The Archers

Kirsty and Helen speculate on the sort of pastimes Kirsty’s baby will grow up to have. Helen wonders whether Kirsty’s told Tom about the pregnancy. Kirsty responds that she hasn’t really told anyone yet.

Tom’s admiring images of greenhouses, and Natasha humours him. He’d prefer her to take a proper interest and be supportive. She confirms her support but is more focused on the boxes of botanicals she’s received to inform her own business idea. She assures Tom that even though she’s open-minded about the new parlour, she’s still on board with his project. Heartened, Tom grins that Helen might have a fight on her hands.

Kate seeks Ian’s advice on a customer complaint at Grey Gables but he’s too busy to help, and snaps at her. He later apologises; he’s not sure he’s cut out for this work. There’s only so far the Martyn Gibson management coaching handbook can go. Kate probes further and Ian admits to being unsettled at home. As well as keeping Xander away from Brian, he’s spotted that Adam’s looking at properties far afield. They’ve made a life in Ambridge, and Ian’s afraid Adam could burn himself out. Kate thinks the one good thing that’s come out of the situation is the amount of quality time Adam can now spend with Xander. She counsels Ian to see Adam’s enforced banishment from Home Farm as an opportunity rather than a disaster. Ian concedes

It’s the day of Brian’s mediation meeting with Adam and he’s made biscuits, rebutting Kate’s suggestion that they’re an olive branch. He doesn’t need one; he’s the good guy. When she asks whether he’s thought about division of the partnership’s profits, he laughs that there aren’t any. Kate wishes him luck, reminding him he can’t be both the good guy and a stubborn stick-in-the-mud.

Tom tells Helen he’s confused as to why she’s acting as if the new milking parlour is the obvious next step for the farm. Helen insists it’s just about belief in her business, and expansion of the farm, which will benefit Tom too. She suggests they discuss it calmly rather than falling out – getting a quote isn’t the same as ordering a parlour. It’s the bare minimum needed for putting a business proposal together. Fine, says Tom, he’ll work on a proposal too. Helen’s in favour – then they can each present their case to the family.

Ed discovers Keira’s found her own work experience placement at Rewilding Ambridge. Clarrie remembers when Keira helped make bat boxes as a child. Ed doesn’t recall, and Keira huffs that he was probably distracted by something George was doing at the time. Ed protests he’s always asked Keira to do things with him, but she’s often buried in her phone. George arrives and immediately winds Keira up, resulting in her storming out. Later she apologises for shouting, and for bolting at New Year. She admits she finds it hard to talk, and at New Year they were too worried about George to listen to her. Ed wishes he’d realised how much she was struggling. He reassures her, and she confides her worries about school and friendships. Ed reckons lots of her classmates will have had the same anxieties. They hug. Later Ed sets Keira and George a task to clear out a barn. They have fun, and Ed declares they’ve passed his challenge.

Susan isn’t sure she can commit to more hours in the busy dairy until they’ve solved the staffing crisis at the shop. She admits to Helen that she misses Jim. Helen’s loving having Tracy as a neighbour. She’s really helpful, and Brad’s happy to throw the boys’ ball back into her garden. When she moots the possibility of having a connecting gate between the properties, Susan’s equivocal – boundaries are important.

Henry’s late for school lunch with Keira due to a detention. He’s not happy he doesn’t have his own room yet, though it’s still better than living with Tom. He’s doubtful about Keira turning down her work experience – will she be able to fix up an alternative in time for next week? Keira tells Clarrie she can’t see the point of schools existing at all. She asks Clarrie how viable it would be to bring in re-jigged work experience forms tomorrow. Clarrie thinks it’s worth a try. Later Keira confides to Susan that she’s found a different placement.

Tom suggests Helen and the boys go back to Beechwood for a final supper now she’s settled in. Helen in turn reckons she should have a housewarming. Tom’s surprised to discover Helen’s asked a rep to Bridge Farm to quote for a new milking parlour. Tony too is wrongfooted. He reminds Helen that no decisions have been made on future investment. Helen insists she’s just looking at options and didn’t like Tom asking the rep questions. Tony suggests Helen apologises to Tom and thinks before steamrollering over them all with her plans.

Anne Marie calls at No.1 The Green, hoping to catch Amber. George suggests she waits for her to return from work. However Amber messages to say she’s eating out with a mate. Anne Marie’s philosophical, and George acknowledges it’s good they’ve chatted so things can be less awkward between them all now. It’s hard for Amber being caught in the middle. George persuades Anne Marie to consider an upgrade to a platinum sponsorship package at the Borchester Show, which would include Amber as their dedicated host for the day. Later Anne Marie calls at the Bull and meets Tracy. Anne Marie expresses her gratitude at how warmly Amber’s been accepted into the family fold.

David and Ruth have heard nothing from Josh recently other than a fleeting thumbs up. They acknowledge they should be grateful that means he’s doing ok.

Tony’s keen for information about his livestock liaison role at the Borchester Show. David assures him just being there on the day will be enough. Tony asks if he might be allowed in on the secret of the mystery guest at the Show, but David’s lips are sealed.

