The Archers

Writer: Sarah Hehir Director: Rosemary Watts Editor: Jeremy Howe

Brian Aldridge…. Charles Collingwood David Archer…. Timothy Bentinck Natasha Archer…. Mali Harries Tony Archer…. David Troughton Lilian Bellamy…. Sunny Ormonde Emma Carter…. Emerald O’Hanrahan Mick Fadmoor…. Martin Barrass Usha Franks…. Souad Faress Clarrie Grundy…. Heather Bell Joy Horville…. Jackie Lye Rochelle Horville…. Rosie Stancliffe Kate Madikane…. Perdita Ave...

At The Bull, Lynda bumps into Lawrence, who’s just visited the Lower Loxley VE day exhibition. When Lawrence exclaims it makes him feel proud to be British, Lynda pointedly mentions troops from other countries who also fought in the war. Cutting Lynda off, Lawrence turns the conversation to Reginald Dodge’s family, who were also at the exhibition. Lynda’s irritated when Lawrence is then rude about the quality of Ambridge’s crick...

Freddie’s pleased when Elizabeth tells him Vince thinks he’s a solid, dependable man. They discuss last week’s abattoir protest, relieved that at least the live-stream was stopped quickly and they’ve managed to block the online footage too. But it’s the product recalls that are damaging them most. Freddie assumes the potential Academy contract is probably a no-goer too, and is proved right later, when they pull out.

Joy turns up a...

Elizabeth tells David at Brookfield about a nightmare in which she was desperately trying to stop David wreaking bloody vengeance with a broken bottle while trapped on a cruise ship. David admits he’s had nightmares about the abattoir protest too, wondering if he should have done more. They discuss Lower Loxley’s plans for VE Day and Ruth’s attempts to contact Reginald Dodge, wartime hero. Talk turns to Jill’s memories of the war, ...

At the Tearoom downbeat Emma tells Natasha she heard some of the Roserran crowd made disparaging remarks about yesterday’s cricket tea, knowing it came from Bridge Farm, home of the sewage leak. But Emma’s bad mood is more to do with it being the anniversary of George crashing Alice’s car. Natasha is very sympathetic, but later tells Emma they need to up their game with the cricket teas.

Phoning from the police station Usha gives Jo...

The police turn up at Beechwood looking for Rochelle or anything that could help locate her. While officers search the house Joy tells DC Tanners that Rochelle has been staying with Rex, then left a message about going away. Joy had no idea what Rochelle was planning though. DC Tanners then explains about taking away all their internet enabled devices, including mobile phones. After the police have gone Mick helps Joy tidy up. Joy ...

When Freddie goes into work Vince updates him on the police and Food Standards Agency investigations. They’re shutting the abattoir for four days to conduct a deep clean, while their products are being recalled from when Rochelle started. At least the live-stream conked out halfway through, but the Academy contract has probably gone.

Rochelle turns up at Rex’s boat, saying she owes him the truth. Rex is furious and doesn’t believe h...

Freddie’s looking forward to hosting the Academy Trust for lunch at the abattoir and suggests newly returned Rochelle takes a charcuterie producer on a guided tour instead of packing with her bad arm. Freddie promises her a security pass for the day with full access to the site. Once he’s gone Rochelle phones Saskia – it has to be today!

Helen, David and Vince are all there for the lunch, while Rex shocks Rochelle by turning up for ...

At Beechwood Tom and Natasha are worried about the disruptive effect Jack and Henry moving in will have on their family set-up. They’re not sure Helen is even seriously looking for anywhere else yet. When Helen appears she mentions several ground rules she has, which Tom in particular thinks might be rather challenging for them. Later, Tom checks in at the Packhouse, where Helen’s covering the veg-box packing for Adam. Helen gets i...

On his boat Rex encourages Rochelle to do her physio exercises so she can return to work, but it’s very painful. Rex then leaves for a meeting. While he’s gone Saskia turns up and tells Rochelle their protest group is ready for action. Specifically Saskia means Rochelle and Casey Meats, putting the pressure on her to return to work asap.

At the Shop Zainab tells Joy how much Azra adored the new wedding photos. They chat about Jack ...

At Beechwood Natasha throws away a vase gifted by Helen that Seren has broken, worried how Helen will react when she moves in today – she’s bound to notice. Now they’ll all be squeezing in together Natasha frets to Joy about Tom stressing, until Helen finds somewhere else to rent. When Helen arrives later she finds most of the cupboards already full and the twins’ mess everywhere. Joy gives a hand carrying all grateful Helen’s stuf...

Freddie frets as the cricket team struggle in their match against Adderton, while Rochelle fends off calls from Saskia about accessing the lairage at the abattoir. Later, while batting, Rochelle’s struck painfully on the elbow by a shot from Rex. After he’s out guilt-stricken Rex takes Rochelle to hospital, where to their relief they discover she hasn’t broken her arm. Rochelle then makes fun of Rex being overly concerned, before a...

Joy and Leonard enjoy their walk up Lakey Hill inspecting the footpaths and reminiscing about street parties gone by. Suddenly Joy spots one of David’s very graphic notices about the dangers of neospora. She’s shocked. Leonard starts to dismantle the sign just as David approaches. Leonard explains to annoyed David that he feels the notices are inappropriate, but David counters that the reality of the image is exactly what farmers c...

Ben gives David a hand on the yard, appreciating the screen break. David jokes that Ben’s NHS work is to give him a break from the family farm. Ben observes his Dad can’t resist another dig over his views on inheritance tax. Joy asks if anyone from Brookfield’s available to help to check out the routes up Lakey Hill ready for the VE Day beacon lighting. Unsuspecting Leonard appears in the nick of time. He’s happy to help. He and Jo...

There’s a thaw between Joy and Rochelle as they make the baked cauliflower postponed from last night. Joy suggests tentatively that she has some money set aside to help Rochelle get her own place. Wrongfooted Rochelle’s unsure. Joy presses on. It would be somewhere to bring the kids and have friends – like the one she met in the café the other day. Rochelle won’t be drawn. Instead she accuses her mum of wanting to reinvent her from...

Joy calls in to see Helen at the Beechwood house and helps with finishing off the packing and cleaning. Joy declares she’ll miss Helen even though she and the boys will be around a while longer. Helen assures her they’ll still visit one another. She presents Joy with an attractive gift, which Joy loves. She invites Helen to dinner; Rochelle’s cooking. Helen mentions her sighting of Rochelle with a friend at the cafe yesterday, but ...

Freddie’s keen to meet with Lily, but not so much when she wants to talk about how to keep spirits up on the cricket team. He wants to get out of his head, but can’t shake the concern of the camera being planted at work. Vince is too distracted to think about it and besides, he doesn’t seem to be taking it very seriously. Freddie’s stuck his neck out and asked the staff if they know anything but they’ve all played innocent – and he...

Zainab and Chelsea are admiring the new-born kids. Zainab’s happy to follow instruction and not get too close, while Chelsea would love to be more hands on. Helen tells her she’s welcome to pop in any time and maybe help when the kids are older. Satisfied with this, Chelsea heads off to the morris dancing event. Zainab shares her plan to recreate her parents’ wedding photos, and asks Chelsea if she’d get Azra to model for her busin...

Kenton’s struggling to make the morris dancing steps stick despite Jazzer’s coaching. Jolene’s impatient. Kenton insists it’s just the final fine points he’s wrestling with. Jolene gives him one more hour. They have a pub to run and the bar’s busy. When he adds sticks to the routine she’s horrified; someone will get injured. Reluctantly Kenton agrees to keep it just to the dancing. Later Kenton concedes defeat – he’s never going to...