The Archers

The Battling Bulls are playing The Trout, who are two players down. Brad suggests loaning them a player and Tom agrees, so the match can go ahead - but not Zainab, who’s too good. Brad offers himself, really enjoys playing and ends up on the winning side: The Trout. Lynda’s come to appreciate the lightness of pub cricket. She’s looking forward to the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Surprised that Clive actually turned up, Brad and Tracy discuss Bert’s departure with him, hoping that Bert will be alright.

Returning from Scotland, Kate finds Brian embarked on a new project: re-reading all his Dick Francis novels. Brian accuses her of stabbing him in the back, but Kate assures him their only plan at the partnership meeting was to try and reduce his stress levels. She hadn’t known about Adam and Debbie’s intentions. Kate then asks how Spiritual Home will be affected by the Partnership ending. Although he says it’s safe, Brian reminds her that if it wasn’t for Spiritual Home, they’d still have the farmhouse. Offended, Kate refuses to take responsibility for the house being sold, insisting that was down to Brian poisoning the Am. Later, Kate accuses Brian of bullying, before he finally apologises. Kate tells Brian that his children’s actions come from a place of love and care for him. Brian though can’t understand why they’ve stopped trusting him. Because he’s been behaving weirdly, Kate says, especially the way he’s mistreated Miranda. Brian retorts that everyone makes mistakes. It doesn’t mean he’s losing the plot, just that he’s human.

Just as the partnership meeting begins, Debbie walks in, to everyone’s amazement. Delighted Brian claims he hasn’t lost his touch, highlighting the farm’s financial resilience. Adam begs to differ: he’s been running things and any recent increase in profits is down to him. Uncomfortable Alice supports Adam, but Brian claims it’s been under his supervision, with Ruairi’s help. Adam reckons Ruairi’s been a liability, then outlines his vision. He proposes being left to run the farm his own way, but also suggests Brian leaves the land to him. Debbie has another suggestion: leave the land to her and Adam. Heatedly, they argue that otherwise, when Brian dies, it will be chaos. Alice isn’t on board with this – all she wants is to persuade Brian to retire properly and relax.

Horrified, Brian then hears their concerns about his stress levels and mental health. Brian retorts that his recent stresses have nothing to do with his mental health, but won’t admit any more. Adam pushes for a decision on leaving the land to him and Debbie, but Brian points out they’re not even his own children. Alice is shocked, but Brian reasons that Adam doesn’t have the skills to run a business and Debbie has no right, having been away so long. Debbie’s furious, angrily listing Brian’s failings. She declares she’s done, she can’t fight Brian anymore. She doesn’t want the partnership, the land, or a relationship with him. Brian retaliates: he’ll withdraw the land from the partnership altogether. There will be no business with them anymore. He’ll go it alone.

When Anna comes to check on her mum, she can’t find the new security camera, which is supposed to be in the hall. Carol confirms that Leonard fitted it in the loft because Carol wanted it somewhere she could watch her bats. And besides, what good would it do in the hall if she fell in the living room again? Frustrated Anna spots that Carol is still not wearing her pendant alarm either and Carol accuses her of ranting and raving. When Alan calls in, Anna notices that the living room rug has moved, before the truth emerges that Alan moved it and covered up Carol’s near miss earlier in the week. To keep the peace Carol suggests gin and tonics all round while promising to wear her pendant, as long as she can keep the camera trained on her bats.

Tracy’s rushing from job to job while caring for Bert in between. Keen to help, Brad offers to cook his grandad’s tea, but Bert wants fried egg and chips, not the turkey stir fry Tracy’s prepared. Bert reflects that Clive wouldn’t insist on exercise and all these healthy meal choices, before revealing that Clive has invited him to move in. Shocked, Tracy tries unsuccessfully to ring her brother to investigate. She can’t believe Clive will have everything set up suitably for Bert, reckoning he’ll be after his pension money. Tracy also thinks Bert will be lonely and Clive won’t have a clue how to care for him properly – it’ll be a disaster.

Akram tells Azra he’s frustrated Tom hasn’t got back to him about his care farm idea, despite promising he would. Akram then finds Helen, who confirms Tom and her decided against it. There’s no way they have the capacity, what with family and farm commitments, plus developing the farm generally. Akram pushes that it would be just one day per week and he’d manage it, but Helen reminds him they’re a working farm, not a care facility. However, Helen asks later if he’d be interested in working in the dairy, should Tracy not want the extra hours. Akram declines, saying he wants to be outside, growing things. For him, farming’s just not about cheese.

