The Archers

Kenton proposes a ‘phones off’ event at the Bull. He reckons mobiles are eroding people’s desire to socialise. Jolene’s really not convinced, but Kenton spots Alistair as a perfect test candidate, demanding his phone and insisting he talks to someone. Alistair protests he’s just here for a quiet drink, but reluctantly capitulates. Later he reports his conversation companion wouldn’t stop talking; it was hard to get away. Nevertheless Kenton declares the experiment a success.

Neil finds Lilian in search of a few moments’ peace by Peggy’s grave. He hopes he’s not disturbing Lilian. She assures him he’s not; she could actually do with some advice. This will be her first birthday without her mum and her sister. With their families at the centre of their lives they never seemed to have any self-doubt. She’s not like them – she’s always had an escape plan. Now, with Jenny’s children, is the first time she’s felt needed. It scares her to be relied on, and she can’t be a replacement. Neil asserts she doesn’t need to be. She just needs to be herself. He shares his struggles with trying to do the right thing by George. Lilian declares he and Susan saved George, and he’ll see that, eventually.

Kenton thanks Joy for her recent advice; it’s down to her and Usha that he felt able to go to the police and identify Markie’s accomplice. Joy thinks Kenton’s brave.

Joy tells Susan she hasn’t got time for the fete this year. She suggests Susan volunteers, but Susan hastily squashes this.

Susan can’t believe George is engaged. Emma declares Amber’s as excited as he is. Susan hopes it’s a flash in the pan. Emma agrees, though she’s reluctant to burst their bubble. She comments that Brad can see the strength of their feelings too. Susan reckons Amber might change her mind once the excitement wears off and the reality of a prison wedding hits home. Emma says she’ll just have to make sure it’s a very long engagement.

Martyn comes into The Bull again, suggesting it might become his regular drinking venue. He starts expounding on the virtues of flirting in a marriage, before admitting to Jazzer that there is a new woman in his life. The more Martin talks about the qualities of his new woman, the more Jazzer encourages him to go for it, like he did with Tracy. Martyn would prefer her identity to remain secret though. But later on, when Jazzer tells Tracy about their conversation, the clues Martyn was dropping and the flirtatious talk about his horse riding lesson, it suddenly clicks. Martyn’s heart wants Lilian!

Amber is visiting George in prison and tells him she thinks Brad is a bit weird, staring at her and asking about school. When George defends Brad as a loyal friend Amber quickly changes her tune. George then asks about dinner with Ed and Emma, so Amber explains what happened with Clarrie and reducing Neil to silence by telling the truth about what Neil and Susan did to George. George loves her loyalty, no one else gets him like she does. Amber hasn’t talked to her parents about him yet, but when George suggests writing to them Amber says it's not worth it. Soon they’ll be living in the flat above her parents’ garage and her parents can make their minds up about him then. Before the visit ends Amber talks about them being together forever, prompting George to get down on one knee and propose. Amber says yes, to applause from other visitors and prisoners – they’re getting married!

Lilian’s telling Jazzer at The Bull that Tracy would love a big fuss for her fiftieth birthday, when Martyn walks in and starts pontificating on how much a marriage is worth investing in if it’s only going to end in divorce. Martyn then tells Lilian he’s still sore after yesterday’s riding mishap, before they swap innuendos to Jazzer’s bemusement.

Having invited Annabelle for a drink Justin tries persuading her to align with his rewilding plans at the next Board meeting, emphasising his concern for the future of society. After Martyn interrupts the conversation Justin makes his exit, assuming he’s got Annabelle’s support. However, once Justin’s gone Annabelle makes it clear she hasn’t been won over, before arranging a tryst with Martin. Justin meanwhile remains confident, while Lilian’s glad Martyn won’t be suing The Stables.

Neil bumps into Clarrie at Underwoods Local just as Clarrie gets a message about Amber inviting herself to tea with Ed and Emma. They’ve been delayed, so Clarrie will have to look after Amber until they get back. Clarrie hasn’t met Amber yet and neither has Neil - George and Amber’s relationship has taken everyone by surprise. When Clarrie gets home she persuades Amber she’ll cook supper for them all at Grange Farm. But when Neil turns up Amber is hostile, accusing Neil and Susan of betraying their grandson. Neil insists Amber doesn’t know the whole story: they love George. But he doesn’t love them, not anymore, Amber declares. Amber then storms off, leaving upset Neil and Clarrie with nothing to say.

