The Archers

Amber faces a complication, and Josh has his nose put out of joint.

David and Ruth realise they’ve committed to an event in the barn on Valentine’s Day. Ruth was hoping to offer to babysit for Pip and Stella. David’s affronted – maybe they might want to go out themselves. Ruth comments it looks like they’ll be behind the bar in the barn now anyhow. They can always go out another night. Later David’s disappointed when Kenton tells him the Bull’s Valentine’s event is all booked up. Kenton eventually finds a small space to squeeze them in, if David doesn’t mind sitting at the bar. David’s happy with this. Ruth arrives and suggests Pip and Stella could come to the Bull for Valentine’s if she and David babysit. David hurriedly covers, saying they should probably stick with doing the bar in the barn, to save money.
Pip and Hannah admire the art installation at the rewilding site: stained glass set in wood from a fallen oak. Pip admits ruefully that she and Stella don’t get much time together at the moment, though it’s good she’s enjoying her job. Pip wonders whether Stella’s mentioned a cruise for her birthday – she’s being secretive and Pip can’t work it out. She doesn’t fancy being cooped up at sea so she hopes not. Hannah confirms she’s heard nothing, but suggests Pip just asks Stella. Pip duly tackles the topic later but realises Stella had fallen asleep and hadn’t heard a word she’d said. Recounting this to Hannah, Pip asserts there’s definitely something on Stella’s mind. One way or another she intends to find out what it is.

After working a night shift Ben’s late getting up for his graduation ceremony and has to be chivvied along by David and Ruth. Before the ceremony starts David spots that Ben has fallen asleep. For alphabetical reasons Ben will be first up to collect his degree, so Ruth calls his phone, assuming the vibration will wake Ben. It rings loudly instead, immediately waking Ben, who apologises before going on stage to be greeted by the amused Chancellor. Afterwards Ben and David tease Ruth about the phone call and having a cry, but they are all very proud of what Ben’s achieved.
Amber encourages George to stay positive about getting a job, before Esme calls, asking him over to Meadow Farm at lunchtime. George assumes it’s a “maybe”, which Amber tells him he needs to turn into a “yes”. He’d be perfect for the job and Esme would be lucky to have him. When George gets there, he advises Esme on replacing some rotting fence posts. Esme knows about his criminal past, spelling out that she’s looking for someone trustworthy and reliable. George assures her he won’t let her down, emphasising how much he cares for livestock and how he needs to step up for Amber, now she’s pregnant. Esme reveals she has worked previously with ex-offenders, before offering George a two months’ trial of part-time work milking, looking after cows and doing general farm work, starting on Monday. George is dead chuffed, going to meet Amber after work. She’s thrilled and they both vow to work hard for their future as a family.

Rex asks Joy about New Year’s Eve and Mick’s story about taking Joy to a real-ale pub after midnight. Joy tells him she met Rochelle instead, and they talked about her new partner. It’s bittersweet for Rex, who says it’s great that she’s met someone.
Lilian tells Joy that Justin was bordering on triumphant when he came home last night. This is news to Rex, but he really hopes it means Justin has sorted everything for Peggy’s artwork unveiling at Rewilding Ambridge. When David tells Kirsty about the family members who are coming, he picks up that the artwork hasn’t been sorted yet. But when Justin arrives he tells Kirsty he thinks he’s solved their problem, but they need all the muscle power they can muster to make it happen before two-thirty.
Rex, Kirsty, David and Justin, plus mini-digger, then work like crazy digging holes to anchor the new, improved artwork. Joy arrives with news that a truck’s waiting down the lane, before Justin co-opts Joy into helping unwrap several packages. Each piece will go into holes on either side of the path, Justin explains. They’ve all been sourced from Julie the artist’s upcoming exhibition. Justin had to expend a lot of persuasive energy as well as hard cash to get her to agree, but so long as Lilian’s happy with Peggy’s Art Installation it’s all been worthwhile.
Later, Lilian gives a speech before the stained-glass installation is unveiled to appreciative gasps and applause. Lilian then tells Justin the artwork is awesome and Peggy would have loved it. She can hardly thank Justin enough.

At Rewilding Ambridge Mick asks if Joy can come to the unveiling tomorrow. Rex and Kirsty explain why it may not happen - they’re still waiting for Justin to let them know whether he’s fixed the problem of the undersized artwork. And when Mick sees it he agrees it should be much bigger. Kirsty still hasn’t got hold of Justin, but they can’t cancel until they know for sure what’s happening. By the end of the day Rex and Kirsty agree it’s too late to cancel now. But then comes the really bad news: Borsetshire Life are sending their Assistant Editor and he hopes the artwork will grace their next front cover, just when they don’t want the publicity.
Susan reports to Azra on how well their meal with George and Amber went, with Akram’s help. Susan’s impressed by Akram’s work at Bridge Farm, too. George comes into the shop and has a dizzy turn, before Azra insists he goes to A&E. She drives him, with Susan in the back and George feeling mortified by all the fuss, but Azra impresses on George the need for an all-clear on his head injury before he can start work. Later, Susan tells Azra that Amber’s with George at the hospital now and he’s had a scan. She gives Azra a bouquet of flowers to thank her, before Amber messages to say the scan was clear and they’re coming home. Susan and Azra compare notes on the virtues of constructive criticism, before Susan leaves Azra to enjoy the rest of her afternoon off.