Azra reveals she is going to be moving in to Beechwood and, delighted, Joy quickly shares all her intel on the local residents, before inviting her new neighbour to join her later at Denise’s Dance Fit class at the Church.

Alistair has a pub date with Laura from the Little Croxley cricket team. The conversation quickly becomes stilted, and Laura politely asks what’s going on. Alistair is sorry for messing Laura about and makes excuses. The actual issue is someone else, but it’s complicated. Laura’s not offended but knows that it’s time to leave Alistair and re-join her friends who are sitting at another table. She wishes him well, and good luck with his “situationship”.

Alistair goes to find Denise at the church and explains that he liked Laura – but his mind was elsewhere. Denise laughs as Alistair recalls how he embarrassed himself, but gets upsets when she realises no-one’s there for her fitness class, apart from Alistair who’s volunteered to take part. Denise heads to the vestry to pack up her equipment. She admits everything is upsetting her – not least their work situation and fear of Paul noticing and wondering what’s going on. Trying to act normal is impossible, and then at home she knows that John knows something’s wrong but doesn’t want to talk. Alistair comforts Denise and they have a passionate embrace, but stop as they hear Joy and Azra arriving in the church, leaving flustered Denise to re-focus on the class. Denise and Alistair wonder what they’re playing at.

Brad dwells on his mistake with the cases yesterday, and Lily tells him to apply some zip and bounce to give people a warm welcome, also briefing him to up-sell welcome tea and pastries. Brad spots Mick and, not realising he isn’t a guest, offers him charm and a pastry – but Mick explains he’s come to see Roy to be interviewed for a security job. As Lily tells Brad to up his game, Mick reappears feeling hopeful about the job and moving to Ambridge, which he hasn’t told Joy about – it’s a surprise. Mick’s so grateful for Brad’s help earlier – Lily should look after such a good employee. Lily admits to Brad she’s been too hard on him. Brad stuns Lily by totally misreading what she’s saying, and pointing out that he realises that’s how girls are – giving someone a hard time who they actually fancy. He’s flattered, but in love with Mia.

Chelsea smashes her job interview with Natasha, and then soon after does the same with Kenton at the Bull. But when Kenton calls with a job offer, Chelsea says she’ll call him back. Gleeful Chelsea explains to Brad that she’ll wait and see what Natasha offers and then see about taking the better deal. Kenton serves Natasha and tells her about his call to Chelsea, who has replied to say she’s had a higher offer elsewhere. Natasha points out that Chelsea told her the same story, so she’s playing them both! Neither Kenton nor Natasha is going to up their offer – and they’ll make Chelsea wait to let her know.

Harry calls Alice in the middle of the night, telling her he wants to drink. He apologises - he has been staring at a bottle of whisky he bought at the all-night garage. She talks him through pouring it away. He couldn’t have done it without her, he says. He hasn’t been able to sleep, he doesn’t think he can do it. But Alice reassures him he’s not alone. He needs to get to an AA meeting and cultivate healthy habits that might distract him from drinking. She suggests they do a crossword together. Later when they speak on the phone, Harry is euphoric – he hasn’t wanted a drink all day and he has Alice to thank for that. But it’s clear Alice is hiding something: she hasn’t told her sobriety buddy Lisa about Harry. It’s obvious he’s still hoping they’ll get back together.

Kate is up early to run her inner child retreat so she’ll be out all day. Brian confirms Miranda is coming over and Kate wants to meet her properly. Later Miranda has some suggestions after riding the cross-country course. She heads off for lunch with Brian. Over lunch Miranda jokes about Susan’s mission to collect video testimonials for the shop. She has no interest in that but is a good deal keener to meet Kate. The discovery of Miranda’s hairbrush sets Kate off - Brian is whisking her away before she has the chance to meet her. Brian says Miranda also wants to meet, suggesting Tuesday evening, but he doesn’t want Miranda grilled. Kate promises to be charm personified.

At the Bull, Emma tries to appeal to Jolene about George’s ban. But Jolene won’t stand for George’s backchat. Upset Emma swears George has grown up and argues with Jolene, with Kenton caught in the middle. Jolene tells Emma that if she has a problem with her decision, she knows where the door is.

Kenton challenges Jolene on her mood swings. Jolene doesn’t want bad people in the pub, and Kenton realises what’s up, thinking back to his attack. It’s time to move on, and there’s no point alienating anyone, including Tracy and Emma. If Brad and George apologise, will Jolene let the matter go? She agrees – they had better mean it, though.

