The Archers

The Maliks have a dilemma on their hands, and Ben's nursing skills are put to the test.

The flat at the Stables is a complete mess whilst Josh, Paul, and Lily try to pin the blame on each other. The boys question Lily’s Australian tour, as she searches for her passport amongst the rubbish. Lily is determined to go and miss the UK winter despite their ribbing and finds her passport under a broken games console. Paul brokers peace with the bickering over plans for the Sunday roast. Everyone is pitching in with a Brookfield beef roast, cauliflower cheese, sponge pudding and cocktails. Stuffed and slumped, they plan a Christmas dinner to make up for Lily being away. Josh receives a text from Shula: she is coming on Saturday to Ambridge and plans to call in for a visit. The Stables need a deep clean and tidy, but that can wait until tomorrow.Zainab and Azra discuss their plans for the day. Azra is heading into work to check the IT system records against her manual notes as she’s not convinced the system is recording the data for tests properly. Zainab is looking forward to getting her scooter back.

Susan’s convinced there’ll be bad news about the shop; what if Hazel wants to sell? Neil reckons there’s no point panicking at this stage; there are other options. Susan’s not convinced about Ian’s pizza van double act plan. When Ian comes round later full of ideas Susan begins to employ her strategy of letting him down gently. However she takes a call from Hazel, and just as Neil’s struggling to hold off Ian’s enthusiasm she returns with the fantastic news that the building work’s finished. The shop can re-open next week. Delighted Neil and Susan declare it’s a shame Ian’s collaboration scheme won’t work out. Ian’s philosophical – no creative thinking is ever wasted and it’s opened up his mind to new possibilities.Ed passes off the bruise on his face as the result of a branch hitting him. Emma’s sympathetic. George calls in and Emma heads off to pick up Keira from the cinema, leaving Ed and George alone. George is shocked at the state of Ed’s eye. He thinks Ed shouldn’t make excuses for him – he’s a monster.

Joy wants a catch-up with Tony and Hannah about the tractor run. She lists other participants’ plans, majoring on their festive themes. She doesn’t want Hannah and Tony to feel uncomfortable with their space and sea creature tractors. Hannah and Tony laugh when they realise they’ve both been fibbing to Joy in order to keep their real concepts under wraps. They each claim their entries will be special and will require a prime slot in the order as the main attraction. They agree to be judged on whose tractor collects the most money for charity. Ed confesses to Brad that he’s never seen George this low. He remarks it’s understandable given the situation with Amber. Brad agrees uneasily. Ed suggests they all go bowling tonight to distract George a bit. Awkward Brad accepts, but later calls George and makes an excuse not to go.Working with George on some trees at Berrow, Ed struggles with his wrist. Alistair spots his predicament and comes to his aid, helping him put a support brace on and recommending he gets it

Joy’s curious to see what Tony’s concocting in his workshop for the tractor run. She’s worried some people aren’t sticking to the Christmassy brief. She’s open to a broad interpretation, but she’d imagined something generally festive. Tony declares his theme is sea creatures – but he can definitely incorporate Christmas. Joy’s anxious; she doesn’t want it all to look random. But Tony thinks it’ll be fun to have some variation. He suggests everyone should relax. It will all work out fine in the end.Eddie unveils his automatic turkey plucking machine ready for the big day. It looks promising though it makes a bit of a racket. Clarrie has errands to run before they start, and calls in on busy Pat and Tony. Pat notices Clarrie’s arthritis has flared up again and wonders how Clarrie will manage the turkey plucking. Clarrie reports Eddie’s enterprising creation – though she’s not counting her chickens! Sure enough there’s disaster later when the first turkey in the machine gets mangled. Clarrie concludes that they

