Emma does a major clean-up at Little Grange in anticipation of Amber’s visit, telling Will and Ed she’s doing it for George. When Amber arrives she mistakes Ed for Will, George’s dad. They exchange awkward pleasantries, but Amber keeps being distracted by posts on her phone. She explains it’s her real work: being an influencer. After the meal Ed and Will agree with Emma that Amber would not be their perfect choice for George, but are caught out when Amber overhears them laughing at one of her remarks. Amber though is oblivious to criticism, telling them how lucky she is to have bagged George and what a nice family they are, before leaving to attend to all the posts from her followers. Stunned Emma, Ed and Will head for The Bull, not knowing what to make of Amber.

Emma isn’t happy that Will is impressed by George getting himself a girlfriend while in prison. She tells Will about her encounter with Amber in the car park, then how Amber followed George on socials and started writing to him. Will’s glad George is happy, but Emma doesn’t trust Amber. Will looks Amber up online and recognises her from her job at Farm Supplies. Emma’s convinced she’s not right for George, but Will reckons that’s up to George to decide. Then Emma gets a call from George, who asks if Emma liked her. When Emma hesitates Will steps in, congratulating George. Emma sounds a note of caution about rushing into things, but George is convinced she’s the one. Amber’s told George about the car park incident, making out that Emma was rude but Amber’s forgiven her. George proposes they invite Amber round for tea to get to know her, overcoming Emma’s misgivings before telling them it’s already arranged for six o’clock tomorrow.

At Woodbine Cottage Jazzer tells Fallon that Dross can work even without Ed’s involvement. Enthusiastic Jazzer’s already got nine people lined up to audition as a replacement and convinces Fallon to at least give it a go. Then Ed bangs on the door and confronts Jazzer about advertising for a replacement on the village website without asking him first. Dross was Ed’s band and he’s hurt that they’re thinking of going ahead without him. Despite what he said Ed wants back in. Jazzer and Fallon are delighted, but agree they still need to audition for a replacement for Ash.

Emma’s on the phone to George, who tells her about the Community Offender Manager he’s meeting today, then says he’s got a surprise for her when she visits later. Outside the prison Emma has a barbed conversation with a young woman, who accuses Emma of pinching her parking space and acting like an arrogant 'Boomer'. This becomes a wider critique of Emma’s parenting and life skills, leaving Emma fuming. Ed phones Emma, who tells him about the run-in with the woman, determined it won’t spoil her visit. When Emma tells George her news he’s distracted when the woman arrives and he then introduces her as Amber to Emma. Emma assumes Amber is the Community Offender Manager, but Amber corrects her. She’s George’s girlfriend.

At Home Farm Brian gives Stella the cold shoulder, dismissing her attempts to explain why she didn’t warn him about Justin’s plan to convert half the Estate land to rewilding. Stella says she tried to persuade Justin otherwise, but Brian’s convinced Stella took her role on the Board for her own advantage. She’s clearly in Justin’s pocket. Trying a different tack Stella suggests Home Farm pursue other contracts to replace the Estate one and Brian reluctantly agrees. Then Justin arrives, asserting that his plan will be approved at a special Board meeting he’s calling. Stella sides with Brian: food production should be their priority. But Justin’s on the side of the planet, insisting the change will go ahead. After he’s gone Brian and Stella agree to put aside their differences to defeat their common enemy. This is war.

Jolene has called Harrison over for advice after she and Kenton endured a sleepless night, worrying about Markie and his gang. Harrison explains Kenton won’t have to identify any gang members face to face. They need to trust the system, but Jolene isn’t convinced. Later she tries to get Kenton to talk about his issues, before Harrison arrives, offering support. Jolene reckons talking about it would be good for her, not just Kenton, whereupon he confesses to a phobia of dogs. He doesn’t want to let the police or anyone else down but feels he can’t cope with reliving the experience. Harrison assures Kenton he will be protected all the way, while Jolene will help him get through it. But then Kenton gets the news he’s been dreading: the identity parade has been scheduled for Friday.

