The Archers

Writer: Tim Stimpson Director: Jessica Bunch Editor: Jeremy Howe Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood David Archer … Timothy Bentinck Tony Archer … David Troughton Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman Chris Carter … Wilf Scolding Susan Carter … Charlotte Martin Ian Craig … Stephen Kennedy Amber Gordon … Olivia Bernstone George Grundy … Angus Stobie Bert Horrobin … David Sterne Tracy Horrobin … Susie Ridd...

Tony’s impressed by David in his traditional bowler hat as an official of The Borchester Show. George reports a problem with a water leak at one of the handwashing stations near the livestock. As Tony finds a spanner and George tightens the pipe, David is drenched. Disaster is also averted when a calf breaks free - George catching it and Tony grabbing its mother. David asks Tracy to alert the comm...

On the Green, Susan notices the new cot in Amber’s car. Amber explains that she’s returning it to her parents – she and George want to use the Grundy cot and don’t need the Gordons’ money. As Susan advises sensitivity with returning it, Amber becomes faint. Amber explains that she’s exhausted with the amount of social media work for the Borchester Show. She’s not slept well and hasn’t started her...

Chatting to Ian at Honeysuckle Cottage, Alice can’t believe they want to take Brian to court. All Alice wants is for Martha to have a peaceful relationship with her grandfather – that’s more important than money. When Adam arrives home, Alice is on the attack but he stops her – he’s been to see his solicitor and has called it all off. When Alice leaves, a stunned Ian questions the change of heart...

David updates Brian on the dog attack. Frustratingly, until the dog is identified, he can’t claim compensation for the loss of his sheep from its owner. David praises Tony for the progress he’s made with Bridge Farm’s garden. Joining Tony to dig, they discuss the investment into another milking parlour or polytunnels, until Tony’s spade hits metal – John’s childhood model Fordson Major. David enco...

As Chris packs his and Martha’s things ahead of Harrison’s return from Yorkshire, he shares with Fallon his hopes that his flat will be ready soon. Last time he lived at Susan and Neil’s, they almost sent him doolally. Hannah calls, letting Chris know that one of the farriers for the Borchester Show has been injured and will have to pull out of the pairs. Fallon suggests that Chris takes his place...

Martyn mobilises a team with water tankers to help David remedy the equestrian ring at the Showground. Delighted David buys the drinks at the Bull. Neil catches Ed to find out what’s going on with him and Martyn. Neil’s horrified as Ed explains Martyn’s offer of some lucrative tree work in exchange for informing on Brian at Home Farm. Keira feels pressured by her family to show the Texels for Ed a...

With Martyn Gibson’s water company links, Neil asks a favour of him to help David and Chris with the Show’s equestrian situation. Neil shocks Martyn by revealing that Adam has left Home Farm, quickly realising Martyn didn’t know, as Martyn storms over to see Brian. Martyn wants assurance that Home Farm will honour their contract for the Borchester Land harvest. Ed reassures Martyn and Brian props...

Kate treats Kirsty to a free massage at Spiritual Home, and as they talk about Kirsty’s wellbeing, Kate mentions she can see Kirsty’s pregnancy bump. The relaxed mood is somewhat soured by the smell of manure, which leads Kate into a rant about Brian. Losing her concentration, Kate becomes too forceful with Kirsty’s foot massage, and Kirsty begs her to stop before she causes an injury! Over herbal...

At the Showground, Lottie returns Chris’s phone after last night, and they agree they need a proper date, not a ‘booty call’. Chris gets a message from Harrison who’s due home in a couple of weeks, and wonders about living arrangements for himself and Martha. Chris is called away by David to the equestrian ring – the ground’s looking too hard to compete on. Discussing the Borchester Show media pla...

Brian struggles with a chemical order but is convinced he let Adam go at the right time, as he has Ed. Ed reminds Brian he’s only there to work the land. But when Ed quickly solves a problem, he’s thrown when Brian insists he needs Ed next Thursday to meet an engineer – Ed’ll have to miss the Borchester Show. Ed also agrees to shift manure to Broad Acre, despite his concerns it’s right by Spiritua...

Kirsty and Helen speculate on the sort of pastimes Kirsty’s baby will grow up to have. Helen wonders whether Kirsty’s told Tom about the pregnancy. Kirsty responds that she hasn’t really told anyone yet. Tom’s admiring images of greenhouses, and Natasha humours him. He’d prefer her to take a proper interest and be supportive. She confirms her support but is more focused on the boxes of botanicals...

