The Archers

Will Jolene help or hinder, and Azra offers some encouragement.

Tracy heads off to Rochelle’s Well-being event. Chris didn’t know anything about it until Chelsea suggested bringing Martha to her movement workshop. Tracy’s running a mindfulness colouring workshop because Brad’s dropped out. When Zainab and Chelsea arrive at the barn the lights aren’t on and the door’s locked. Ben arrives with a key, but none of them have heard from Rochelle for weeks. Chelsea tries to ring her but the phone’s switched off. They decide to go ahead with the event anyway.Chelsea apologises to Zainab about her behaviour around Brad and Zainab’s sorry too. Chelsea explains people often assume she’s thick because of her accent and doesn’t go to university. Zainab counters she doesn’t go to uni either and that her job is delivering take-aways. When Chelsea asks why Zainab doesn’t date, she explains it’s because she’s a Muslim and that’s important to her. Chelsea checks that Zainab definitely doesn’t fancy Ben, before putting away her Cupid’s Bow.Later Chelsea reports to Tracy that Rochelle

Fallon catches up with Alice at The Stables and Alice mentions that Hannah was on the quiz team with her and Chris. Fallon wonders how Alice feels about that, but Alice doesn’t want to talk about it. Hannah unexpectedly arrives for a riding lesson, and Alice offers to do the lesson. When talk turns to Chris, Alice tentatively asks how it’s going with him and Hannah. Hannah’s surprised by the question and confirms that they’re not dating, though they might’ve come close once.Lynda’s at Grey Gables for a meeting with Lawrence, chair of Roserran-in the-Vale’s cricket club. She promotes why it would be such a bonus to include the Ambridge cricket team in the ‘Wicket and Stumps’ article. Lawrence is impressed by Lynda’s vision and is certain the journalist will go for the change of focus. Fallon arrives for her Spa date with Harrison, and as she hurries off, leaves one of The Bull’s Valentine’s Day flyers for guests. Lynda points out that she and Robert wont’ be dining out that night as Robert’s having some

Fallon and Tracy chat about The Bull’s Valentine’s offerings when Harrison will be heading off to his secondment. Fallon will really miss him and worries about how they’ll manage while he’s away. Later she and Harrison agree to make a ‘rules of engagement’ list, which they continue discussing on a romantic moonlit walk.Zainab wonders how Brad is after she turned down his cinema date – even though she hadn’t ever said that she fancied him. Chelsea disagrees pointing out Zainab was constantly flirting with him. And now she’s turned her attention to Ben. Zainab was all over him at badminton on Monday. Incensed Zainab says that not everyone sleeps with the first person who’s nice to them – but that must be how Chelsea operates.Later Zainab tries to apologise but points out that if Brad or Ben misread her friendship as a come on then that’s their problem, not hers. And anyway, she doesn’t date, but Chelsea probably wouldn’t understand why. Chelsea storms off saying she’s probably too thick to understand! L

Robert’s at the dentist while Lynda and Lawrence chat cricket in a Borchester coffee shop. Lynda steers the conversation to Roserran’s ‘Wicket and Stumps’ feature, suggesting that it would benefit from having another team in the article. But as she’s about to outline her proposal, Robert appears from his dental visit wanting to head home. Intrigued by Lynda’s proposal Lawrence suggests that they set another date to chat. Later Lynda tells Robert that she’s meeting Lawrence again on Thursday when she’s sure he’ll jump at the chance to include the Ambridge cricket team in the feature. Tracy asks Alice to join her quiz team at The Bull later. When Alice agrees saying she’ll ask Chris to have Martha, Tracy points out that he’s the only other team member. Tracy suggests that Susan could babysit and Alice muses that it might be nice to do something with Chris as adults, rather than as parents.Chris arrives at the quiz with Hannah, having convinced her earlier to join the team. When Tracy mentions Alice is c

Fallon, Jolene and Harrison discuss his secondment being brought forward. Harrison’s going to confirm it with Inspector Norris later. When Fallon heads off Jolene asks Harrison if she’s alright. He admits he was tempted not to agree to it, but it was always going to be hard saying goodbye to Fallon whenever it was. Jolene counsels makings the most of their time left. Later Harrison surprises Fallon by booking a meal at their favourite restaurant and Fallon says she’s done the same thing! Tracy and Chelsea enjoy the Steam Room at Grey Gables using Oliver’s free spa passes. Chelsea reveals to Tracy that she thinks Brad fancies Zainab. Especially because he agreed to play badminton as soon as he heard Zainab was joining them. Chelsea’s going to suggest that Brad invites Zainab to the cinema on Valentine’s Day. Tracy’s not sure that’s a good idea, but Chelsea disagrees.Later, while waiting for Brad and Ben to arrive, Zainab tells Chelsea that Brad asked her to go to the cinema, but she said no as it was c

A bombshell is dropped on Harrison, and Tom has cricket on his mind.

