The Archers

Harrison pops home for lunch and finds Fallon in the middle of domestic chores. She starts to point out to Harrison his share of the jobs, but before an argument can start Harrison receives an email from a Darrington letting agent with property rental options. They’re all small and expensive. Harrison declares they will just have to be pragmatic as he quotes the advice Alistair gave him.

Freddie calls to question Fallon about her new job. He asks about the recruitment process and Fallon’s experience, making Fallon feel uneasy. Later at Lower Loxley, Fallon asks Elizabeth if Freddie is okay with Fallon working there. Elizabeth promises to have a word with him. Fallon vents to Elizabeth about the difficulties of her separation. Elizabeth catches Freddie in between online training and asks why he’s been quizzing Fallon. Freddie reckons Elizabeth could have employed him instead. He confesses he’s worried that he won’t inherit Lower Loxley until he’s 100 if he can’t prove himself capable.

Anna is at Brookfield, venting about Richard’s memorial service to sympathetic David. She needs somewhere to catch up on her cases but is avoiding the Tearoom after yesterday. David suggests The Orangery to Anna, who’s grateful for his suggestion.

Helping out at Glebe cottage, Alan is changing a lightbulb for Carol. She admires his new haircut, stating Chelsea has made him on trend. They talk about Carol’s unpopular scavenger hunt, and when Alan tries to suggest the clues were tricky, he is ignored. Alan says they won’t have reached the bell repair target. Alan asks when Anna will be arriving for Richard’s blessing. Carol says she can’t make it. Alan offers to reschedule but Carol refuses. Carol asks for another favour; she is struggling with her banking app, and as Alan was an accountant could he help? She hands him her phone in order to cancel some donations.

Lily is in the Tearoom looking forward to Natasha’s lemonade. Anna and Lily chat through cake options, but when Anna goes to leave she bumps into Amber, spilling lemonade down her. Anna gives some money to Lily and Amber to buy them an apology cake. Amber and Lily end up chatting about Lily’s trip to Australia. Lily says she would go back in a heartbeat but then she’d want to stay forever. Lily asks about Amber’s pregnancy and the baby.

Alan and Carol are in the garden with Alan leading the memorial for Richard when Anna arrives at Glebe. Anna is shocked that her mum was doing the memorial without her, especially as it was her idea. Alan learns that Carol didn’t tell Anna about the planned memorial. Carol says how helpful Alan’s been, and reveals to horrified Anna that he’s helped with her banking app.

In the village shop, Alistair and Harrison are looking for biscuits to improve their bad days. Alistair tells Harrison he’s sorry to hear of his and Fallon’s separation and offers advice and a chat if Harrison would like one. At the Tearoom, Alistair recounts his and Shula’s separation. He says there is life after divorce and that even he and Shula are friends again.

Harrison and Fallon struggle to divide household chores between them as Harrison says it’s not his turn to cook, whilst Fallon insists it’s not her turn to go to the shop. Both argue they’re busy with their new jobs.

It’s the day of the village fete. Chelsea’s upset over the cancelled launch of the horsebox salon. Whilst Amber donated styling tools, she has nothing to cut hair. Lilian arrives and promises to play fairy godmother. Keira says they need to wait for Khalil so they can hide in the horsebox to avoid the entrance fee. Lilian later arrives with a loan from Fabrice of everything Chelsea needs; Chelsea’s put too much effort into the horsebox for it to fall at the first hurdle. The big launch is back on! Keira asks Lilian how she persuaded Fabrice, and Lilian admits she’s agreed to be the face of his next promotional campaign.

Finding themselves with a couples’ counselling appointment that Harrison and Fallon rejected, Kenton and Jolene playfully decide to attend. To their surprise, the session reveals a lot about their relationship. They miss being more free – the travel and the music. They are stuck in a rut and don’t want that. It’s time to shake things up a bit!

With 6 weeks to go until her due date, Amber is feeling huge and is surrounded by boxes of baby products to promote on her socials. She asks Keira why Poppy seems off with her. Keira seems unconcerned and says it will blow over but says she’ll ask her sister.