Susan calls at Honeysuckle Cottage. Ian’s offered her the pizza van for shop deliveries. There aren’t many but she’s hoping word will spread – she doesn’t want people to forget about the shop. Adam assures her that won’t happen, everyone’s missing it. He confirms Ian’s looking forward to accompanying Susan so he can catch up with village gossip. Susan’s hoping the same thing – with the shop closed she’s never been so out of the loop. Later Adam tells her Ian’s come back full of ideas about linking with the shop more formally – a sort of mobile shop combined with pizza delivery. Susan reckons the deliveries are a temporary measure. There’s no substitute for a proper community shop. She’s interrupted by a message from Hazel, who wants to update her on the shop. Amber announces she’s going to visit her cousin in Ireland for a while, to have some space to think. George concludes she’s breaking up with him even though she assures him this isn’t the case. He talks to Brad, who suggests it might be good for Amber a

Amber struggles with her emotions, and Joy has reservations.

Eddie’s concerned about Clarrie, whose hands are swollen and sore. With turkey plucking day fast approaching it leaves them with a problem. Clarrie shouldn’t be doing it, but she sees little alternative. Everyone she’s tried for help is busy. Eddie ponders; there must be something they can do. Later Clarrie’s horrified to find Eddie’s taken the back off the washing machine. He’s had an idea that might make her life a bit easier. Clarrie retorts the only thing that will do that is if he puts the machine back together, this instant. Reassuringly Eddie makes a trip to the scrapyard and acquires a drum and motor to progress his plan. He now has the makings of a Grundy Turkey Plucker! No more hand plucking necessary – Clarrie won’t have to lift a finger. Sceptical Clarrie’s will believe it when she sees it.Chris makes plans to drop off Martha for a sleepover while he has a date with Carly. When George finds out Martha’s staying at Little Grange he says he’ll come over – he hasn’t seen Martha for ages and misses he

Amber checks in with George at the Pole Barn to see how Ed is doing. She reckons falling down the stairs could’ve led to a far worse injury, before heading off to a nail appointment. While taking Brad to Felpersham for a dating app date Rex recounts his own mixed experiences of online dating, most of which didn’t work out as he’s still single. Rex still hopes to meet somebody one day, though preferably not through an app. Brad asks Rex to turn round and take him home, having decided he’d prefer to meet someone in real life too. Back in Ambridge Brad bumps into Amber, who tells him how attentive George has been with Ed. Emma tells Ed about a two-person job she’s lined up, hoping Ed’s better by next week. George texts, offering to make lunch for them, but Emma beats him to it. Ed then repeats to Emma what really happened with George. Ed’s certain George never meant him to fall, but they have to ensure no-one ever has cause to think otherwise. George turns up, feeling guilty and scared in case anyone thinks he

George is in a filthy mood because of Amber’s accusation, but Brad thinks he’s got the wrong end of the stick. Ed then offers George a lift to Grange Farm and they have a similar conversation, before George shuts the conversation down. Later, when Ed drops in on George at No. 1, The Green, George despairs about his life as a known criminal - even Amber thinks he’s a thief. Ed confesses he knew about her suspicions, but he never believed it himself. George though reckons no-one will ever give him a chance and runs up to his room. When Ed follows, trying to get him to talk, George pushes him and Ed falls downstairs, just as Brad appears. Later, Ed tells Brad that he lost his footing, while George suggests Ed slipped on one of Poppy’s books. Brad reckons Ed was lucky - it could have been a lot worse.Kirsty walks round the beaver enclosure with Justin, pointing out where the animals have started working. Justin still hasn’t watched the beaver footage Kirsty sent him though, admitting he can’t think of anything mo

While feeding the turkeys with George Eddie mentions Amber helping him look for the missing money the other night – he still can’t think where it’s got to. George then offers to go into Borchester with Eddie, wanting to surprise Amber at Farm Supplies on the way. When they have lunch together though, Amber worries about money, wondering how George could afford to buy her ring. As she pushes him George realises that Amber thinks he stole Eddie’s money to pay for it. George reacts badly and walks out, just as Eddie phones Amber to tell her he’s found the lost money in his jacket pocket. Amber then leaves a message for George, apologising and promising she’ll make it up to him. Later at home, mortified Amber tries explaining how worried she’s been about him, before all George’s anxieties over what Amber really thinks start pouring out. He accuses her of not wanting to marry him after all, before storming out. Tracy wakes Brad and wants him to come shopping. When they go to the supermarket later Brad seems distra

