The Archers

In the village shop, Alistair and Harrison are looking for biscuits to improve their bad days. Alistair tells Harrison he’s sorry to hear of his and Fallon’s separation and offers advice and a chat if Harrison would like one. At the Tearoom, Alistair recounts his and Shula’s separation. He says there is life after divorce and that even he and Shula are friends again.
Lynda and Robert recount yesterday’s events to Lilian who’s shocked. Lynda makes some barbed comments to Robert, saying he did nothing to stop them taking Monty. Robert goes to answer the phone and Lilian asks Lynda to be fair to Robert. They are both missing Monty. Lynda thinks Robert’s didn’t defend Monty, who must be innocent.
Lynda asks Alistair for a character reference as proof the police have made a mistake with Monty. Alistair explains he was there after the sheep attack and had to euthanise some of the injured. Lynda pushes him to vouch for Monty, but Alistair argues that there’s not a single dog he could vouch for as all dogs are capable of attacking livestock. Lynda returns to Ambridge Hall and Robert asks her to sit down. He’s got through to the B&B guests from that day, and the children saw Monty coming in through the back gate with blood on him. They cleaned him to avoid getting him in trouble. Robert believes it might have been Monty behind the attack, and calls Harrison to tell him the news. They ask about what happens next so that they can have Monty back home.

Harrison and Fallon struggle to divide household chores between them as Harrison says it’s not his turn to cook, whilst Fallon insists it’s not her turn to go to the shop. Both argue they’re busy with their new jobs.
Elizabeth is giving Fallon a tour of the gallery at Lower Loxley when Freddie comes to ask if Elizabeth is free. Not realising Elizabeth is in a meeting with Fallon, Freddie says she’s able to have lunch with him. Elizabeth explains that Fallon is the new Programme Manager and she’s busy. When Freddie says he didn’t know about the role, Elizabeth suggests that Freddie must have not been listening. Later in the Orangery, Freddie asks his mum about Fallon’s new role, but Elizabeth leaves him to greet a client.
Lynda and Robert talk about the fete whilst gardening when Harrison arrives asking to have a word. The DNA confirms it was Monty who attacked the Brookfield sheep. Robert and Lynda become defensive, pointing out Monty has never done anything of the sort before. When asked for their whereabouts on the day of the attack, they’re able to recount their own and Monty’s actions. Their B & B guests from that day saw nothing out of place either. Lynda says it must be mistaken identity. Harrison explains Monty will be taken into police kennels today. Robert collects toys and treats whilst Lynda becomes emotional. Harrison suggests they say goodbye, and Robert insists they must stay calm for Monty. Lynda’s quietly distraught.

It’s the day of the village fete. Chelsea’s upset over the cancelled launch of the horsebox salon. Whilst Amber donated styling tools, she has nothing to cut hair. Lilian arrives and promises to play fairy godmother. Keira says they need to wait for Khalil so they can hide in the horsebox to avoid the entrance fee. Lilian later arrives with a loan from Fabrice of everything Chelsea needs; Chelsea’s put too much effort into the horsebox for it to fall at the first hurdle. The big launch is back on! Keira asks Lilian how she persuaded Fabrice, and Lilian admits she’s agreed to be the face of his next promotional campaign.
Lynda accosts Alan over his entrance fee, trying to persuade him to drop it. Alan insists it’s not ‘his’ entrance fee and is raising funds for the Church bell. They agree to drop the price. A soaked Alan is suffering from the queue at ‘Dunk the Vicar’, as Lynda brings him a strong coffee and an update. Carol’s scavenger hunt clues are too obscure, leading people to abandon it in favour of the beer tent.
Monty refuses to leave the car, so Robert takes him home. When Khalil comes to enter him into the Pets Ring, Robert persuades Khalil to enter Ruby instead to help Lilian.
When Alan tries to hide in the horsebox Khalil insists he must have a haircut to stay. As Chelsea is grabbing lunch, Khalil starts to have a go before Keira can stop him. Chelsea arrives back to save the haircut, giving Alan a new look.

Finding themselves with a couples’ counselling appointment that Harrison and Fallon rejected, Kenton and Jolene playfully decide to attend. To their surprise, the session reveals a lot about their relationship. They miss being more free – the travel and the music. They are stuck in a rut and don’t want that. It’s time to shake things up a bit!
George goes back to the hospital, where a hairline wrist fracture is discovered. He’ll be in a cast for six weeks and off work a further six. This is terrible timing for them both as well as Esme.
Returning his phone charger, Keira visits Brad. She is upfront with her big question – is he over Amber? He can’t deny it and confesses he’s had a crush, in the past. But realising how good Amber and George are together, and how grown up their situation is, he knows he can’t compete. As he stumbles on his meaning, Keira catches on to something more – did he sleep with Amber? Defending himself, he admits that they’d kissed on New Year’s Eve and Keira furiously runs off.
Finding her later in her secret hiding place, George tries to get Keira to reveal what’s happened, but she decides to cover the truth. Meanwhile in The Bull, Amber convinces Brad to tell her what he knows about Keira. He tells her it was truly an accident – but that he’s told Keira about the kiss. Amber is stunned. She loves George! How could Brad do that, and what if George finds out?

With 6 weeks to go until her due date, Amber is feeling huge and is surrounded by boxes of baby products to promote on her socials. She asks Keira why Poppy seems off with her. Keira seems unconcerned and says it will blow over but says she’ll ask her sister.
After finishing a pre-natal yoga class at Grey Gables, Amber bumps into Brad on his way to work and there’s an awkward tension between them. Amber wants to help replenish Chelsea’s stolen beauty products. Brad asks about the baby and Amber realises, with a jolt, that she hasn’t felt it move all day. With rising panic she’s determined to drive to the hospital and, unable to reach George, Brad goes with her.
Meanwhile, alone at Meadow Farm, George slips from the tractor onto his wrist. In pain, with a very swollen wrist, he calls Eddie to take him to hospital, ignoring several calls from Brad…
Relieved that the midwife has given the all-clear, Brad tells Amber that he thinks she’s amazing. Meanwhile in A&E, George is frustrated with the waiting time and the lack of phone signal. Deciding to go home and take painkillers instead, his phone comes back to life, and he realises that Amber’s in hospital too. After an emotional reunion in the car park, it becomes clear to Brad that George and Amber truly care about each other. Alone, George and Amber tenderly reassure each other. They are just keen for this baby to get here safely.