Den takes Brad on a surprise trip to see Worcestershire play cricket. He’s organised lunch and they’ll look inside the score box. Den questions Brad about his future plans, suggesting he could use his skills in sports performance analysis. Brad’s not sure – he’s hoping to study up to PhD level. Den encourages him to think bigger - having a maths degree could be lucrative, Brad could be a banker! Meanwhile, Den suggests moving away from portering at Grey Gables and using his maths brain right now, maybe as a croupier? Brad doesn’t need to be poor all his life. Later, Brad finds himself confiding in Ben that his dad’s sudden interest in his life is confusing. Is he being nice or is he after something? Brad admits the attention is weird but really nice. Ben advises him to keep low expectations, but enjoy spending time together.

Leonard asks Ben if Ruth has decided whether to be tested for the BRCA gene variant. Ben’s still annoyed with Josh for not wanting to know, an attitude he thinks is typically selfish. Following yesterday’s chat with Alan, Leonard considers how lucky he is being retired, and that life seems more stressful these days. Ben agrees - the surgery has so many people saying they’re struggling. He hopes the mental health initiatives he’s trying to set up with Azra will help address these pressures.

Adam has spoken to Ruairi, who agrees that Brian must be made to let go of the business. Ian’s surprised Ruairi agreed, considering the George attack cover–up, but Adam insists it’s for Brian’s own good. Brian’s out of his depth, plus his dinosaur attitudes and lack of futureproofing are no good for Home Farm. It needs to be addressed at the partnership meeting. Kate’s horrified by the idea of caravan storage and agrees with Adam. Ian is concerned that the family are being misled by inaccurate dementia speculation, but Adam feels he has no choice. Having invited Alice to dinner, Adam pleads with her to help form a united front against Brian. Alice wants more time though - Brian really doesn’t think he’s got dementia. Instead of rocking the boat, can’t they just persuade him to get some kind of cognitive fitness test? Frustrated, Adam insists the clock is ticking – he sees Brian floundering badly and if they don’t act quickly, Home Farm is going to fail.

When Leonard retrieves Jill’s cake tin from Glebe Cottage, Carol confesses that she visited but didn’t actually go inside The Laurels. Later, meeting Alan, who’s worried about repairing a cracked bell at St Stephens, Leonard confides that he’s finding Carol’s intransigence a challenge. He wonders if Alan might perhaps have more luck persuading her to have a safety camera fitted close to the stairs. Calling in, Alan helps Carol narrowly avoid a nasty fall, which shakes her. She admits Anna had flagged the rug as a trip hazard but doesn’t want her to know. Alan tells Carol that Anna is on her side. Carol agrees to have the camera installed if Alan doesn’t disclose her near miss.

Enjoying a Sunday lunch with Helen at The Bull, Kirsty mentions being with Amber when her baby kicked on Friday and nearly revealing her own condition, then adds that she turned down a marriage proposal from Erik. With Kate still away in Scotland, Kirsty’s so far avoided telling her she’s pregnant – Kirsty worries Kate will smother her with herbal care and enforced yoga. As Tracy takes dessert orders, Helen asks if she’d consider more hours in the dairy – she was talking to Kirsty and sees Tracy as a natural artisan who can help her develop a new cheese. Tracy however seems impassive and Helen is surprised that she didn’t jump at the offer - who wouldn’t want to be involved in a new cheese?

Armed with a lemon drizzle, Leonard visits Carol at Glebe Cottage. She dismisses his concern that she’s not wearing her pendant alarm, before Leonard reveals the reason for his visit – Jill wants Carol to go to The Laurels and have a look around. She’d love Carol to use it for respite care, so that safety improvements can be made to Glebe Cottage. Leonard makes the case that Christine is very happy there, standards of care are excellent - and it would only be temporary. However, Carol refuses to visit until Anna arrives when, feeling pressured, Carol reluctantly agrees to see the care home. However, on arrival with Anna, she doesn’t even get out of the car. Carol says she’s seen enough and is adamant: there’s no way she’d spend a single day in The Laurels.