Fallon and Jazzer agree the Shop looks more inviting now the shelves are groaning with all the extra stock Susan’s ordered. After talking about Fallon’s fortieth they reminisce over their teenage days in Dross, though Fallon thinks it’s better to look forward. Later though Jazzer tells her his idea for spicing up their forties, by going back to their past and getting Dross back together. Harrison doesn’t sound too impressed, but Jazzer works on Fallon, insisting it will be amazing. His brother Stu has already agreed to play. Fallon warms to the idea – but only if Ed’s in too. When Ed says he can’t commit Jazzer suggests tracking down Ash and holding auditions to replace Ed, finally overcoming Fallon’s resistance.

Pip turns up at Home Farm, worried how Stella is coping with Brian’s antipathy following Friday’s Board meeting, but Stella brushes it off as an occupational hazard. Later at The Bull, Pip tells Kenton how upset she is by Stella shutting her out instead of sharing her true feelings. Kenton reckons Pip has to be honest with Stella, tell her what she thinks and not let it fester. Then after supper at Rickyard, Stella confesses how the tension between her and Brian is unbearable. When Stella hears how upset Pip is that she didn’t confide in her before, they reaffirm their love for one another. Stella reckons the whole rewilding debacle is her fault. But she’s so glad she’s got Pip and promises she won’t ever withhold her feelings again.

Fallon gives Kenton the bad news that Tara, their new kitchen assistant, has lied about being away on jury service. Kenton’s clear, they’ll have to sack her, but Fallon worries how they’ll find a replacement. Then Joy pipes up – what about her? Both Kenton and Fallon are delighted. Later, when Fallon describes the lovely birthday break she’s had with Harrison, Joy senses her ambivalence about how much she’s enjoying being back with him. Fallon doesn’t want to talk about it, though. When Fallon approaches grumpy Kenton to talk about formally interviewing Joy, he tells her the police want him to help get Markie and his gang convicted for illegal dog trading. But the last thing Kenton wants is to recall the horror of the night he was attacked.

Kenton is grateful to Joy, who in Fallon’s absence has taken over the task of providing the cricket tea for Ambridge’s match against Franchester. Kenton is then horrified to realise he has seriously underestimated the number of pies needed, before Joy comes to the rescue, cooking batches of mini Yorkshire puddings, which they will fill with what’s available in the kitchen. When Fallon returns unexpectedly to The Bull she joins in helping get the tea ready on time.

When Tom pulls out of playing shortly before the cricket is due to start Lynda bemoans their chances of success without him. Her attempts to find a replacement are stymied, before Harrison appears and Lynda corrals him into agreeing to play. Convinced she’s solved all their problems Lynda thinks Ambridge should win easily now. However, it’s a nail-biting finish with Harrison only scoring the winning runs off the last ball, but Ambridge have broken their losing streak. Overbearing Lynda then claims she was right to let Freddie make the critical decisions, but Joy and Will know it was her driving everything. Will is unhappy with the team’s general underperformance, plus having to rely on Harrison’s one-off heroics, and leaves the celebrations early. Everyone else though is delighted by Ambridge’s triumph against the odds, on both a sporting and culinary front. Joy’s mini-Yorkshires were a big hit and Fallon’s going to steal the idea for future menus! Joy modestly accepts the praise and assumes Fallon is happy too, now Harrison is back, before Lynda raises a toast to him.

At the family holiday meeting there’s light tension between Kate and Jakob. She insists she’s made peace with his decision not to come on the holiday – and he’ll be jealous when they come up with somewhere brilliant. However it becomes clear the meeting isn’t going to happen as one by one attendees drop out. Kate thinks they’re all a nightmare. How can she organise everyone if they can’t even turn up to a meeting? Maybe Jakob had the right idea; what Kate would really like is to go to Scotland and visit Phoebe and the baby. She starts to look up places to go.