Writer: Nick Warburton Director: Jeremy Howe Editor: Jeremy HoweTony Archer…. David Troughton Lilian Bellamy…. Sunny Ormonde Leonard Berry…. Paul Copley Susan Carter…. Charlotte Martin Vince Casey…. Tony Turner Mick Fadmoor…. Martin Barrass Tracy Horrobin…. Susie Riddell Joy Horville…. Jackie Lye Jazzer McCreary…. Ryan Kelly Lynda Snell…. Carole Boyd Berwick Kaler as himself

Lynda despairs about the panto-in-a-week, and suspects something foul is afoot. Jill wants her dressing gown back, but Tony needs it. The schedule’s so complicated that Prince Charming will only meet Cinderella for the first time at the performance. Cast are dropping out and Berwick’s pestering her with script tweaks. On top of it all costumes are going missing. Lilian’s pragmatic telling Lynda to keep going, suggesting some quick fixes. She reckons Vince is behind cast leaving and the missing costumes. She’ll investigate and see what can be done.At rehearsals, Berwick’s assertive with Lynda even questioning Leonard’s competency to build the set. Lynda defends Leonard until she discovers he’s only built the coach and none of the actual set. Frustrated Lynda loses her cool with Leonard.Lilian discovers from Jean Harvey that Vince has told everyone that Berwick’s being paid. Mick thinks it might be because Vince overhead a joke Mick and Berwick had about how much it would take for Berwick to do the pant

Lynda struggles to maintain her composure when Berwick suggests some nips and tucks to the pantomime script. He’s keen to meet his pantomime ‘sister’ Tony, stressing the importance of compatibility. They’re shocked when Mick drops the bombshell that the Village Hall has been booked out by Vince. When Berwick’s despondent, saying he’s out, Lynda’s optimistic. She pulls out a Fairy Godmother costume, saying they have to believe that something will turn up. At that moment her phone pings with a message from David saying they can use the Events Barn for the panto. The panto’s back on!Tony worries that Berwick might think he’s not up to scratch as a dame, but when Berwick arrives he positively assesses Tony in his dressing gown. He thinks they can work together. Lynda’s offended when they go off to rehearse rejecting her offers to direct. Mick then receives a message from Paul saying that all the costumes have disappeared. Mick thinks they’ve been sabotaged.Susan tries to make it up with Tracy over her mis

Lynda’s delighted Berwick Kaler’s accepted her offer of accommodation. She and Lilian move on to the pressing matter of casting for the panto, using Lilian’s impressive availability chart. Kind-hearted Joy has put Mick forward for Buttons so that he can play alongside Berwick, and they’re hoping Alice will play Cinders. Vince accuses them of being unscrupulous, having cast a professional actor. He reckons it’s against the spirit of the thing – but not the law, declares Lilian. Vince bumps into Jazzer and quizzes him about the ‘ringer’ who’s been cast in the panto. Is he being paid? Jazzer reckons he might be – he saw Mick doing a deal with him yesterday. This gives Vince the ammunition he needs and he heads off. When Leonard agrees to take on anything if he’s unsuccessful in the Dame-off later, Lynda pounces and puts him down for set building duties. Sure enough Leonard doesn’t pass the Ugly Sister test even with the help of Jill’s dressing gown, and Lynda consigns him to the under-stage store, where he finds

Lynda enthuses to Lilian about putting on Cinderella. She’s convinced it’s the right choice of panto. They just need a good script, and the star attraction, which is down to Joy.Joy and Mick chat awkwardly about their future, and Mick wonders whether they should give themselves until the end of the week to decide whether their current living arrangement can continue. Joy talks about the panto and reveals that Berwick Kaler, the well know pantomime dame, is in town, and she wonders whether she might approach him. Mick warns Joy off of interfering, as she did with Rochelle. But Joy seeks out Berwick, and he turns down her request for him to perform for no money. Joy and Jazzer share some mutual frustration, as he’s caught between feuding Tracy and Susan; they should just have their scrap and get over themselves. Joy wonders if that would work for her and Mick. Later Mick confesses to Jazzer that Joy’s a mystery to him. In the spirit of helping, Mick organises a secret meeting with Berwick Kaler at the Bull, wit

Lynda steps into the spotlight, and Vince is on the warpath.

