The Archers

TX 27 September – 2 October 2026

Writer: Jessica Mitic

Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood

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, but is now keen to see the ideas. It’s inspired her to use it for her socials – introduce the baby to her followers with an interactive appeal for names. Amber reminds a sceptical Susan how hard she’s worked to get this far as an influencer. Besides, her online community helps her feel less isolated and will keep her engaged during the long night feeds.

Lynda visits Brookfield where Pip assures her there is no animosity towards her and Robert. Lynda says she’d like to create something positive from the situation and outlines the dog exercise field plan, highlighting the safety features. Pip can see the benefits for dog owners such as Stella, but as a local farmer has some concerns. Lynda addresses all questions and adds that the enterprise would make the whole village safer. Pip is reassured and in principle doesn’t have any objections, nor does she think her parents would. Pip thinks the idea is commendable after everything that’s happened. If anyone can handle the challenges of it, it’s Lynda.

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 appalled to hear that Kenton approached Lily at work to warn her off Harrison, leaving her feeling attacked and angry. Responding, Elizabeth tells Lily that she should go for it with Harrison, and other people should keep their noses out. Elizabeth vows to confront her brother Kenton.

Harrison arrives at Grange Farm to find Ed and Eddie inspecting the vandalised dry stone walls. It’s thought that people are stealing the stones. He suggests installing some hidden trail cameras in the trees with signage to deter damage. Eddie’s progressing with his betting book for the Grundy baby name. Harrison has suggested Dan, but refused to pay the £5 Eddie is asking to take part.

Privately, Harrison assures Ed that he was not with Lily when he was still with Fallon. Ed admits he was shocked that he’s moved on, but Harrison is insistent – seeing Lily doesn’t mean he’s moved on.

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 and Robert wanted to use BL Land. A win-win. There’d be support for gaining a profit from land not best suited to agriculture. Martyn suggests that Lynda speaks to the Brookfield Archers for their thoughts.

Amber goes through unusual baby name choices with Emma, who has popped round with Ed. Eddie has set up a book for people to bet on the baby’s name. Ed says he’ll hold the baby to keep him quiet so that Amber can go and eat. However, Ed puts him in his Moses basket to take a call from Martyn. The baby starts to howl, and Amber comes to comfort him. On their way home, Emma is reflecting on their simple life without complications, and instructs Ed to tell Martyn he won’t spy on Brian. On the phone, Ed stands up to Martyn, who winds him up, suggesting Ed is Brian’s yes-man. After the call, Emma helps Ed put it in perspective. They’ve got their own business and grandchild to focus on now.

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.

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 van. A pub in Darrington has bought them as planters. Delivering the planters, Eddie spots Harrison, who is taking drinks to a table. He is obviously on a date with Lily, and Eddie comments that he’s traded Fallon in for a younger model. George is reluctant to engage in gossip and wants to get home to Amber.

Susan delivers the shopping to a grateful Amber, who is exhausted and sore from her stitches. Susan holds the baby, allowing Amber to take a rest. Afterwards, Amber shares how overwhelmed she’s feeling by the birth and just how much the baby needs her. She’s also feeling bad about being annoyed by George. Susan reassures her – these feelings are completely normal. In a few months, they’ll adjust and everything will be fine. Later, Amber and George are open with each other about their raw and confused emotions but know they’re so lucky to have the baby and each other.

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 marriage. As Brad fills in George, also en-route, on the phone, he helps Amber with her breathing and holds her hand. When George reminds Brad to record it, Amber dismisses the plan of filmed socials content completely.

At the birthing centre, Amber rejects the planned water birth and requests an epidural. But the baby is on the way and so the midwife, with encouragement from George, helps her through. Amber’s scared and feels out of control. Nothing is as she planned. Phoning Brad, George shares how scared he is for the baby and for Amber. He’s seen so many animals being born but it’s awful seeing Amber in pain. Perhaps its karma for the bad things he’s done. Brad tells him to be strong for Amber.

Back in the birthing suite the baby is starting to crown and Amber gives it everything to deliver a baby boy. Amber and George are overcome. She’s not bothered that it wasn’t livestreamed, though vows she’s never doing it again. It’s the best day of her life!

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.

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 her off for working, but Kirsty needs distraction from her worries about the baby. Kate agrees to help and visits Anna with ideas.

Anna is trying to take more time out, inspired by Kirsty, and she and Kate enjoy some wine, discussing rituals such as a glow worm release or timing the ceremony for a natural firework display – a meteor shower!

Amber feels like a whale washed up in the desert. Bringing a bag of baby grows gifted from his Uncle Stu via Tracy, Brad tries to entertain Amber with stories of Stu, and his unknown number of children, and the new swear words Brad’s learning from Jazzer as he teaches Brad to drive. Amber’s having twinges of pain when Keira arrives, who rings George to come home, as Amber is in labour. Amber is soaking her feet when George arrives, but it’s been a false alarm as the twinges have eased. Brad makes his excuses to leave when George starts a welcome foot massage.

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 for it and fallen. Plus she pushed too hard to make Carol consider The Laurels. Anna’s feeling alone but accepts Alan’s help as a sounding board for planning the funeral. She knows her mum had strong feelings about some funerals so knows what she wouldn’t want. She thinks a nature based ceremony, with perhaps a Wiccan celebrant would fit. She’d love Alan to speak at the funeral, not in a religious capacity, but as a friend to Carol. Anna doesn’t know what they’d have done without him.

Lynda and Robert are viewing a beautiful cottage with an eye to downsizing. Although it’s perfect in many ways, and they’ll put in an offer tomorrow, their hearts aren’t in it. At home, Robert can’t stop thinking of ways around moving, and returns to the idea of a dog exercise field. He thinks if they find the right one, plus one or two extra income streams, they can stay at Ambridge Hall. Lynda is ecstatic.