Joy finds Tony in low spirits at Bridge Farm, dreading the thought of Christmas and what would have been John’s fiftieth birthday on New Year’s Eve. He tells Joy they had a row shortly before Tony’s vintage tractor overturned and killed John. After Tony goes to see the beavers being released at Rewilding Ambridge, Joy tells Ruth and Pip they should cancel her idea for a Christmas village event. It would feel heartless after what Tony’s told her. Ruth suggests asking Pat and Tony what they think first, though. And when they ask Tony he thinks a Christmas Tractor Run through Ambridge sounds wonderful, but gets them to agree to consult Pat before they go ahead and start publicising the event. Alice catches Rex up with what happened in Blackpool, then says she’s going to film the beaver release for Phoebe. Rex and Kirsty decide to get on with it, even though Justin’s not there. Tony arrives just in time, before the beavers disappear into the woods, and Kirsty and Rex hug each other. Then Alice realises she’s only

Suspicions rise for Amber, and Ruth ends up with egg on her face.

Leonard is still being spiky with Ruth about perceived insinuations of infirmity due to his age, and when Ruth probes about his mystery rendezvous at the Farm Supplies café she gets nowhere. Leonard has been making Christmas puddings for Stir-up Sunday, under Jill’s supervision, admitting he loves it despite never baking much before. He tells Ruth he’s nipping out again, but when he returns later Ruth waylays him in the yard and puts it to him that she thinks he might be seeing someone else. Leonard reacts badly to the idea he’s having an affair behind Jill’s back. Jill knows all about him meeting up with Connie - and other women too – and is perfectly happy about it, because they have an open relationship. Amber is uneasy about George emailing wedding venues and wanting to go to a wedding fayre. He’s sure her parents will come round to them getting married soon enough, but Amber disagrees, fearing the rest of her family won’t come either if they organise it against her parents’ wishes. Besides, Amber thinks

While driving back Lilian tells Tony how miffed she is that Justin had a better time than her this week. She slept through the only exciting things to happen! Though she did spot a frisson between Helen and Finlay, which Tony missed. Tony reckons transformed Leonie might leave James and Lilian promises to think about challenging him on his behaviour.Kate and Phoebe are doting on baby Peggy before Lilian and Tony arrive. Justin has left them a voucher for afternoon tea at Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Lilian thinks it’s the perfect treat, following in Jack and Peggy’s footsteps from years ago. Brian’s apparently thrilled to share his birthday with the new arrival and Kate promises to behave while staying with Phoebe and Brodie for the next two weeks.Henry is happy to see Helen, who flew back to Birmingham. Henry still thinks there’s something going on between Tom and Kirsty though. He threatens to tell Natasha, before Helen details the pain that Tom and Kirsty still feel over Wren and Henry agrees to try and give

It’s 5.00am and Kate wakes Tony with the news that Phoebe’s in labour, but still in Blackpool. Kate insists on taking the car to be with Phoebe, potentially leaving everyone else stranded at the castle. Helen and Tony, accompanied by Leonie, then have to go and rescue Finlay’s sheep, which have got out through some loose fencing while Finlay’s still at the fire station. They do the best they can in the dark to return the sheep to their field, effecting an emergency repair job on the fencing. Kate then demands the car keys, but Tony points out he’s the only one insured to drive it. He’ll take Kate to the nearest station once they’ve got all the sheep safe, though. Leonie realises one sheep is still missing and finds it halfway up a crag, before steering it back to safety under Tony’s guidance. Leonie’s a bit overwhelmed that she managed to rescue the sheep and save its life, despite James always telling her how useless she is.Alice and Jakob do their best to keep Phoebe calm when she wants to drive up to Scotl

