The Archers

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.

When Eddie visits Ed at Home Farm, he deliberately puts Ed in a difficult position by letting Brian know about Ed’s tree surgery job for Martyn Gibson. Ed comes clean – that he’s been well paid on the understanding that he tells Martyn how things are going at Home Farm. Martyn wants to see if the BL contract is under control. Brian is furious and feels betrayed by Ed. However, Eddie hatches a plan with Brian. Ed should keep supplying Martyn with information – but only information authorised by Brian. Ed’s sceptical as he’s a terrible liar. Brian retorts that Ed owes it to him, even if it makes him uncomfortable. It’s payback.
Chelsea is making final plans for her hairdressing venture launch ahead of the fete, including an introductory offer. Entering the horsebox, she’s horrified to find it ransacked and her hairdressing bag of equipment missing. Everything she needs to launch the business has been taken, including her hairdryer. Later, when Harrison helps her retrace her steps, she reveals that although she visited a DIY store the day before, she couldn’t fully remember locking up outside the house last night. She blames herself, knowing that she’s probably made an insurance claim invalid. Harrison reassures her, telling her ways to make the horse box and contents more secure in the future. Jazzer encourages her to get help from family – for example borrowing her mum’s quality dryer. Distraught, Chelsea realises it will take her ages to get the funds for replacement equipment but is determined that it’s her problem to fix.

As Keira helps Eddie prepare cider bottles, they discuss the forthcoming ‘fete worse than death.’ Eddie is put out by the cost of putting the ferrets into the pet competition, on top of the £5 entry fee. Keira loves being part of the process of cider making and adores traditions. Perhaps they could wassail in January and sing to the apple trees? Eddie entertains her with stories of the kissing boughs he made in his youth and his first kiss. Although it’s too late now to grow something for the Flower and Produce Show, perhaps Keira could make a Cider Cake and fly the Grundy flag? These craft skills are passed down through the generations and soon they’ll be celebrating the next Grundy.
Bert grumpily thanks Neil for making him lunch, saying he’s only bad-tempered because his toenails are too long – Jazzer would normally cut them - could Neil? Calling on Jazzer, Neil is advised to watch more telly with Bert and bond over war films. Speaking of the foot care, reading aloud and special purchases for Bert, Jazzer is amazed. He’s never done them, Neil’s been had! Returning home, Neil makes Bert uncomfortable by suggesting a vulnerable heart to heart chat. Neil also welcomes Jazzer for a toe-clipping session, with the kitchen scissors. Bert’s been rumbled and apologises. Neil and Jazzer insist they’ll take Bert to The Bull, but the drinks are on him.