The Archers Podcast

Kate is in need of a favour, and Justin has reservations.

Stella has a meeting with Justin. Hes decided to meet her on Lakey Hill he wants an overview of Home Farm, both metaphorical and physical. Stella reports on her findings regarding the positives and negatives of the ecology. There are more debits than credits, but Stella observes they were expecting that. Its a mixed picture, and Justin intends to act on it. He'd like to take BL's land out of food production and rewild the Berrow estate. Stellas shocked surely the Board wont support a halt on producing food? Justins pretty confident they will with his persuasion. Hes happy to take the flak. Stella expresses concern for Home Farm but Justin assures her the legal obligations will be fulfilled. This will be his legacy. He wants to leave Ambridge in a better state than when he arrived. Crispin arrives fresh from a six mile run. Kates surprised at his level of fitness and Jakob notes Crispins known for his performative athleticism. Settled for his massage, Crispin assures Kate alls set to run smoothly at Thursdays funeral. Kate can see why Peggy wanted him in charge. She continues to chat quietly before realising Crispins not responding and cant be roused. She rings Jakob in a panic shes killed the vicar! Jakob calms her down and an ambulance is called. As Crispin is tended, Phoebe turns up a day early for a planned visit. As Jakob soothes wired Kate, Phoebe catches up with the situation. It dawns on them that Crispin may not be well enough to officiate at Peggys funeral.

Crispin surprises Alan by arriving unannounced to discuss Peggys funeral arrangements. He suggests brightly that Alan should box with him sometime, before pointing out the advantage of him not conducting the funeral is that hell be able to immerse himself in the service as a fellow mourner. With the appearance of Kate and Jakob to discuss things further Alan takes his leave but not before Crispin makes a good natured aside about his motorbike. Crispin familiarises himself with Peggys family members before explaining some of the finer points of the service. Kate notices he has a shoulder twinge and offers him a massage to help ease it. Jakobs dubious but Crispins tempted. Later Kate defends her grans choice of vicar to Alan. Alans pleased she feels she can work with Crispin. Kate assures him she can. She wonders whether Alan would mind standing at the back for the service, or even outside to marshall mourners if its very busy. Afterwards Jakob thinks this was a little nasty of Kate but she feels justified; referring back to the past, she asserts that Alan should have approved Peggys window. Helens given David a cheese hamper as a thank you for saving Bridge Farms Open Farm Sunday. She notices Tonys quiet, and he admits hes worried about carrying his mums coffin at the funeral. Henry asks tentatively if he might do it instead of his granddad. Grateful Tony thanks him it would be a huge weight off his mind. He tells Henry hes a very special boy.

The Brookfield contingent are delighted with the attendance at Open Farm Sunday. Its great to get such support from the community. Stellas impressed with Pips dairy presentation they agree its important for farms to keep doing this. Even Joshs silage sniffing attraction has a healthy queue. They spot some over-enthusiastic youngsters on the yard but its nothing they cant handle. They worry that quiet Davids rattled, but he explains he was just contemplating the four generations he sees with Rosie as the future. Pip agrees. Shes heard at least two kids today talking about wanting to go into farming. David acknowledges days like today make it all worthwhile, even though he moans now and again. Pip hears that attendance is well down at Bridge Farm, and David has an idea. He grabs a megaphone and delivers a heartfelt speech about how one unfortunate event can blight a farm. Bridge Farm is eerily quiet. Helens hopes that today would provide an opportunity to show theyve bounced back from Februarys sewage leak seemed to be dashed. They distract themselves with talk of Peggys funeral, and the cricket. Tonys touched that Henrys decided to support the farm today rather than play. Its just a shame its so quiet. A few turn up for the goat gymkhana but its not enough. When Helen hears how busy Brookfield is theyre forced to admit its going to be hard to shake off the spectre of the sewage incident. Theyre about to pack up when theres a sudden rush of visitors. Nonplussed Tony declares it a miracle.

At the Rewilding Justin assures Kirsty that having his expensive Italian shoes ruined is a small price to pay for seeing Lilian laugh again, admitting he can be pretty selfish sometimes. Justin’s pleased the planning for summer rewilding activities is well in hand, but then Tony appears, furious that the Longhorns are being allowed to wander freely without fences, but no-one told him. Kirsty and Justin smooth Tony’s hackles, assuring him they did tell him, then show him the GPS app they’ve had installed to keep track of the cattle. Tony still feels he’s been left out of the loop. Treading on eggshells around Tony’s grief Justin explains it wasn’t deliberate and Kirsty apologises, before Tony heads off to organise the Goat Gymkhana. Justin then admits to Kirsty he’s planning something but won’t say what it is. Alice turns up at Woodbine Cottage where Fallon tells her Harrison didn’t come back at all, after she told him it wasn’t worth driving all that way for four hours together at most. Fallon then confesses she doesn’t actually miss him. Having the freedom to do whatever she likes is simply too lovely – and in the end Harrison never knew about the party anyway. Fallon feels bad, but everyone who came really enjoyed themselves. Alice tells Fallon her fears about Martha, but Fallon agrees with Chris: Martha is a bright shiny button who’s simply developing at her own pace. Alice thinks her life is too focused on Martha, while Fallon feels she’s drifting away from Harrison and worries about their future together.