George sets up his next video, with Chris all dressed up to demonstrate his work as a farrier, attending to Bartleby. He tells Chris about being barred from the Bull and Chris chats about the Cricket Chair nominations – he’ll vote for Lynda, and Harrison wants to recruit younger players. In return for today’s filming, Chris wants George and Brad to come along to cricket nets practice tomorrow and watch the team. Chris is a natural on camera, even adlibbing and giving George instructions to join in with what he’s doing, filing Bartleby’s hooves.

Emma asks about the video and George is annoyed that all the comments are about ‘fit’ Chris. Emma’s pleased to receive a text from Kenton, offering George an olive branch. But George stubbornly refuses to go and apologise to Jolene. Emma seethes and threatens to cancel his phone contract if he doesn’t say sorry.

Tony is at the tearoom buying a coffee and says the hides on the wall look good but Emma and Fallon disagree. The vast majority of customers have said they don’t like them; one vegetarian couple left without ordering anything. Tony says he’ll let Tom and Natasha know. Later he and George take the hides down, less than a week after they went up. Emma is delighted but George feels sorry for Tony. He suggests using them on the floor of Tony's workshop. Emma asks George if he might help with the tree surgery business plan. He refuses but then agrees when Fallon says he might be Emma’s secret weapon.

Alice arrives to return her race day outfit to Kate. She says the day at Cheltenham let her forget her problems for a bit. But when Brian suggests she see if Fallon fancies a drink, she says they’re still not on good terms because of Harry. Later Brian goes to Miranda’s dinner event and finds her changed into a glamorous outfit but worried as the guest speaker hasn’t arrived. He takes a call and has to bow out suddenly. Back at home when Alice arrives, he can see she is upset and Alice says she should have known Harry was too good to be true. Brian tries to buck her up. But she is worried about Chris doubting her as a mum. Brian walks Alice home. On the way back he rings Miranda and she suggests dinner but he’s not sure – he doesn’t want to let her down again.

Emma and Fallon await the arrival of Tony’s cowhides for the tea room walls. Emma voices her suspicion that Fallon faked illness to avoid yesterday's corporate event. Harry turns up to order coffee and a croissant. Fallon is far from happy to see him. When she brings his order to the table he says he has come to apologise – and stresses he would never have put in a complaint against Harrison: He has been called to testify at the disciplinary hearing and will speak up on Harrison’s behalf. Then he asks Fallon if Alice might ever take him back. Fallon, furious, tells him to finish his drink and leave. Emma, intrigued by their body language, asks if Harry has done something to Alice. Fallon tells her they have split up but refuses to go into detail. Emma says she won’t tell, as long as Alice does right by Chris and Martha.

Alistair feels odd about enjoying kissing Denise in the medical supply cupboard. She is worried Paul might sense something is going on between them when he appears suddenly and asks what they are doing. They make excuses. Paul says Denise should have been in St Lucia with him and John. He’s worried about how frail his grandma is and the effect her fall has had on his dad. He says John needs Denise – he’s a wreck and on his own out there. Denise says she’ll call John tonight. Alistair asks if he can take Denise out for dinner somewhere out of Ambridge. They make plans for Friday evening.

Denise is picking up biscuits and coffee when she asks Jim if Alistair has had some bad news as he has seems out of sorts. Jim reveals, awkwardly, that Alistair is thinking of leaving the practice. Angry, she confronts Alistair who confesses he’s in love with her. She’s stunned, but thinks it’s nice. He suggests they go for a walk. Although his feelings developed slowly, he was hopeful but fears they aren’t ever going to be together. Denise says she and John should have separated years ago. Being at work with Alistair and John away in St Lucia is the first time she has been truly happy in years. She doesn’t want to have an affair but has feelings for Alistair. Denise says she still feels robbed after they nearly kissed at Christmas - after all a kiss won’t kill anyone. Later, Jim confesses to Alistair that he had spilled the beans to Denise. But far from being angry, Alistair says he and Denise finally had a conversation, and it went very well.

A tired Harrison heads to work after a sleepless night to find out whether he has been suspended. Fallon calls in sick so she can be there for him. He returns he is on unofficial leave and restricted to desk duties. The police want to interview Fallon and Alice. They’ll also be taking evidence from Harry. Fallon suggests they make the most of the day and curl up in front of the fire. But neither can relax for thinking about Alice, with Harrison fearing he’ll lose his job.