The Archers

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.

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.

Pip and Stella plan a picnic. Preoccupied Stella starts to disclose what’s on her mind, but Pip’s distracted by a call from Rosie’s school – Rosie’s sworn at a child and upset her. Pip can’t believe it. Stella reckons Rosie could have picked up the word anywhere but Pip’s not convinced she said it at all. She calls Toby, who has Rosie this week. She reports Toby’s equally shocked and will talk to Rosie. Pip frets; she feels freaked out and sorry for Rosie. Stella suggests that it’s possible Rosie did do it, but Pip maintains she’s not a mean kid. Unsettled, she declares she’ll drive to Toby’s and speak to Rosie herself. The picnic will have to be another time.

Kate’s cooking Brian a belated Father’s Day meal. Talk turns to the topic of the big family holiday. Kate’s very excited at Phoebe’s baby news but someone needs to take the lead on the holiday coordination. She thinks if they get it right it could be the holiday of a lifetime. Brian doesn’t share her enthusiasm. Pinning Friday as a good meeting date Kate resolves to set up a family group chat to pool ideas. Jakob arrives and they all drink to the baby. Kate wonders what she might be known by when she becomes a grandmother. She suggests Jakob could be Mofar, a Swedish term for grandpa. Jakob doesn’t like it. Later, he tells Brian he’s not ready to be a grandfather. Brian allays his concerns with some wise words of experience. Jakob still hates the prospect of ‘Mofar.’

Fallon feels bad to be leaving the busy Bull to spend time with Harrison. Jolene assures her they’ll be fine. She hints at knowledge of the birthday surprise Harrison has in store for Fallon. Later Jolene’s shocked to learn their new staff member can’t work while Fallon’s away. Kenton suggests asking Fallon to stay but Jolene won’t hear of it. Fallon and Harrison need the time together; absence doesn’t always make the heart grow fonder and she doesn’t want their relationship to go the wrong way.

Helen asks Tom if he can look after the boys next Friday – Dane’s asked her to go to a comedy club with him. Tom promises to ask Natasha. Helen says she’ll ask their parents instead – it’s a perfect opportunity for her to tell them about Dane. Later she comments to Tom that her parents didn’t seem to want to know about Dane. Tom reckons this might be down to him. He’d made a comment to their mum and dad about helicopter parenting and they’re obviously trying not to overstep the mark. Helen says lightly there might be a middle way.

It’s a sad day in Ambridge at Peggy’s funeral. Tony admires the roses in the church and reminisces with Helen about his mum. Tearful Kate doesn’t know how she’ll get through the day. As Henry steps away to take his position as a coffin bearer, Lilian assures them they’ll all get through today together. After Alan’s opening address and a reading from Lilian, Tony talks about Peggy’s qualities; he didn’t always have an easy relationship with his mum, but she was the strongest woman he’s ever known.

At the wake in the Bull, Alan is thanked for stepping in to officiate so ably at such short notice. Tom observes the Bull’s come a long way since Peggy was landlady. Alan thinks it’s nice that Lilian’s keeping the family connection going. Lilian supposes it’s in her blood. She spots Hazel across the room and heads off to have a word. Alan comments he was surprised to see Hilda at the service. Tom declares Henry’s done brilliantly today and Helen agrees; she’s proud of her son. Lilian confesses her abiding memory of her mum and Jack Woolley is of them dancing together at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool to Love is the Sweetest Thing.

Kate admits to Phoebe she’s glad Alan ended up doing the funeral. Perhaps it’s what the universe intended. It’s hard to picture life without her gran. She has memories, but no more grandparents now. Phoebe then produces a scan photo – Kate will soon be a grandparent herself. Delighted Kate declares this the best news ever.