her hand was forced by Lawrence. Making it public sooner would have been the more honest thing to do. Lily maintains they should now share the blame, but Lynda doesn’t want Lily’s reputation tarnished. Her own has weathered greater storms than this.

Brad feels he might have upset Amber, and asks Lily’s advice. Lily suggests he simply ask her. Brad thanks her for the advice. He wonders what’s happening with the cricket situation. He thinks it’s weird and not like Lynda to do something dodgy. Guilt-ridden Lily explains it’s more complicated than people think, and it’s not fair to blame Lynda entirely. Later Lily admits to Lynda that she’s told Brad the truth of the matter, and also sent a message around the team asking them to meet on Friday.

Stella’s brought Cleo the dog home. Ben observes she’s settling well. Stella’s concerned about Rosie, who doesn’t always do as she’s told, but realises she has to be given a chance. All goes well until Cleo gets hold of Rosie’s favourite giraffe toy. Pip admits it wasn’t Cleo’s fault, but it’s made Rosie more nervous of the dog. She and Stella need to chat about what happens next.

Dane’s feeling like the Flower and Produce Show is currently just carrots in a tent. It could do with some Grey Gables sizzle, and Lily is the one to provide it. Horrified Lily points out it’s this Sunday so there’s little time. There’s also a wedding on that day so options are limited. Dane’s favouring a Medieval theme; he’s made a start and wants Lily to get thinking. Lily gets a call from Fallon, who’s miffed about the cricket payments scandal. Lily promises to sponsor Fallon’s memorial swim for Ash. She shares her angst over the Flower and Produce task she’s been given. Fallon stresses the importance of the show to the village. She urges Lily not to jazz it up too much. Lily suggests some initiatives to Dane, who thinks they’re all brilliant. If Lily oversees the show, he’ll take care of the wedding. Lily catches up with Azra who’s heading for the spa, and asks if she’d like to be a judge. Azra isn’t keen at first and refuses – until Lily mentions Charlotte Smith might be the other judge, at which point Azra’s right on board. She’s a big fan. However she’s disappointed to find Dane has appointed Fallon as second judge to be with Charlotte. Lily apologises for letting Azra down, and Azra tries to be big about it. She’s pleased for Fallon; it’ll be a tonic for her after the disappointment of the cricket. Azra knows Fallon feels Lynda’s betrayed Harrison’s legacy as former team captain. That really is letting people down. Doesn’t Lily agree?

Stella has news: she’s submitted the application form for the job David told her about, and rehoming adoption advisor has found her a match with a dog. They’re happy with Stella’s potential new job circumstances so it looks like it’s all systems go. She’s made an appointment at the rehoming centre; Rosie can go with them. Pip’s not sure – what if the dog’s not suitable and Rosie falls in love with it? However Stella thinks Rosie’s a valuable member of the interview panel. After meeting the dog Stella and Pip agree they like her. And with Rosie clearly loving her too it seems like job done. But Pip still has reservations. This was just one short visit; the dog is still an unknown quantity. Stella sees the sense in being cautious, but is confident Cleopatra can be trained. They’ll see how it goes; nothing needs to be decided yet.

Stressed Adam’s rushing to get Xander ready for school and snaps at Ben, who’s arrived to offer to give Xander a lift. Apologetic Adam gratefully accepts. Ben thinks Adam needs to find time to switch off. Adam takes him at his word and later goes for a walk. He feels guilty that Home Farm paperwork’s piling up. The farm’s in a bad way financially. Ben sympathises. To their surprise Ruairi arrives from London, with an offer of help. Adam insists Kate’s exaggerated the difficulties, but Ben reckons Adam should think again. Adam admits reluctantly that there’s truth in what Kate’s told Ruairi, and he’d be grateful for his help.

Brad and Amber head home from the cricket. Amber admits to being bored. Even when Brad enthuses over the winning highlights she eyerolls that life’s too short. She updates Brad on being thrown out of Spiritual Home. Brad suggests Kate might be someone who finds it hard to forgive and forget – she’ll definitely be off George’s welcome home party list then. Amber suggests a big bash at the village hall. Brad favours Grange Farm, where Amber will have more control.[Amber resolves to ask Eddie. Her phone pings with followers incessantly, and Brad challenges her to turn it off. He points out the full moon, but she’s not looking. Exasperated, he asks her if she can’t do something else. Amber defends her influencer status. She wasn’t clever enough or pretty enough at school, and this is something she’s good at. And she’ll get even better once she’s had her teeth done. Brad wants to know she’s doing this for herself and not because someone online says so. Amber starts to cry and runs off.

The Ambridge team celebrate their win despite certain relegation. The mood’s darkened by the arrival of Lawrence. Lynda insists she’s standing by Zainab and the complaint, meeting Lawrence’s menacing threats with an announcement to the pub crowd. She encourages Lawrence to bring up the subject of team payments. Lynda admits they have paid players, and apologises. Lily’s horrified Lynda’s taking the blame, but Freddie reckons they should quietly leave. Tom and Adam reckon this is divisive, setting friend against friend. They need to take action.

