The Archers

Helen’s having a hard time concentrating on the cheese-making demonstration she’s giving as part of Open Farm Sunday, so Tracy steps up and smooths things over. Helen is tired after moving into her new house yesterday, but grateful for the help she received from neighbour Tracy and family. Susan then steps in to do the next demonstration with Tracy. Later, Tracy and Susan relax in the Tearoom, wondering why Jim has stopped his newspapers and taken his name off the volunteer rota. Susan acknowledges Tracy has borne the brunt of the burden caring for Bert. They’re surprised he’s lasted this long at Clive’s. Helen comes in, pleased the day has been so successful, then pushes Tracy for an answer to her offer of full-time work in the Dairy. Tracy promises to let her know soon.
Ed finds Adam is already doing some jobs that Brian asked him to do at Home Farm. Ed feels awkward, but Adam suggests a different job and gives Ed further instructions for the rest of the week. Catching Ed later Brian is put out to discover that Adam has countermanded his instructions with an alternative schedule for Ed’s work. Adam defends his actions before telling Brian that Martyn wants to talk about the Borchester Land contracts on Wednesday. Brian reluctantly agrees to a time. Having discovered they’ve paid a bill twice Adam asks Brian to leave all invoices, ordering and scheduling to him, while the partnership is still in charge, whether Brian likes it or not.

After a sleepless night, Ian worries over his temporary promotion and Adam despairs over Brian’s chaotic rule at Home Farm. Adam reckons his lawyer thinks their case -that Brian’s incapable of managing the farm - isn’t watertight.
Brad and Zainab catch up at Grey Gables, where Zainab confesses to missing Fletcher, the budgie. After a strange staff meeting, they question Ian’s mad new management style, while Zainab admits she lied during Ian’s team bonding activity. Later, Brad asks for advice as George wants to name his baby Brad, if it’s a boy. It feels wrong to Brad, but he supposes he’ll get used to it.
When Adam turns up for work at Home Farm, Brian warns he’s not welcome, having been fired by email with immediate effect. Adam insists his contract is with the partnership and goes off in the Land Rover to spray the barley. Martyn catches Adam, who’s parked up complaining to Ian about Brian’s behaviour. Martyn’s concerned by the wild rumours flying round about Home Farm and needs to know if it will affect BL’s contract. Then a police officer comes up looking for Adam, while he’s trying to reassure Martyn. The Land Rover’s been reported stolen by a Mr Aldridge and Adam named as the thief. After calling Brian to clarify the situation PC Trueman advises the pair to resolve the issue between them. Adam then tells Martyn that Brian has lost the plot. Martyn decides this has gone far enough and resolves to call a meeting between them as soon as possible.

Zainab moans to Akram that she wouldn’t have brought Khalil tickets to the T20 if she’d known how much he’d keep talking about cricket. They discuss work – Zainab’s finding Ian easier to work for than Dane, but Akram feels Bridge Farm rather dismissed his idea for a care farm.
Helen tells Tom the farmer accepted their offer for the Monteys: all ten of them. Tom can’t believe Helen went back on her word, but Helen’s convinced it will be good for the farm and asks Tom to be pleased for her. Helen asks Akram to help in the dairy. Akram’s willing to help, but only as a one-off – working in the dairy isn’t the reason why he came to Bridge Farm. Helen then explains why Akram’s care farm idea wouldn’t have worked. Later, Akram talks to Tom about Bridge Farm’s increased focus on dairy, which Helen’s just told him about. Annoyed by Helen seemingly taking control of the farm’s direction Tom starts arguing with her, but Helen walks away. Akram then suggests to Tom that the reason Tracy hasn’t agreed to more hours may be down to how it feels working at Bridge Farm.
At the end of their long days Akram and Zainab decompress, with Zainab wondering whether work should be fun. Akram confesses he’s happiest working with the land, but maybe he should return to plumbing. Zainab reminds him of his own advice to follow his dream, and stick to the path, even when it’s crooked. Akram is grateful for a daughter like her.

Natasha helps Helen pack clothes ahead of moving to 5 The Green. Henry’s become very organised, labelling all his boxes, whilst Jack is less helpful. They talk about the dairy and Helen’s excitement over expanding her herd. Natasha confesses she’s almost jealous of Helen’s enthusiasm.
Driving to Shropshire, Tom points out the irony of using the money from selling retired Tony’s Anguses to buy Montey’s from another retired farmer. Helen points out how they’re saving money by not having to bring them over from France. They then admire the cows in the field and Helen tries to persuade Tom to buy the full herd of ten. Tom points out their mobile dairy would struggle to handle the extra cows and Helen reluctantly agrees to only buy the six they came for.
Later, while chatting over a cup of tea, enthusiastic Natasha confesses she has a new business idea for Bridge Farm, to branch out into Botanicals and organic skincare. It could finance sending the twins to private school. Helen tells her to go for it, if that’s what they want to do.
When Rex catches Alice at The Stables, they agree neither wants to break up. Rex then apologises for what he said to Brian. Alice doesn’t know the specifics, so Rex tells her everything. Recalling their fight on Sunday, Alice says she’s inherited the Aldridge habit of lashing out. Rex admits to his own flaws and they agree to put it behind them, before Rex reveals his dad texted him, asking to meet Alice. Would she be up for that?

When Alice bumps into Ed in the village shop, she inquires if Ed would be available for extra hours at Home Farm. Ed says he’ll let her know after talking to Emma. As Will and Eddie admire Ed’s Texels, Will warns Ed to stay out of the Aldridge family drama, but Eddie reckons Ed should just keep his head down and take the money. Ed says he’d only go back if the hours were flexible enough to allow him to continue with the tree surgery. George then convinces Ed to be in a social media video on selecting a sheep for Borchester Show. Will and Eddie then heckle awkward Ed, before George banishes them until the filming’s done.
Finding Rex on Alice’s doorstep, Brian confesses the last time he spoke to Alice it didn’t end well. He starts rambling on about her, before Rex cuts him off. Rex thinks it’s inappropriate for Brian to be saying this stuff to him, pointing out that Brian’s ego is a major source of the Aldridge family problems. Rex continues that he knows about fathers who insist on always getting their own way, calling Brian out when Alice appears.
Brian and Alice both hate all the fighting, and Brian wants things to go back to normal. Alice insists that Brian cannot run Home Farm alone and says she’s found someone who could help. To her surprise, Brian agrees to give Ed a chance. Later, Ed visits the Nest, telling Alice he’ll take the extra hours subject to agreeing suitable pay and flexibility.