The Archers

Jolene receives an unexpected Christmas present, and there's a changing of the guard at The Bull.

Hannah and Jazzer are driving their tractor to the start of the Run when Tony calls saying there’s a problem with his Fordson. He offers Hannah his place at the head of the line. Hannah thinks it’s a ploy for Tony to nab her position at the back, but Jazzer believes Tony and persuades her to agree. Hannah makes it clear how serious she is about winning the race to collect most money. Everyone then loves it as Hannah and turkey Jazzer lead the Run with angelic Eddie not far behind. Fresh from his motorbike stint, wise man Alan joins Joy to count the donations, with firm instructions to count Hannah and Tony’s buckets separately. Meanwhile, Lynda and Ruairi are marshals making sure everything runs smoothly. Ruairi wants to know if buying Paul a watch to apologise for upsetting him is a good idea and Lynda delivers a little sermon about not conflating a gift with an apology when the sincerity of the apology is what really matters. Then Tony’s Fordson passes with sleigh bells, a snow machine and Pat dressed as an elf, before Ruairi runs over to apologise to Paul sans gift. Alan confesses he inadvertently mixed all the collected money together, but Joy is happy to deal with Hannah and Tony if they kick up a fuss. Joy then announces they’ve raised over £1200 for charity, while Hannah and Tony are mutually complimentary about their entries, before wishing each other a Merry Christmas!

Joy has called a final meeting of the Tractor Run entrants, with Tony and Hannah amongst them, bickering over the running order: Tony is in first place, Hannah, representing Berrow Farm, is fourteenth. Hannah proposes swapping places, throwing Tony’s justifications back at him, but to no avail. Joy then goes through some housekeeping rules, before Tony and Hannah approach to argue over the running order. Joy nips their complaints in the bud by justifying her decision and making clear it’s final. As everyone disperses Hannah asks Joy to change her position to last, before heading off with Jazzer, followed by curious Tony. Hannah’s planning on having Jazzer in his terrible turkey costume as part of her decorations, though she’ll have to do some work on it. She then assures Tony that last place in the run is the best place to be… With Amber having come back last night, cocky George gives Kenton short shrift when he tells George to never say anything again like he said to Fallon the other day. George brings up the risk he took getting Markie rearrested, putting his life on the line, then defiantly tells Kenton to stop taking their nonsense out on him. Later, Kenton’s on the Green with Harrison when George’s dog, Holly, jumps up at him. This triggers Kenton, who hides behind Harrison, while George saunters up casually. George is completely unapologetic, despite Kenton’s obvious distress, before leading Holly away. Shaken, Kenton goes back to Woodbine Cottage with Harrison, where he reluctantly starts telling Harrison what George said to Fallon.

Jolene’s looking forward to Christmas dinner at Lower Loxley, but Joy’s stressed about the Tractor Run. Jolene doesn’t understand why Joy isn’t more relaxed, but Joy outlines the struggle she’s had just getting all the farmers on the same page about the rules, plus there’s the health and safety. She dreads thinking what would happen if anything goes wrong and she has to sort it out. They both laugh at the thought of Eddie dressed as an angel in a bedsheet and thermals, though. With Alan and Akram riding motorbikes, plus Zainab on her moped, Joy happily takes up Jolene’s suggestion they could be the three wise men. But she’s still short of marshals and as for the running order - how on earth can she navigate that without offending anyone?Harrison senses something’s different as he snuggles up with Fallon, before there’s a ring at the door. It’s Kenton delivering a basket of goodies, but when Fallon overreacts to an upstairs door banging Kenton senses something’s amiss and Fallon tells him about George yesterday. Fallon’s really angry, hating that George can make her feel like that. She begs Kenton not to tell Harrison, fearing his reaction. But after Fallon goes out of the room Harrison puzzles over why Fallon’s so sad, worrying it could be him. Without admitting what Fallon’s just told him Kenton assures Harrison that whatever’s bothering Fallon he can pretty much guarantee it’s not him.

Fallon tells Joy she’s just taken Martha to an uplifting advent service at St Stephens, before Alan headed off to a multi-faith prayer for peace at Felpersham Cathedral. George then comes into the shop, buying crisps and a big bottle of vodka, telling them pointedly he’s not going to New Year’s Eve at The Bull, seeing as he’s barred. Fallon follows George to the playground, where he’s demolishing the vodka, and mentions a job she’s seen that he could go for. George is negative and self-pitying, telling Fallon that Amber’s left and isn’t coming back, before implying Fallon’s been sleeping with Chris. He grabs Fallon’s arm, propositioning her himself. Fallon pulls away, accusing George of trying to provoke her. He needs to move on and stop blaming everyone else for his problems. George tells Fallon that instead of saving her that night he should have let her drown.At Home Farm, Ruairi is attaching a lotus flower made by Kate to their tractor for the upcoming Tractor Run, while grumbling light-heartedly to Adam about decorating the tractor without much help from the rest of the family. But what’s really bothering Ruairi is falling out with Paul after an off-road driving lesson yesterday which ended badly. Ruairi hopes that giving Paul an amazing Christmas gift will repair any rift between them – but first he’s got to work out what it could be. Later, Joy compliments Ruairi on his efforts with the tractor and asks if any of the family might want to be marshals on the day.