Kirsty helps fractious Tom and Henry at Bridge Farm, getting Henry to talk about his difficulties at school. Tom worries he’s become self-obsessed and boring, getting upset when Kirsty makes light of his concerns. She finds Tom later, who admits having vivid dreams about their stillborn son, Wren, supposing they’d still be together if he’d survived. Kirsty disagrees, but gives distressed Tom a hug, which suspicious Henry sees. Kirsty assures Henry she only hugged Tom because he was upset, asking Henry to try and get on better with him.Having seen round his croft Helen acknowledges that Finlay has a harder time of it as a farmer than her. But Finlay loves it, far preferring his life now, post-divorce, to when he lived in Glasgow. Later, they circle around admitting their feelings for each other, before Finlay’s called away to his other job, as a firefighter. Rueful Helen watches him go.Lilian and Tony go on a whisky distillery tour. Tony has loved every minute of their trip, but Lilian isn’t happy, convinced L

Jakob, Alice, Justin and Natasha are eating breakfast at their B&B, still waiting for a replacement vehicle. Justin and Natasha got happily drunk last night, while Alice likes the views and being so close to the sea. Jakob though is grumpy that they’re still in Blackpool, until Natasha promises to find him a decent cup of coffee. Alice goes upstairs to see Phoebe, who’s fretting over Kate insisting on being with her for the birth. Phoebe doesn’t want Kate taking over and pushing Brodie out of the way, so Alice agrees they’ll talk to Kate about waiting until after the birth.Later, while eating ice-cream on the pier with Justin, Natasha remembers her bipolar father, who insisted on taking her for ice-cream in all weathers. Natasha feels that she and Tom make a good balanced couple, then moans about him texting to complain about Henry. Jakob then calls with the news they finally have a replacement vehicle, before going into an amusement arcade to try and win a soft toy, where he’s spotted by Alice and Phoebe

Lilian’s upset that the other people-carrier, driven by Jakob, was left behind at the Services and has now broken down. Tony and Helen assume they’ll catch up later, while Kate and Ruairi are sleeping in the back. Then Justin phones, explaining they’re being towed to Blackpool before a replacement is found. The others: Alice, Natasha, Phoebe and Jakob, seem okay with this, he tells Lilian, though he’ll catch a train home. But as Lilian arrives at the spectacular castle she insists Justin’s got to come! Leonie greets Lilian et al with news that they’re staying in the stable block, not the castle - and James isn’t coming. Hazel’s not there yet either. Helen discovers they’ll be sleeping in bunk beds, while Tony points out they’ve got some of the wrong luggage, before going for a river walk with Helen. They meet Finlay, a local crofter, who lends Tony his fishing gear, while Helen is very taken with him and his dog, Dash. Leonie tells Lilian that James never wanted to come, hinting that they live pretty separate

Tom gives Tony copious instructions about what needs doing while he and Natasha are away in Scotland on Peggy’s family holiday. At the Dower House Jakob is packing the people carriers with luggage, before Lilian heads to Bridge Farm, where she finds Tony complaining about Tom’s excessive notes. If Tom’s so worried about letting go, Lilian suggests, then he should stay and let Tony go to Scotland instead. As Peggy’s only son Tony should be going anyway, as specified in Peggy’s will. Tony isn’t sure, but Lilian insists she wants to spend some quality time with Tony while they still have the chance. To Tom’s horror Tony agrees to go, explaining it’s not just for Lilian, it’s what Peggy wanted. Tom and Natasha quickly realise this means one of them will have to stay. Tom thinks it should be Natasha, but she points out she’s organised everything to cover her absence, whereas Tom hasn’t really sorted his side out – and she is not missing out on this holiday! Later, Tony apologises to Tom, before explaining what Tom