The Archers

Writer, Naylah Ahmed Director, Marina Caldarone Editor, Jeremy Howe Brian Aldridge ….. Charles Collingwood Ben Archer ….. Ben Norris Jill Archer ….. Patricia Greene Josh Archer ….. Angus Imrie Helen Archer ….. Louiza Patikas Alice Carter ….. Hollie Chapman Neil Carter ….. Brian Hewlett Susan Carter ….. Charlotte Martin Usha Franks ….. Souad Faress Clarrie Grundy ….. Heather Bell Eddie Grundy ….. Trevor Harrison Jakob Hakansson ….. Paul Venables Joy Horville ….. Jackie Lye Alistair Lloyd ….. Michael Lumsden Paul Mack ….. Joshua Riley Adam Macy ….. Andrew Wincott Sykesy ….. Jasper Carrott

Susan’s looking forward to her new summer house, and is pleased for Clarrie that she’s loving the pergola. Susan’s new Bridge Farm uniform has arrived. It’s smaller than the last and she frets. Neil assures her it looks good on her. Susan reckons the new window might give them more than they bargained for, but reports later it’s been an uneventful day. Neil spots Jim has left his petition clipboard with Susan. She confirms they need to get on with the objection to the vehicle charging station. She mentions Jim’s looking for a top hat. Neil warns her Jim can be like a dog with a bone when he’s on to something. Brian’s intention to move from Willow Cottage worries Adam and Alice. Alice wonders if he’s waiting for one of them to suggest he moves in with them. When Adam asks if Alice would consider having Brian at The Nest, she mentions his penchant for an evening tipple might not be ideal. Adam understands; he’ll have a word with Ian. Later Jakob points out to Alice the benefits to children of having a grandparent living with them, which gives Alice food for thought. Jakob admits he’s dreading Paul’s leaving do tomorrow – he’s worried just what he might have organised. Later Alice tells Adam she’d like Brian to live with her after all. Adam also wants Brian; it might benefit Xander too. They agree to ask Brian to choose. Later Alice reports she’s spoken to Brian; he doesn’t want to live with either of them. As to where he’s going, it’s anybody’s guess.

Ben gets curmudgeonly Sykesy talking about his memories of Brookfield. As he warms to his subject Ben uses the moment to announce it’s his birthday, and Sykesy should join them for tea and cake in the residents’ dining room. After some obfuscation, Sykesy agrees. As Ben tries to jolly him along Jill appears with homemade cake, and the two are introduced. They have common ground as Jill remembers his name and that he worked the farms around Ambridge. Ben’s horrified when Jill asks if Sykesy’s still grumpy, but Sykesy laughs it off. He enjoys Ben’s embarrassment at his Gran’s birthday fussing, and offers enthusiastically to help cut the cake. Eddie’s under the impression Clarrie’s at work, but Neil tells him the dairy’s shut while the observation window’s being installed. They wonder what’s going on, and where their wives are. Neil calls Susan but gets no response. Later Eddie gets a text from Ned; Clarrie’s been spotted at a music festival. The men are even more puzzled, but at least it means they won’t be disturbed while they work in the garden at Grange Farm. When Clarrie gets home Eddie makes it clear he knows where she’s been. Why didn’t she tell him? Clarrie says it was payback for his own mysterious behaviour recently. Eddie shows her the reason. He and Neil have relocated Susan’s pergola to Grange Farm, while Susan’s having a new summer house. Clarrie’s delighted and touched he made this effort on his birthday. He declares Clarrie is the best birthday present he could have.

Clarrie’s attempting to fix a leaking pipe. Susan suggests escaping to a craft fair. If Eddie thinks she’s at work he’ll be none the wiser, and she can leave him a to do list. Clarrie capitulates. She has a great time, but keeps getting odd texts from Eddie asking about her colour preferences. Susan’s smugness is punctured when Neil too sends a text saying he might be late home. They note wistfully there’s a music festival on tomorrow. Clarrie arrives home to find Eddie’s to do list untouched. Why should she bake him a birthday cake when he can’t be bothered to pitch in? She tells Susan she’ll go to the music festival after all. At the Cheltenham Festival Adam and Brian happily eye up winning prospects. Brian’s grateful. This was a good idea. They’re amused that Brian was ambushed by Lavinia Rafferty, but at least she didn’t avoid him like most people do just now. Adam remarks he’s really enjoying working at Bridge Farm. Brian’s pleased to hear it. He’s really proud of what Adam’s achieving there, and of his young family. He’s been a good son, and Brian hasn’t always been the father he ought to be. Touched, Adam says if he’s thought of anyone as his dad, it’s Brian. He confesses he discovered the letter from Paddy and might try to find him. Worried he’s upset Brian he apologises, but Brian’s more taken aback at Jennifer keeping the letter than at Adam looking for Paddy. He thinks it’s sensible, assuring Adam he’s there if he needs him.

Lambing is in full swing at Brookfield, and Clarrie’s concerned about Eddie.

