Will there be good news for Stella? And there's a changing of the guard at the dairy.

Will prepares George an early hot breakfast for his first shift at Meadow Farm. Amber wakes up too and both of them wish George luck as he sets off, before admitting to one another they’re both anxious for him to do well. Esme’s grateful as enthusiastic George offers to fix a blocked gutter once he’s done the milking. Josh arrives and is thrown to find George up a ladder – he was intending to do the repair himself. Esme declares that George has been great, adding that she can manage at the farm now if Josh wants to take a step back and focus on his own business. Josh warns her to be careful that George doesn’t take advantage and expect to be paid extra. Esme counters there’s been no hint of this so far, but Josh isn’t convinced. He’s happy to carry on helping, so why pay George to do the jobs? Later George realises Josh has told Esme his suspicions. George insists he’s just doing his job, before telling Josh he’s off his head.

Amber’s shocked when her mum Anne Marie turns up unexpectedly. Anne Marie’s found out about Amber’s pregnancy, and expresses her concern for her welfare. Amber assures her she’s fine and all’s well, but Anne Marie wants to talk further and invites Amber to dinner on Thursday. She misses Amber and just wants to be there for her. Later as Amber and celebrate George’s successful first day, Amber doesn’t want to break the mood and says nothing about her encounter, insisting all is good.

David and Ruth realise they’ve committed to an event in the barn on Valentine’s Day. Ruth was hoping to offer to babysit for Pip and Stella. David’s affronted – maybe they might want to go out themselves. Ruth comments it looks like they’ll be behind the bar in the barn now anyhow. They can always go out another night. Later David’s disappointed when Kenton tells him the Bull’s Valentine’s event is all booked up. Kenton eventually finds a small space to squeeze them in, if David doesn’t mind sitting at the bar. David’s happy with this. Ruth arrives and suggests Pip and Stella could come to the Bull for Valentine’s if she and David babysit. David hurriedly covers, saying they should probably stick with doing the bar in the barn, to save money.

Pip and Hannah admire the art installation at the rewilding site: stained glass set in wood from a fallen oak. Pip admits ruefully that she and Stella don’t get much time together at the moment, though it’s good she’s enjoying her job. Pip wonders whether Stella’s mentioned a cruise for her birthday – she’s being secretive and Pip can’t work it out. She doesn’t fancy being cooped up at sea so she hopes not. Hannah confirms she’s heard nothing, but suggests Pip just asks Stella. Pip duly tackles the topic later but realises Stella had fallen asleep and hadn’t heard a word she’d said. Recounting this to Hannah, Pip asserts there’s definitely something on Stella’s mind. One way or another she intends to find out what it is.

After working a night shift Ben’s late getting up for his graduation ceremony and has to be chivvied along by David and Ruth. Before the ceremony starts David spots that Ben has fallen asleep. For alphabetical reasons Ben will be first up to collect his degree, so Ruth calls his phone, assuming the vibration will wake Ben. It rings loudly instead, immediately waking Ben, who apologises before going on stage to be greeted by the amused Chancellor. Afterwards Ben and David tease Ruth about the phone call and having a cry, but they are all very proud of what Ben’s achieved.

Amber encourages George to stay positive about getting a job, before Esme calls, asking him over to Meadow Farm at lunchtime. George assumes it’s a “maybe”, which Amber tells him he needs to turn into a “yes”. He’d be perfect for the job and Esme would be lucky to have him. When George gets there, he advises Esme on replacing some rotting fence posts. Esme knows about his criminal past, spelling out that she’s looking for someone trustworthy and reliable. George assures her he won’t let her down, emphasising how much he cares for livestock and how he needs to step up for Amber, now she’s pregnant. Esme reveals she has worked previously with ex-offenders, before offering George a two months’ trial of part-time work milking, looking after cows and doing general farm work, starting on Monday. George is dead chuffed, going to meet Amber after work. She’s thrilled and they both vow to work hard for their future as a family.

Rex asks Joy about New Year’s Eve and Mick’s story about taking Joy to a real-ale pub after midnight. Joy tells him she met Rochelle instead, and they talked about her new partner. It’s bittersweet for Rex, who says it’s great that she’s met someone.

Lilian tells Joy that Justin was bordering on triumphant when he came home last night. This is news to Rex, but he really hopes it means Justin has sorted everything for Peggy’s artwork unveiling at Rewilding Ambridge. When David tells Kirsty about the family members who are coming, he picks up that the artwork hasn’t been sorted yet. But when Justin arrives he tells Kirsty he thinks he’s solved their problem, but they need all the muscle power they can muster to make it happen before two-thirty.

Later, Lilian gives a speech before the stained-glass installation is unveiled to appreciative gasps and applause. Lilian then tells Justin the artwork is awesome and Peggy would have loved it. She can hardly thank Justin enough.