At Berrow Jazzer and Neil discuss what they’ve been told about Amber by Brad and Emma, neither of whom seem that impressed. Brad did say the relationship’s very serious, which surprises Neil, given that George is in prison. Neil and Jazzer then grumble about Martyn’s interference in their work. They presume he’s taking out his frustration with Justin on them, but for the time being they’ll continue sprucing up the arks, as ordered. When Martyn comes to check on their progress Jazzer gently mocks Martyn’s appearance: new haircut, all geared up in jeans and boots for his riding lesson. Oblivious Martyn leaves them cakes, burbling about a happy team, before heading off to The Stables. Later, Jazzer speculates that Martyn’s joined a cult, but Neil’s convinced there’s a new woman in Martyn’s life.

Despite Justin’s newly-won pariah status amongst her relatives Lilian is supportive of his legacy project, continuing what Peggy started with Rewilding Ambridge. Lilian mentions that Martyn has booked a riding lesson at The Stables. Justin assumes he’ll try to get Lilian to change her mind about his proposal, but she relishes the challenge. When Martyn arrives she introduces him to Aziz, Justin’s horse, before making her position perfectly clear supporting Justin’s plans – and he won’t change her mind. Martyn insists he’s there to learn how to ride, nothing more. At the end of the lesson Martyn’s dismount goes wrong and he catches himself painfully in a tender spot. Lilian points him in the direction of the men’s room, while Justin assumes Martyn is still up to something.

Brad scrolls through Amber’s posts online while listening to George on the phone, boasting about his gorgeous girlfriend. When Brad mentions Tilly Button George is scathing – Amber is in a different league. Brad reckons George should slow down, but George insists that Amber is the one. She gets him like no one else does. George then asks Brad to retrieve the t-shirt from his room that he was wearing when Amber first saw him. She wants to wear it next time she visits. Outside No. 1 The Green Brad remembers Amber from school, telling her she looks really different, but Amber shuts him down. Once inside Brad becomes irritated by Amber’s patronising attitude, reminding her how she used to look at school before she grabs the t-shirt and goes.

Usha drives Kenton to the police station, having persuaded them to let him do the Identification again. She gives him a pep talk, but Kenton just wants it all to be over. Afterwards, Kenton buys Usha lunch, telling her he definitely identified the right man. He’d still rather not give evidence in court though. Harrison warned Kenton that the defence team will more than likely use him bottling out the first time to discredit him. Usha mulls over the pros and cons of what Kenton has done, before concluding it demonstrates Kenton’s strength of character in overcoming his fears. But the only way to stop Markie and his gang from doing this to someone else is by giving evidence. Kenton agrees, saying that it would put an end to the nightmare of shame he’s been suffering.

During her interview at The Bull Joy admits her catering industry experience is limited, while Kenton’s attention is elsewhere. Joy clearly has the passion, and Fallon is supportive. But when Kenton leaves abruptly, followed by concerned Fallon, Joy is left with Tracy, who fills her in on Kenton’s troubled weekend after the ID parade. Joy then comes to the rescue as the pub is inundated with roadworkers wanting sandwiches and Tracy can’t cope on her own. Meanwhile, outside in the car park, Kenton confesses to being haunted by the dog that attacked him. Fallon’s sympathetic, suggesting he take some time out, but Kenton can’t - they’re far too busy. Fallon then helps Joy complete the order for the roadworkers and is very impressed by the way Joy coped and stuck to their house style: classy but not fussy. Joy recommends Usha to Kenton for helpful advice on legal matters, before Fallon offers Joy the job, with Kenton’s backing.

At school dinner time Clarrie tells Henry she’s getting much less grief from the kids now she’s being more assertive. Henry agrees, having seen her in action. But later Henry tells Helen he’s worried Clarrie might have overdone things and become too outspoken. Clarrie then turns up at Beechwood with an apple bake for Natasha and the girls, taking the opportunity to offer Henry a lift home from school, if ever he needs one. That’s a step too far for Henry, who confides in Helen that he fears he may just have helped create a monster!

While watching the cricket against Greenbury Usha tells Joy she just needs to be herself at her interview tomorrow for the kitchen job at The Bull and she’ll be fine. On the field Henry is last man out, while Brad can’t stop sneezing. As the players come in for tea Clarrie appears upset when Helen asks how her dinner lady job is going. Henry tells Helen he saw some older kids at school being rude to Clarrie when she told them to sit down, but didn’t intervene because it would have made things worse. When Henry goes Clarrie tells Helen how humiliating the incident was. She always thought she was good at supervising kids, but this generation don’t have any respect. After the match Henry tells Clarrie that the only way to deal with those kids is to be firm and not take any nonsense. Clarrie is doubtful she can do that, but Henry reminds her what she was like at Bridge Farm, never a passenger. Do the same at school and she’ll be fine.

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’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.