Clarrie has a list of outstanding jobs for Eddie, who protests it’s Sunday. Irritated Clarrie’s weighed down with things to do, and still anxious about the installation of the observation window at the dairy. Later she comments to Susan that maybe she should have a word with Helen about it. Susan points out they’ve agreed the window’s a good thing, but Clarrie still has worries. Susan reckons she’s overthinking it. Reporting this back to Eddie, Clarrie’s frustrated to find he’s only half listening, in a hurry to head off to help a mate, and declaring he might be late home. Brian knows his children are trying to keep him busy. Lightly denying this, Alice is pleased Adam’s arranged a trip to Cheltenham Festival this week. Suddenly Alice is distracted by something she sees, and heads towards the shop. It’s clear she’s following Joy, but is embarrassed when Joy turns round. Brian later explains to Joy that Alice had caught a glimpse of her scarf and had briefly mistaken Joy for Jennifer. Joy’s mortified. She’s bought the scarf from a WI stall, not realising it had been Jennifer’s. Brian’s kind; he’s just glad to see it being worn. She takes it off, but Susan reassures her – she shouldn’t feel bad about it. Later Brian comforts Alice. She was clearly taken by surprise; he assures her Joy understood. They share the history of the scarf. Brian asserts memories are what matter, not the material stuff. And that’s why he intends to leave Willow Cottage.

Adam has his mind made up, and Lily has to mediate at Lower Loxley. Writer, Daniel Thurman Director, Julie Beckett Editor, Jeremy Howe Brian Aldridge ….. Charles Collingwood Ben Archer ….. Ben Norris Josh Archer ….. Angus Imrie Helen Archer ….. Louiza Patikas Tony Archer ….. David Troughton Alice Carter ….. Hollie Chapman Susan Carter ….. Charlotte Martin Ian Craig ….. Stephen Kennedy Clarrie Grundy ….. Heather Bell Adam Macy ….. Andrew Wincott Elizabeth Pargetter ….. Alison Dowling Freddie Pargetter ….. Toby Laurence Lily Pargetter ….. Katie Redford Kate Madikane ….. Perdita Avery Noluthando Madikane ….. Mogali Masuku

Ian reports to Susan his pizza van business is doing alright; he’s on his way to cater an office party while Adam sorts Jennifer’s belongings. There’s still a lot to get through. Susan’s reminded of how she couldn’t face sorting her mum’s things when she died, and she offers to help Adam with the task. Having told Freddie that one of Lower Loxley’s paintings may have a slave ship depicted in it, she’s confused to see he’s covered it with a sheet. Won’t that attract more attention? Freddie wanted her to see he’s doing something about it. He’s having the painting removed and hopes to be rid of it completely. Noluthando questions whether hiding the image away really solves the issue. Freddie appreciates this but isn’t sure what else he can do. He doesn’t want to court controversy. Noluthando suggests that controversy in a place like Lower Loxley won’t be limited to only one painting. As Susan and Adam sort through his mum’s clothes, Adam finds a letter to Jennifer that he assumes is from Brian. On closer inspection he’s astounded to see it’s from his biological father, Paddy Redmond. Curious, he can’t stop reading it. Ian reads it aloud and they both marvel at the affection in it. Adam wonders why his mum held on to it. Ian points out she may have forgotten she had it. She’d moved on with her life, as Adam has too. Adam agrees it’s in the past. He doesn’t want it to take up too much headspace, and drops the letter into the bin.

Kate admits to Noluthando she’s still not feeling fully committed to Spiritual Home. Noluthando reports she might have found a new flat share in Durban. Freddie wants to try out his revamped tour of Lower Loxley on Noluthando. He’s recruited Oliver and Neil as volunteer guides. The two set off. Helen announces to Clarrie and Susan the installation of the observation window. Both are unsure, and raise potential pitfalls. Helen’s surprised by their negativity and she plays to Susan’s previous experience as a radio presenter. This sets Susan on a roll. She suggests an intercom system so that they can interact with those looking through the new window. Helen thinks it’s a great idea while Clarrie isn’t won over. Kate’s surprised to see Brian turn up at Spiritual Home. After some stalling he reveals that he’d like to have a treatment to relieve his general physical discomfort. Kate can vouch for the benefits of massage while grieving, and books him in. After his treatment, Brian’s feeling a lot better and will be back for more. Brian declares Spiritual Home Kate’s calling. Kate decides that instead of coasting with the business for the next five years, she’s going to really make it flourish. Noluthando congratulates Freddie on an engaging tour, but he can see she’s distracted on her phone. She confesses she’s trying to do some research on one of the paintings they passed on the landing. Freddie wonders if he got some information wrong, but Noluthando says it’s more about what he might have left out.

Helen and Tony discuss the planned electric vehicle charging station. They can see both sides of the argument and agree to keep a close eye on how things progress. Helen turns the conversation to her new idea for the dairy. Inspired by Adam’s Edible Forest Garden project, Helen would like a window into the dairy so people can see how their cheese, yoghurt and ice-cream are made. Tony likes the idea and Pat and Tom have already given it the nod. Helen wants it installed as soon as possible and has found an available builder via Lilian. Tony warns her that Clarrie and Susan will need informing. Lily’s moving into The Stables at the weekend, but she’s yet to tell Elizabeth and Freddie. Later Elizabeth interrupts Lily’s phone call with Josh, and Lily quickly reveals she’s moving out. Elizabeth isn’t upset as Lily thought she’d be. Lily reveals her insecurities over her relationship with Russ and how she’s fared since they broke up. She isn’t ready to tell Freddie, which Elizabeth isn’t pleased to hear. She wants Lily to tell him as soon as possible. While Lily measures the room she’s moving into, Josh apologises for Elizabeth finding out about Lily’s house move because he had told Shula. Josh raises the option of Freddie being the third housemate again. Lily refuses, saying she’d rather accept a previous suggestion of Josh’s, which she’d previously vetoed as unsuitable. Josh thinks their options are limited and sets Lily the challenge of finding another housemate by the end of the week. Lily is insistent that Freddie is not going to follow her to The Stables.