The Archers

Akram suffers a crisis of confidence, and there’s a clash of ideas at Bridge Farm.

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.

At Berrow farm, Ian nervously rambles to Martyn Gibson before apologising for yelling at him yesterday. Martyn accepts and agrees to not escalate his complaint further, as his brunch date wasn’t going well anyway. Seeing the pressure of his role on Ian, Martyn offers his advice on working in management over coffee. As they talk about managerial techniques and goals for Ian, Martyn plays bingo with cliché phrases.
Tom is admiring climate-controlled greenhouses online and planning to futureproof Bridge Farm. Natasha encourages him to talk to Helen, but Tom doesn’t want to pitch his ideas until Helen has moved house this weekend. Natasha raises Loxley Barratt School’s negative Ofsted report and how Helen wants Tom and Natasha involved in the PTA when Seren and Nova start in September. As they start to mention considering sending them elsewhere, Pat turns up with the twin’s missing water bottles.
Later, Pat and Tom are working in Bridge Farm’s garden as they admire how all the planting is coming together. Pat mentions the Ofsted report to Tom, who lets slip they’re looking at alternative options to Loxley Barratt. Pat is outraged at the idea of sending the girls to private school and questions how they would even afford it.
Following an appointment at a local Pre-Prep school, Tom and Natasha feel deflated by the cost involved and Natasha suggests a loan or even selling her Summer Orchard business to cover it. Tom takes this as motivation to push on with expanding his veg business through buying a new greenhouse.

Alice is waiting for Rex to take her on a date whilst Adam tells her how he was sacked by email by Brian. Alice is horrified, but Adam states as the Partnership employs him, not Brian, he will continue to work. Rex arrives and encourages Adam to drop by The Bull later, as rumours of the Aldridge family’s falling out have spread through the village. Later, Alice is ordering lunch at the Bull, when Martyn Gibson comes in complaining about Ian’s service at Grey Gables. When Adam turns up for a drink, Alice tries to warn him before Martyn Gibson asks Adam for a word. Martyn praises Ian’s talent as a chef but questions his management skills, before asking about the rumours of Home Farm.
When passing by Home Farm, Stella sees Brian struggling with a drench backpack. She offers to assist with the yearlings as it’s a lovely day and she’s concerned for him. Brian insists he’s fine and feels better reclaiming the farm as solely his. Brian and Stella work well as team, when Brian asks if Stella would ever consider coming back to Home Farm? Stella quickly shuts that down, but Brian notes that Stella will have her own farm once she’s married Pip.
On the way home, Stella bumps into Alice and asks what is Brian thinking? Alice decides to find someone to help him on the farm. Rex tries to invite Alice back to the boat, but they start to fight as she insists she’s not good company right now.