Adam calls Ruth requesting a chat. David admits he’s worried about Adam after Brian’s volte face over the inheritance. Ruth agrees Adam must be feeling like the rug’s been pulled from under him. When Adam moots the idea of Ruth acting as mediator between him and Brian, Ruth’s unsure about getting involved. She wants to know what Adam’s hoping to achieve from the meeting, declaring she’d need to be impartial if she took it on. Later she tells David she’ll give it a go. She hates seeing the Aldridges divided. Brian’s harder to persuade however. He doesn’t want to speak to Adam, still less negotiate with him. Ruth suggests that agreeing to meet Adam and show willing might benefit Brian in the long run. Brian agrees to think about it.

Keira’s not keen on her upcoming work experience placement at Amside – Henry’s sounds much more fun. She invites Henry to her Father’s Day tea with Ed – she could do with someone to chat with George so that she doesn’t have to. The atmosphere gets awkward in the busy Tearoom as Keira accuses George of rudeness when he takes a phone call in the middle of proceedings. Later Keira does her best to blank George, but he tries to engage, giving her advice about how to charm Lilian when she takes on her planned work experience. Keira’s scathing, pointing out that George is hardly in a position to give advice on how to handle Lilian, given he’s been barred from her pub for the past six months.

Anne Marie rings George on the pretext of having questions about the Borchester Show, but it becomes clear she’s fishing for information about elusive Amber.

Bill and Anne Marie drop in unexpectedly at 1 The Green, while George and Amber are out. Anne Marie’s keen to see if the house meets her expectations for when the baby arrives, before Will gives a guided tour, glossing over how tight a squeeze it will be fitting the cot and baby clothes storage in the bedroom. Will implies that he expects them to stay through the baby’s childhood, before proudly showing Amber’s parents George’s cot in the shed. Anne Marie expresses concern over safety standards, before Amber arrives with George, wishing they’d warned her they were coming. George assures them he used baby-safe paint and Will then tells them how Nic died. Anne Marie assures Amber and George they’ll support them financially as they bring up their child, before Bill and Anne Marie take their leave. Outside, Amber chastises them for turning up without warning and trying to find fault with George. They repeat their offer to help financially. Amber agrees to accept the odd gift, then suggests they meet up at Borchester Show but not before.

Amber admits to feeling wrung out by her parents’ visit. George felt they were judgmental, looking down their noses at the small house. When Amber talks about wanting a space of their own one day, George accuses her of planning her escape and thinking his family aren’t good enough for her. Irritated Amber is tired of trying not to upset both George and her parents, before declaring she’s going for a walk.

Brad’s showing Kate how to make beds at Grey Gables when they hear a noise in the wardrobe and Fletch the budgie flies. Alerted by the commotion, Oliver helps catch Fletch, stating they can reunite the Maliks with their budgie. Brad continues showing Kate the housekeeping ropes, chatting about Zainab handing Fletch back to Akram, before moving on to unrequited love. Brad reflects sadly on his doomed relationship with Amber, without mentioning her name. Kate’s advice is to do everything he can to move on, because he deserves better in life – but only Brad can make that happen.

Whilst waiting at The Bull to speak to Miranda, Brian tells Kirsty he’s relieved David no longer blames him for the dog attack. Kirsty and Jolene are impressed by George and Amber’s social media campaign for the Borchester Show, before Miranda walks in. When Brian asks for a word, she tells him there’s nothing to say and walks off. Later, Brian tells Jolene he’s going round to see Miranda. Jolene reckons it’s a bad idea, but Brian’s determined. However, Brian finds Oliver sharing a nightcap with Miranda on the terrace at Home Farm. She tells Brian frostily her sympathies are with Adam over Home Farm, then rejects Brian’s request to take him back.

Kirsty shares reassuring news with Kate about her unborn baby’s blood test results before Brian turns up, wallowing in self-pity. After giving him some blunt advice Kate softens, since she wouldn’t wish a broken heart on anyone.

Before Bill goes to meet Amber at his car showroom Anne Marie wonders if Amber’s avoiding her after things went badly last time they met. Bill can see Amber might have taken exception to Anne Marie’s suggestion of an abortion, while Anne Marie concedes she could have been more subtle. Bill wants to be sure they don’t scare Amber off again. Later, when they meet, Amber makes a good sales pitch to Bill, while Anne Marie apologises for last time. She wants to be part of Amber’s life but accepts she’s made mistakes, before admitting she’s not thrilled by Amber’s choice of partner. But they still love her. Amber answers their baby questions awkwardly, then Bill invites her for lunch.

David and Pip are still shaken after yesterday’s terrible events. David feels Brian could have done more as landowner to protect the sheep, while Pip will get more warning signs printed. PC Trueman calls – they haven’t traced the dog yet, but forensics are working on the evidence they gathered. Later, she takes their statements, assuring them the police are doing all they can to tackle these incidents. When David expresses doubt about continuing with the Show, Pip says he can’t let this defeat him. Then Amber rings to tell David that Bill’s agreed to take the trade stand.

David and Pip were thrilled, Amber tells George, before admitting she had lunch with her mum and dad. But Amber insists, she’s not going to let them buy their way back into her life.