At the Borchester Land board meeting Stella sums up the ecology report, parts of which Brian acknowledges make pretty gloomy reading. Stella asserts that she knows BL should take action – and they’re already putting a lot of the right things in place that will make a difference. Justin ventures that these might not be enough, and raises his rewilding proposition. Afterwards Brian declares it will happen over his dead body. Martyn scoffs that Justin’s become a tree hugging beaver lover. Justin insists he has support on the board, naming Annabelle specifically. Brian’s appalled that Stella knew of Justin’s plans. She’s stabbed him in the back and he’s never been so disappointed. Stella can’t believe Justin revealed the plans, having said he wouldn’t. Justin insists he needed an element of surprise to make an impact. Stella retorts his duplicitousness has probably cost her her relationship with her boss, and possibly threatened her job.

Alice is delighted to hear Brian’s relationship is becoming something significant. She likes Miranda and is glad her dad’s happy. Brian spots Alice is a bit pre-occupied and she discloses her concerns over Martha. Brian’s surprised to hear the nursery’s comments about her development. Alice confesses she lives with constant terror that she’s harmed Martha by drinking. Brian assures Alice she might never know what made Martha who she is, but she couldn’t love her more. She’s a lovely mum. In the moment they both admit to missing Jennifer.

Justin enthuses to impatient Stella about his plans for the rewilding of Borchester Land. She points out Home Farm stands to lose their contract if half of the BL estate is rewilded. Justin counters with the bigger picture, but Stella insists they need food a lot more than eco tourism. Justin insists his mind’s made up; he’s telling the board tomorrow. In that case Stella reckons she needs to tell Brian right now. Justin relents; he’ll hold off at the meeting until they’ve had a detailed chat next week. Stella and Pip finally get their picnic, and Pip wants to know what’s bothering Stella. But Stella doesn’t want to talk about it any more. She feels like she said the wrong thing implying Rosie might not have been innocent in the school incident. Pip accepts Rosie may have been partly culpable but she feels the school made too big a deal of it. Hopefully everything they were worried about is now sorted, asserts Stella. They agree that would be nice.

At the bridge tournament Brian’s nervous that his relationship’s on the line if he doesn’t do well. Miranda assures him jauntily that if he’s been telling the truth about his lessons he has nothing to worry about. Martyn’s horrified that Brian’s playing at a serious tournament, but Brian says there’s a lot at stake.

Lilian and Miranda share a rare chat together. Miranda thinks it’s wonderful that the Bull is still in the family. Lilian admits it’s a nice connection with Peggy, and Miranda expresses her condolences. Lilian confesses her mum’s death has affected her deeply, and Miranda shares some of her own family history. Lilian declares Miranda a survivor; Miranda returns the compliment. Lilian thinks Miranda and Brian are a good fit.

Martyn spills the beans to Justin on the reason Brian’s here. Justin wants to know whether Brian’s really cheating on Miranda. Brian insists he isn’t. He’s sure Justin’s been no saint over the years – Miranda’s deep distrust of men may be down to him. Justin dismisses this as deflection. He feels Miranda’s pulling the wool over Brian’s eyes. Brian reckons Justin’s hiding something, and Martyn agrees. Justin insists he’s just happy. As play is about to start, Martyn reckons the only chance Brian has is if he cheats. Afterwards Miranda’s impressed with Brian’s performance. He tells Miranda he decided not to cheat in the game. She confesses she believed his story all along, so all is well. They admit they love one another, and Brian declares the evening has turned out better than he was expecting.

Jakob admits to Kate he was thrown by the idea of being a grandparent. It was the list of things Kate had planned for them to do with the baby that overwhelmed him – but it’s all good now thanks to a nice chat with Brian. They agree Brian’s a star. Jakob tells Kate he’s set up a bank account to show his commitment to their grandchild. Kate’s touched – until Jakob declares he won’t be coming on the family holiday. Later Kate tells Lilian how disappointed she is. She reminds her aunt about Friday’s holiday meeting and encourages her to read all the messages in the group chat.

Chaos reigns at the Bull and Lilian pitches in, offering to run to the shop to fill a gap in a missing wholesale order. Joy scoops up the list of items and she and Lilian set to work. Jim comes and can’t believe how much new stock there is on the shelves. How can they afford it? Joy explains Susan was worried about losing customers, assuring Jim the gamble’s paying off so far.