The Archers

Ian finds himself torn, and Emma offers her support.

As Amber breastfeeds, she wonders to George whether the baby suits the name Joe. George hovers around wanting to help, but being not much use to Amber, goes out with a shopping list and to walk Holly.
Susan has just served Harrison in the shop and gossips to George, wondering if he and Fallon have got back together now that he’s moved back into Woodbine. Susan remarks that George’s list will need a supermarket, and she promises to fetch the items after her shift.
George visits Eddie and helps him load troughs into a van. A pub in Darrington has bought them as planters. Delivering the planters, Eddie spots Harrison, who is taking drinks to a table. He is obviously on a date with Lily, and Eddie comments that he’s traded Fallon in for a younger model. George is reluctant to engage in gossip and wants to get home to Amber.
Susan delivers the shopping to a grateful Amber, who is exhausted and sore from her stitches. Susan holds the baby, allowing Amber to take a rest. Afterwards, Amber shares how overwhelmed she’s feeling by the birth and just how much the baby needs her. She’s also feeling bad about being annoyed by George. Susan reassures her – these feelings are completely normal. In a few months, they’ll adjust and everything will be fine. Later, Amber and George are open with each other about their raw and confused emotions but know they’re so lucky to have the baby and each other.

Amber is craving ice cream so drives over to the shop where she meets Keira and Brad. She shares that she’s been up since 6am with backache and Keira points out that it sounds like she’s definitely in labour. Amber agrees and they ask Robert, who’s arrived to shop, to take Amber to the birthing centre.
Initially uncertain of going with him, Robert re-introduces himself to Amber, puts a picnic rug down on his back seat and asks Brad to accompany her, all the while keeping them distracted with birth tales from his first marriage. As Brad fills in George, also en-route, on the phone, he helps Amber with her breathing and holds her hand. When George reminds Brad to record it, Amber dismisses the plan of filmed socials content completely.
At the birthing centre, Amber rejects the planned water birth and requests an epidural. But the baby is on the way and so the midwife, with encouragement from George, helps her through. Amber’s scared and feels out of control. Nothing is as she planned. Phoning Brad, George shares how scared he is for the baby and for Amber. He’s seen so many animals being born but it’s awful seeing Amber in pain. Perhaps its karma for the bad things he’s done. Brad tells him to be strong for Amber.
Back in the birthing suite the baby is starting to crown and Amber gives it everything to deliver a baby boy. Amber and George are overcome. She’s not bothered that it wasn’t livestreamed, though vows she’s never doing it again. It’s the best day of her life!

Starting a batch of Sterling Gold, Helen shares with Tracy that Slavko is coping well with milking the increased herd. Helen has paid extra for fast-track tickets for the family to go to a theme park at half term.
Jazzer endures giving a struggling Brad another driving lesson. Jazzer shares that working in the pig industry at the moment is hard. However there’s been good news from Jim, visiting the ruins of ancient Carthage – he’s happy for the Riley to be sold. As they finish the lesson, Brad’s attempt at reverse parking ends in disaster for Helen’s gate, which now resembles a piece of modern sculpture.
Brad visits Helen at the dairy with his apology and she’s understanding, accepting his offer of paying for a replacement gate. Tracy comments at home that Helen could afford to replace it herself but Brad’s keen to pay and Jazzer offers to fit it. Brad ignores Tracy and Jazzer’s hints to take a break from driving lessons, and says the collision has made him even more determined.
Robert asks Kirsty if Rewilding Ambridge would consider hosting their proposed Dog Walking Field. As these field requirements are the antithesis of rewilding she has to turn him down. Kate approaches and reproaches Kirsty for discussing work. When Kirsty asks her to stop fussing, Kate agrees to pull back and find a happy medium. Later Robert asks Kate for a Spiritual Home voucher to treat Lynda. Kate’s intrigued by the dog walking idea and she promises to look into it.

Anna visits Willow Farm, where Kirsty is trying to relax by reading one of Kate’s fantasy books. Anna wonders if Rewilding Ambridge would host her mother’s funeral. Not the interment, which will be at the green burial ground, but the celebration of her life. It will be pagan in nature and quite unconventional, and Kirsty is happy with the ideas. She tells Anna that she’s actually off sick with high blood pressure, but that Rex will be able to help. Despite needing to rest, Kirsty decides to do some research into pagan ceremonies. Kate arrives and tells her off for working, but Kirsty needs distraction from her worries about the baby. Kate agrees to help and visits Anna with ideas.
Anna is trying to take more time out, inspired by Kirsty, and she and Kate enjoy some wine, discussing rituals such as a glow worm release or timing the ceremony for a natural firework display – a meteor shower!
Amber feels like a whale washed up in the desert. Bringing a bag of baby grows gifted from his Uncle Stu via Tracy, Brad tries to entertain Amber with stories of Stu, and his unknown number of children, and the new swear words Brad’s learning from Jazzer as he teaches Brad to drive. Amber’s having twinges of pain when Keira arrives, who rings George to come home, as Amber is in labour. Amber is soaking her feet when George arrives, but it’s been a false alarm as the twinges have eased. Brad makes his excuses to leave when George starts a welcome foot massage.