When Eddie visits Ed at Home Farm, he deliberately puts Ed in a difficult position by letting Brian know about Ed’s tree surgery job for Martyn Gibson. Ed comes clean – that he’s been well paid on the understanding that he tells Martyn how things are going at Home Farm. Martyn wants to see if the BL contract is under control. Brian is furious and feels betrayed by Ed. However, Eddie hatches a plan with Brian. Ed should keep supplying Martyn with information – but only information authorised by Brian. Ed’s sceptical as he’s a terrible liar. Brian retorts that Ed owes it to him, even if it makes him uncomfortable. It’s payback.

Chelsea is making final plans for her hairdressing venture launch ahead of the fete, including an introductory offer. Entering the horsebox, she’s horrified to find it ransacked and her hairdressing bag of equipment missing. Everything she needs to launch the business has been taken, including her hairdryer. Later, when Harrison helps her retrace her steps, she reveals that although she visited a DIY store the day before, she couldn’t fully remember locking up outside the house last night. She blames herself, knowing that she’s probably made an insurance claim invalid. Harrison reassures her, telling her ways to make the horse box and contents more secure in the future. Jazzer encourages her to get help from family – for example borrowing her mum’s quality dryer. Distraught, Chelsea realises it will take her ages to get the funds for replacement equipment but is determined that it’s her problem to fix.

As Keira helps Eddie prepare cider bottles, they discuss the forthcoming ‘fete worse than death.’ Eddie is put out by the cost of putting the ferrets into the pet competition, on top of the £5 entry fee. Keira loves being part of the process of cider making and adores traditions. Perhaps they could wassail in January and sing to the apple trees? Eddie entertains her with stories of the kissing boughs he made in his youth and his first kiss. Although it’s too late now to grow something for the Flower and Produce Show, perhaps Keira could make a Cider Cake and fly the Grundy flag? These craft skills are passed down through the generations and soon they’ll be celebrating the next Grundy.

Bert grumpily thanks Neil for making him lunch, saying he’s only bad-tempered because his toenails are too long – Jazzer would normally cut them - could Neil? Calling on Jazzer, Neil is advised to watch more telly with Bert and bond over war films. Speaking of the foot care, reading aloud and special purchases for Bert, Jazzer is amazed. He’s never done them, Neil’s been had! Returning home, Neil makes Bert uncomfortable by suggesting a vulnerable heart to heart chat. Neil also welcomes Jazzer for a toe-clipping session, with the kitchen scissors. Bert’s been rumbled and apologises. Neil and Jazzer insist they’ll take Bert to The Bull, but the drinks are on him.

Neil is caring for a demanding Bert, who is rejecting salad and insisting that Jazzer would have done him some chips. Bert nags Neil to fetch him some special salty liquorice he knows Underwoods sell. Later, Neil acknowledges he can’t be there for Bert as much as Jazzer was at Tracy’s, but that he’ll try – and reveals he’s bought the liquorice. Bert tries it and can’t stand it – insisting that Jazzer would never make him eat it!

As Ed and Eddie plan a surprise roast dinner for Emma’s upcoming birthday, Neil calls in. Eddie unwittingly reveals that Ed has done some tree surgery for Martyn Gibson. Astonished, Neil asks if this is a bribe - is Ed spying on Brian for BL? Ed insists he’s not – it’s just good money, and he’s not told Martyn anything… well not much. And it’s all been to reassure Martyn so there’s no problem. Martyn can’t make him tell him anymore, and Brian won’t find out.

Kenton suggests a curry night to Harrison to chat, and wonders if he’d consider couples’ counselling, as there’s a woman recommended in Borsetshire. Harrison says he’ll ask Fallon. At the pub, Kenton cajoles Fallon into joining Harrison for a drink and they both receive a phone message – a consent form for a counselling session. They both don’t want to go, and Kenton protests that it’s non-refundable. Fallon and Harrison reflect on the fact that they no longer want to fight for their marriage, but acknowledge that the years they did have, they don’t regret.