Oliver raises the delicate topic of Susan and Neil with Amber. Amber maintains she finds the idea of apologising to them too difficult after everything that’s happened. They let George down and it’s them who should be apologising. And Neil taking the ring away has really hurt her. She heads off to a massage appointment with Kate. When she explains she’s an influencer Kate jokes she hopes Amber won’t give her a terrible review. She suggests they could talk about a collaboration. Amber declares she’d love that; Spiritual Home has a really nice vibe. As the treatment begins Amber chats happily about her upcoming wedding, naming her fiancé as George. Shocked Kate puts two and two together and realises who Amber is. When Kate explains she’s Alice’s sister, Amber suggests Alice needs to take some responsibility for George’s plight – in fact it could even be her fault George is in prison. Kate needs to accept there’s fault on both sides. Given Alice’s history, George was just the scapegoat. Incandescent Kate throws Amber out.

Zainab starts to update Lynda on the drink incident yesterday, becoming distressed in the process. Lynda calms her, before Oliver interrupts to speak to Zainab. He explains they’ve had a complaint from a guest who witnessed what happened at the Tearoom. Zainab fears the worst, but Oliver’s on her side – Lawrence is a piece of work and deserved what she did. Later Lynda tells Zainab she showed admirable restraint. She intends to speak to Lawrence and resolve this ridiculous situation once and for all.

As Stella rolls up her sleeves for another day at Brookfield, David mentions a job he’s seen advertised that might be a good fit for her. Stella admits she saw it but dismissed it as too much of an executive role. She’s more farm than strategy. David argues she has all the experience and ideas they need – she should apply. She has nothing to lose. Stella agrees to give it some thought. Later grateful Pip thanks her dad for talking Stella round – she’s filling in the application right now. Pip loves how her parents have accepted Stella into the family and are open to her ideas.

Against her better judgement Chelsea’s returned to the golf club with keen Zainab. She’s worried that Lynda’s sent the email about Lawrence – what if they see him? Zainab reassures her; there’s nothing they can do about it anyway. Martyn arrives and sense something’s wrong, so they explain about the blackmail threat. He offers to meet them later to discuss it further. Chelsea unwittingly divulges to Martyn that Justin’s buying more land. Over lunch Martyn admits to finding Lawrence’s behaviour bizarre. Right on cue Lawrence appears. He protests that Chelsea and Zainab are turning Ambridge against him, and Martyn’s accusation of harassment just proves how he’s also been taken in by them. After unacceptable insult towards Zainab, Martyn demands Lawrence apologises, but Lawrence compounds the situation and Zainab throws her drink over him in response. She instantly regrets it but Chelsea and Martyn think she was brave. Zainab just feels she’s made it all worse.

Bored Stella gets stuck into the Brookfield milking with Pip. Later she suggests an overseeding scheme for the pasture. David’s non-committal, telling Ruth later that he didn’t want to shoot Stella down at the time because Pip was clearly hanging on her every word adoringly – but some of her suggestions weren’t appropriate for Brookfield. Ruth agrees they don’t really need any extra voices when it comes to the farm. David reckons Stella’s bound to get a job soon; she needs to earn a living. He admits it would annoy him if she was hanging around Brookfield all the time.

Chelsea’s alarmed to hear from Lilian that Lynda’s being blackmailed by Lawrence. She doesn’t want Lynda to send the email to the Golf Association now, and she’s never going back to the golf club. Lilian points out that’s just what Lawrence wants, but Chelsea’s fine with that if it means he’ll leave Lynda alone. Lilian’s distracted by a message from Justin saying he wants to buy more land.

Amber tells Chelsea she thinks Emma over-reacted about George’s help with locating Markie. George can take care of himself – it’s one of the things she loves about him. Chelsea invites Amber to her birthday celebration next week, but when Amber hears some old school friends will be there, she declines. Instead she takes Chelsea for a drink at the Bull. Chelsea questions Amber’s decision to have her teeth done, but Amber defends it. She wants to do it for herself, and her brand. If she’s fine with it, Chelsea should be too.

Lilian confides to Lynda that the current tension between Justin and Brian is making her feel uncomfortable and embarrassed; sometimes Justin seems to forget that she and Brian are related by marriage. Lynda in turn has an awkward situation of her own. Lawrence’s threat to expose her over the cricket payments is troubling her. She doesn’t want to give in to blackmail, but she’s hesitant to report his behaviour to the Golf Association. She preferred it when she had the moral high ground. Lilian counters she still has this, over a racist misogynist like Lawrence.

Brian makes the radical suggestion to Adam of selling the no till seed drill; they don’t have the contracts to justify owning it. Adam thinks this is shortsighted panic thinking. Later as Kate clears some of her things in readiness for moving out, she and Brian admit they’ll miss one another. Kate observes that Brian looks stressed. He confesses he’s unable to see an obvious solution to the farm’s current economic situation. He can’t fault Adam, who’s being fantastic and patient with him – it’s Justin who’s to blame. Kate tells Adam she wishes she could help. He and Brian clearly need more support. Adam notes that farming isn’t really Kate’s thing, and there’s no-one else to ask, so they haven’t got much choice.