At Rewilding Ambridge Mick asks if Joy can come to the unveiling tomorrow. Rex and Kirsty explain why it may not happen - they’re still waiting for Justin to let them know whether he’s fixed the problem of the undersized artwork. And when Mick sees it he agrees it should be much bigger. Kirsty still hasn’t got hold of Justin, but they can’t cancel until they know for sure what’s happening. By the end of the day Rex and Kirsty agree it’s too late to cancel now. But then comes the really bad news: Borsetshire Life are sending their Assistant Editor and he hopes the artwork will grace their next front cover, just when they don’t want the publicity.

Susan reports to Azra on how well their meal with George and Amber went, with Akram’s help. Susan’s impressed by Akram’s work at Bridge Farm, too. George comes into the shop and has a dizzy turn, before Azra insists he goes to A&E. She drives him, with Susan in the back and George feeling mortified by all the fuss, but Azra impresses on George the need for an all-clear on his head injury before he can start work. Later, Susan tells Azra that Amber’s with George at the hospital now and he’s had a scan. She gives Azra a bouquet of flowers to thank her, before Amber messages to say the scan was clear and they’re coming home. Susan and Azra compare notes on the virtues of constructive criticism, before Susan leaves Azra to enjoy the rest of her afternoon off.

Esme tells Ruth on the phone that she thinks she’s finally caught up with getting the farm as it should be. She knows it won’t get any easier, but at least she can look forward now as she goes for the tenancy. George then turns up and gives Esme his CV, offering his services as cowman and farm labourer, while she does her computer work. George also mentions his work with drones, before impressed Esme tells him she’ll be in touch. Later, Ruth drops round and Esme innocently shows her George’s CV. Ruth then tells Esme all about the risk she’d be taking, but Esme wants to think about it before making a decision.

While preparing the meal for George and Amber, Susan tells Neil about the “meal to heal” rituals Akram explained to her. Neil’s not convinced it’s necessary, but Susan thinks they need to give it a go, especially after hearing about Amber’s pregnancy and the bust-up with Emma, both of which they’ll have to pretend they know nothing about. Anxious Amber chivvies George along, not wanting to be too late. She’s worried about her difficult history with Susan and her tastebuds going haywire with the pregnancy. But it all goes smoothly, despite Susan speaking out of character as she follows Akram’s healing precepts, which she explains later, over pudding. Amber then becomes emotional, telling them she’s pregnant. George susses they already knew, despite their best efforts at feigning surprise. He details the negative responses from everyone else, but Neil and Susan are genuinely pleased for them.

Justin waits impatiently for the delivery of Peggy’s artwork to the Rewilding site. Like Kirsty, he hopes it’ll have a big impact. Kirsty’s worried the dimensions of the plans they were sent by the artist are wrong, while Justin admits he did change direction several times on the design. When the delivery arrives, with David there too, they agree the small artwork is exquisite, but Kirsty wonders where the rest of it is. Later, Justin admits there’s been a miscommunication between him and the artist over the work’s dimensions: what’s been delivered is all there is. Justin used up most of the budget on multiple design changes. Kirsty is deeply unimpressed – this is nothing like the large-scale artwork everybody will be expecting to see at Thursday’s unveiling. Desperate Justin promises to fix it by then.

Susan’s irked to find Akram has been moving things around while waiting for her at the Dairy. She explains he’ll be observing today before receiving training another time. Akram starts taking notes, but worries he’s got off on the wrong foot. Susan softens a little, but makes it clear she’s in charge. On their break Akram and Susan discuss Clarrie being laid off, with Susan admitting she wanted Clarrie back when Adam left. Susan’s worried about tomorrow’s tea with George and Amber, hoping to get things back on track after Clive’s recent intervention. Akram mentions the “meal to heal” concept, later explaining this in detail while Susan takes notes. She thinks it sounds perfect, reckoning they’ve both learnt something today.

Lilian’s hanging up decorations for Burns Night at The Bull, while the Highland Games are happening on The Green, when Jazzer reveals the shocking news that his bagpipes aren’t working. Later on though, Jazzer’s happy to accept the plaudits and free pints for his playing, which Ben reckons is better than ever. Tracy makes a very rude ‘Toast to the Laddies’, shocking Neil and Susan, before Rex realises Jazzer has been conning everyone. Joy then reveals that Kenton’s been playing bagpipe tracks through the speakers, while Jazzer keeps out of sight.

Esme’s got the all-clear on her TB test but shows David an email from her landlord with a generous offer to buy her out. Over a cup of tea, Esme admits she’s very tempted, given the struggle to keep going at Meadow Farm - but she’d be devastated to give up now. Esme’s head says accept the offer and go, but her heart says stay. Despite the downsides she’s loved what they’ve been doing on the farm for the last three months. David thinks she should take her time before making a decision, but Esme reckons she’s already decided to stay.