The Archers

Alice and Rex are getting along fine, and the Grundys have a get-together.

Having heavily persuaded Ruairi to come round for tea at The Nest, Alice says both her and Miranda are worried about him. Ruairi admits the thought of going back to Home Farm without Jenny there feels really weird. Alice agrees, but also looks forward to sitting by the French windows and conjuring up Jennifer’s presence. Ruairi starts crying, before rejecting Alice’s offer to move into the Nest with her and Martha instead. Alice pushes, she can easily move into Martha’s room and they’d both love his company. Ruairi though insists he’ll stay at Blossom Hill, at least while he can still afford it. Alice reiterates he’d be very welcome and makes him promise that there’s nothing else bothering him.
George and Amber ambush Eddie and Will into a meeting, producing the scan photo of Eddie’s first great grandchild. They explain, the next scan’s only eight weeks away and they don’t want to bring their baby home into a divided family. Left alone to talk, Eddie asks why Will can’t put their differences behind him, like him and George have done. Will argues that he couldn’t turn his back on George like Eddie did. He was taking care of someone who could have died. Will then admits what George did to the family was awful, but reckons he’s really turned a corner since. They hug and agree to draw a line, grateful to George and Amber for bringing them together. Elated, Eddie suggests a resurrection of the Cider Club on Sunday. This reunion deserves a celebration!

Celia Sparrow is disappointed to hear from Helen that she’s turning down the job of running Reuben’s dairy. She admires Helen’s loyalty to her family but questions whether that will be enough for Helen long term. With her talent and ambition, won’t she outgrow Bridge Farm? Helen doesn’t agree. Meanwhile, Tracy has got the dairy work under her belt, including a knack with the temperamental curd cutter machine. To thank her for her hard work and discretion, Helen takes Tracy for lunch in the Tea Room. Tracy has helped her make the job decision – Bridge Farm is in her heart and part of who she is. Tracy reminds Helen that Reuben Sparrow’s organic dairy could be challenging competition, but will not have their key advantage – Helen in charge! Helen confides further – she’s put in an offer on a house being sold off by the Housing Association. Tracy’s astonished to realise it’s one of the houses on The Green – they’d be neighbours.
Amber anxiously awaits the baby scan with George. As well as checking the baby’s development and measurements, the scan will help Sonya, the sonographer, estimate a due date. Sonya finds a strong heartbeat and delighted Amber and George decide to have photos printed. Amber had considered sharing it on her socials, but decides to keep it to family for now. Filled with emotion on their journey home, Amber feels excited about their growing baby, which according to her pregnancy app, is the size of a lime. They’re having a baby - and nothing else in the world matters.

The Bridge Farm Archers discuss the results of the broadly positive audit. The veg boxes are flying and the Tea Room’s doing okay after the sewage setback. The sausages are coasting, and both Dairy and Shop are doing really well. However, to Tony’s dismay, the Angus herd isn’t profitable and Helen suggests a possible alternative: they could buy in organic beef for the shop and café, switch the herd to more Montbeliardes and thereby up production in the dairy. Sensing implications about his age Tony slams out. Later, he reflects gloomily to Pat that although Tom and Helen are the future of the farm, they need to remember what’s best for the land - and the people who live and farm it. It’s not just about maximising profit. He thinks they’re in danger of taking the soul out of Bridge Farm.
As Amber and George work on Eddie’s 75th birthday slideshow, Will joins them but remains determined not to attend the party. He cannot forgive Eddie for how he treated George. Perhaps when George has his own child he will understand why Will can’t move on. Later, Amber reveals to George that she’s taken another pregnancy test. It’s positive, but she’s worried about tomorrow’s first scan, considering she’s had no recent pregnancy symptoms. She’s researched early pregnancy and knows there’s risk, so doesn’t want to get her hopes up. George tries to reassure Amber and Will boosts her by sharing memories of his children’s scans. He remembers Nic being worried but staying focused on being positive. That’s what Amber needs to do too.

Cheese rival Celia Sparrow calls at Bridge Farm, where Helen underplays the audit. As they tour the farm, Celia reveals the reason for her visit. Her musician brother Reuben is opening an organic farm in Little Croxley. Staggered, Helen hears that he’d like her to be Director of Operations in his dairy. It’s an exciting project and he’s offering an incredible salary, enough to move house if Helen wanted. Back at the dairy, Tracy is impressed by the job offer – she’s a huge fan of Reuben’s band Spuggy, and was gutted to miss their reunion tour. But when Helen reveals she doesn’t think she could leave Bridge Farm, Tracy is unconvinced– is she thinking with her head or her heart?
Brian tries to reassure Miranda that Ruairi is fine – he’s just worried about Paul and his dying grandmother. This doesn’t ring true to Miranda, so Brian discloses Ruairi’s anguish over the Home Farm move, linked to his memories of Jenny and Siobhan. At Blossom Hill, Miranda gently coaxes Ruairi, who admits he’s struggling. She suggests planting trees at the house, in honour of his mother and step-mother. Ruairi’s about to open his heart when his phone rings and the moment is lost. Later, he tells Brian that he’d been at the point of telling Miranda about the attack on George. Appalled, Brian tells Ruairi he can never implicate Miranda in their mess. Brian agrees that the move isn’t right for Ruairi at the moment and he can stay at Blossom Hill, but warns him to stay away from Miranda.