Writer: Katie Hims Director: Pip Swallow Editor: Jeremy HoweBrian Aldridge…. Charles Collingwood Ben Archer…. Ben Norris Josh Archer…. Angus Imrie Pip Archer…. Daisy Badger Neil Carter…. Brian Hewlett Susan Carter…. Charlotte Martin Vince Casey…. Tony Turner Emma Grundy…. Emerald O‘Hanrahan Joy Horville…. Jackie Lye Zainab Malik…. Priyasasha Kumari Elizabeth Pargetter…. Alison Dowling Freddie Pargetter…. Toby Laurence Lily Pargetter…. Katie Redford Stella Pryor…. Lucy Speed Fallon Rogers…. Joanna Van Kampen Nelly…. Jill Baker

Vince whisks Elizabeth off for an impromptu dinner. After letting her know about his generous panto offer for his staff, he suggests he might move in with Elizabeth. Elizabeth responds that quite apart from the weirdness of Vince having checked this out with her children first, she thought they’d decided they like their arrangement as it is. Vince reminds her that was nearly three years ago. But Elizabeth finds reasons it wouldn’t work. When he suggests they might buy a house together instead, she points out this would be a massive commitment.As they prepare for a sibling takeaway evening Josh is dubious about his conversation with Pip on Monday being about ‘something real’, as she describes it. He’s not keen to do that again. Pip laughingly concedes the point. Ben reckons they all get on pretty well. When he asks Josh about Nina, it’s clear to Josh that Pip has disclosed to Ben all that Josh told her. He knew this takeaway was a bad idea – though it’s Leonard’s treat and if he wants to thank them for welcomi

Stella asks quiet Brian if he wants to talk about Pip’s comment on Monday. Brian would rather not, snappily declaring Stella’s generation want to talk about their feelings all the time. Later Pip prepares roast chicken for dinner. Stella’s impressed. She shares how rubbish her day was with Brian in a mood. Pip regrets her comment about poisoning the Am – they lost the Home Farm house over it and it was awful for Jennifer. Suddenly it occurs to Pip that today’s the anniversary of Jennifer’s death. They realise Brian was sad rather than sulking. With that Brian arrives with a peacemaking bottle of wine. They invite him to stay for dinner. Brian accepts; it smells fantastic.Lily and Freddie are meeting Vince. While they wait for him Freddie recounts the story of Neil to astounded Lily. They move on to speculate about what Vince wants. Lily says if it’s to ask about the cricket, he should talk to Lynda. But when Vince arrives he wants to know how they’d feel about him and Elizabeth moving in together. Freddie thi

Outside a hotel in Southport nervous Neil prepares to meet the person who found him as a baby. Susan allays his anxiety. He looks lovely and his gift of flowers is perfect. She suggests he goes in, and gives him a kiss. He does so. Nelly declares the flowers her favourites and the ice is broken. She admits she’s wondered about him every day since she found him. Neil fills her in on his life and family, declaring himself lucky. Nelly’s glad, and explains more details about the day she found him. She hadn’t wanted Neil to be taken away from her. They’d visited him at the children’s home, and Neil shares some memories of that time. They laugh that Nelly reading him The Three Little Pigs might be the reason he’s a pig farmer. She was upset but realistic when he was moved away, and pleased things worked out for him in the end.Meanwhile anxious Emma calls Susan, wondering how it’s going. Susan reports Neil’s coming out of the hotel and seems to be crying – she’d better go. However Neil’s happy, and invites Susan in

Pip and Josh debate the pros and cons of the beaver scheme. Pip claims it’s an expensive vanity project driven by Justin. Josh counters that the views of Pip and their dad are just weird. He reckons Pip’s just doing it for their dad’s approval, which he himself doesn’t need, as he’s more evolved than she is. Pip’s incredulous – she has a child and a relationship while Josh lives in a house share and cares for chickens. How is that more evolved! Later Pip shares her frustration with Stella, who thinks the whole argument is a bit ridiculous. Josh calls Pip to correct her; he’s in a relationship too. He just doesn’t see Nina as often as he'd like; he’s actually in love with her. Pip feels mean and apologises. Josh tells her not to worry; he expects his relationship with Nina will probably just die a slow death.Brian confides to Stella he worries their concerns over the beavers aren’t being taken seriously. They have to consider the safety of the Am. Pip points out Brian poisoned the Am, and irritated Brian takes

The Carters debate the next step, and plans come together for Joy.

Writer: Liz John Director: Jessica Bunch Editor: Jeremy HoweBrian Aldridge…. Charles Collingwood Helen Archer…. Louiza Patikas Tom Archer…. William Troughton Ruth Archer…. Felicity Finch Neil Carter…. Brian Hewlett Susan Carter…. Charlotte Martin Justin Elliott…. Simon Williams Miranda Elliott…. Lucy Fleming Mick Fadmoor…. Martin Barrass Rex Fairbrother…. Nick Barber Joy Horville…. Jackie Lye Adam Macy…. Andrew Wincott Azra Malik…. Yasmin Wilde Kirsty Miller…. Annabelle Dowler Rochelle ..... Rosie Stancliffe