It’s the day of Brian’s mediation meeting with Adam and he’s made biscuits, rebutting Kate’s suggestion that they’re an olive branch. He doesn’t need one; he’s the good guy. When she asks whether he’s thought about division of the partnership’s profits, he laughs that there aren’t any. Kate wishes him luck, reminding him he can’t be both the good guy and a stubborn stick-in-the-mud. Ian advises Ad...

Tom tells Helen he’s confused as to why she’s acting as if the new milking parlour is the obvious next step for the farm. Helen insists it’s just about belief in her business, and expansion of the farm, which will benefit Tom too. She suggests they discuss it calmly rather than falling out – getting a quote isn’t the same as ordering a parlour. It’s the bare minimum needed for putting a business p...

Susan isn’t sure she can commit to more hours in the busy dairy until they’ve solved the staffing crisis at the shop. She admits to Helen that she misses Jim. Helen’s loving having Tracy as a neighbour. She’s really helpful, and Brad’s happy to throw the boys’ ball back into her garden. When she moots the possibility of having a connecting gate between the properties, Susan’s equivocal – boundarie...

Anne Marie calls at No.1 The Green, hoping to catch Amber. George suggests she waits for her to return from work. However Amber messages to say she’s eating out with a mate. Anne Marie’s philosophical, and George acknowledges it’s good they’ve chatted so things can be less awkward between them all now. It’s hard for Amber being caught in the middle. George persuades Anne Marie to consider an upgra...

David and Ruth have heard nothing from Josh recently other than a fleeting thumbs up. They acknowledge they should be grateful that means he’s doing ok. Over lunch with Kate, Brian asserts he had a smashing day out yesterday with Martha, Chris and Neil – it’s just a shame Xander wasn’t with them. Brian wants to celebrate the official dissolution of the family partnership, but Kate doesn’t approve....

Keira’s not keen on her upcoming work experience placement at Amside – Henry’s sounds much more fun. She invites Henry to her Father’s Day tea with Ed – she could do with someone to chat with George so that she doesn’t have to. The atmosphere gets awkward in the busy Tearoom as Keira accuses George of rudeness when he takes a phone call in the middle of proceedings. Later Keira does her best to bl...

Bill and Anne Marie drop in unexpectedly at 1 The Green, while George and Amber are out. Anne Marie’s keen to see if the house meets her expectations for when the baby arrives, before Will gives a guided tour, glossing over how tight a squeeze it will be fitting the cot and baby clothes storage in the bedroom. Will implies that he expects them to stay through the baby’s childhood, before proudly s...

Brad’s showing Kate how to make beds at Grey Gables when they hear a noise in the wardrobe and Fletch the budgie flies. Alerted by the commotion, Oliver helps catch Fletch, stating they can reunite the Maliks with their budgie. Brad continues showing Kate the housekeeping ropes, chatting about Zainab handing Fletch back to Akram, before moving on to unrequited love. Brad reflects sadly on his doom...

Before Bill goes to meet Amber at his car showroom Anne Marie wonders if Amber’s avoiding her after things went badly last time they met. Bill can see Amber might have taken exception to Anne Marie’s suggestion of an abortion, while Anne Marie concedes she could have been more subtle. Bill wants to be sure they don’t scare Amber off again. Later, when they meet, Amber makes a good sales pitch to B...

David and Pip make an extremely shocking discovery out in the fields and which includes some very graphic descriptions. Brian, Alistair and Jolene muse on Jim’s possible whereabouts on his travels. Alistair’s missing him and will let them know when the first of Jim’s postcards arrives. Brian wishes he could still go on holiday with Miranda. He sees himself as the victim in all Home Farm’s current...

George tells Amber his big surprise for the baby should be ready tonight. Amber’s been putting off asking her dad to take the trade stand at Borchester Show but George persuades her to go for it. Later, Amber thinks the upcycled Grundy family cot George reveals is gorgeous, before Bill replies belatedly to her message about the trade stand, asking her to meet for a talk. Seeing George fly his dron...

Brian is disturbed to find Kate working at Grey Gables, but Kate assures Brian she isn’t trying to humiliate him. She simply needs a secure income to enable her to keep Spiritual Home going. For Brian the bigger issue is Kate taking a job from smug Oliver. Kate says she’s more worried than ever about Brian, after recent events. Brian wants her to ask Adam about the letter he presented to him. Bria...

Alistair greets Jakob with news that the minibus taking them to the World Cup cricket match is stuck with a flat tyre, but thanks to a suggestion by Jakob they manage to fix it. Later, at Edgbaston cricket ground, Tracy is thrilled just to be there, while Alistair’s determined nothing will stop Jim having a wonderful day with his friends. Tracy is delighted that Jakob is relaxing and enjoying hims...