George is disappointed his online video for the Borchester Show is hardly getting any views. Amber reminds him of her suggestions to maximise impact. George grudgingly accepts Amber’s offer to help, after a pep-talk on feminism. Later, Amber emphasises recognising their separate strengths and playing to them when working as a team, both for the video and when the baby’s born. When Lilian comes over Amber remarks on Brian’s kindness investing in George’s drone. Lilian doesn’t comment, but she’s happy to have George back at the Bull, so long as he keeps in line.

Erik and Kirsty talk about Carol, and Anna’s difficulties over care issues. Erik wishes he could stay longer, but Kirsty’s grateful for the time they’ve had. Erik makes a surprise, spontaneous marriage proposal. Assuming he’s joking Kirsty accepts a twig ring, but says no: she never wants to go there again. So long as Erik’s there for the baby, that’s the main thing. Jakob later queries Kirsty rejecting Erik’s proposal, but she assures Jakob she wasn’t being harsh. It’s just there’s no need for marriage – and she loves the fact that Erik is a carefree spirit, hoping the baby will inherit some of that. Erik then offers to buy farewell drinks, but they turn him down. After Jakob and Erik head to the airport, Lilian tells Kirsty she should make an honest man of Erik - but Kirsty’s fine with how things are.

Kirsty bumps into Amber and they share a moment when Amber’s baby kicks for the first time – she’ll go and tell George.

Ruth’s brought some garden furniture round for Carol, but Carol’s in provocative mode, snapping at Anna. Anna’s going home later and worries about something happening to Carol. After Ruth goes Anna suggests Carol could stay with her for a while, but Carol won’t leave. Anna then suggests setting up a bed downstairs, as Carol’s been sleeping on the sofa. Carol won’t have it, also rejecting the idea of a respite stay at The Laurels. Later, Anna tries persuading Carol again to stay at The Laurels. Carol talks instead about Anna’s brother, Richard, showing clear favouritism, despite the fact he never visited. Anna leaves Carol to sort out photographs of Richard on her own. Then, before Anna leaves, Carol tells her she’ll rely on Brookfield or Alan to take care of her. Anna insists it’s her responsibility, not theirs. Carol finally mentions hearing how brilliant Anna’s WI talk was, admitting she’s proud of her.

Finding Pip busy with the plate meter, Ruth thinks she’s tired and offers to babysit, so Pip and Stella can have a night out - or she’ll cook a meal for them. Pip insists she just wants a quiet night in, before snapping at Ruth. Later, with Pip still being peevish, Ruth brings up the subject of genetic testing. Pip hints that Ruth could pay for a test, but Ruth would rather wait for the NHS. Pip reckons she’d have the test in a heartbeat if she was Ruth. Is she holding off because of Josh? No, Ruth needs to be sure it’s the right decision for her.

Before a Kindness Assembly at Loxley Barratt, Adam, Ian and Alice mention Ruairi moving out and leaving Brian on his own. Alice thought there was a manic edge to Brian when she saw him yesterday. Later, at Grey Gables, Adam and Alice discuss Brian’s behaviour. Adam pushes the idea Brian’s got dementia, affecting his ability to run the business. He proposes a joint intervention at the Partnership meeting, forcing Brian to retire. Alice reluctantly agrees to go along with this, before Ian tells them he’s accepted the job as acting Manager. Adam and Ian celebrate later with beans on toast, hoping for further celebrations to come.

At Rickyard, Stella thinks a picture Rosie’s drawn of Pip makes her look sad. This sets Pip off, admitting she wants to be tested for the gene variant, but can’t unless Ruth tests positive – and Ruth hasn’t even agreed to have the test at all! Stella’s looked into private testing, though. It’s expensive but they’d get quick results. Stella gives Pip a helpline number and when Pip calls she explains her frustration at Ruth’s indecisiveness. The helpline volunteer advises Pip on choosing a good quality, legitimate online test, with counselling. Pip asks what happens if she tests positive and the volunteer talks through possible options, before Stella returns. Pip tells Stella she’s decided to order a test and if it’s positive, she’ll deal with it. But she’s not telling Ruth, David or Ben – and definitely not Josh. Pip doesn’t want to have to deal with them telling her what they think. She just wants to know!