Contemporary drama in a rural setting.
Contemporary drama in a rural setting.
Ed remembers his misspent youth, and Martyn is feeling lonely.
There’s an awkward customer at The Orangery, and Henry gets a boost.
Writer: Sarah Hehir Director: Helen Aitken Editor: Jeremy Howe
10th – 15th August
Brian Aldridge…. Charles Collingwood Pip Archer…. Daisy Badger Lilian Bellamy…. Sunny Ormonde Susan Carter…. Charlotte Martin Neil Carter…. Brian Hewlett Alan Franks…. John Telfer Tracy Horrobin…. Susie Riddell Adam Macy…. Andrew Wincott Kate Madikane…. Perdita Avery Akram Malik…. Asif Khan Zainab Malik…. Priyasasha Kumari Jazzer McCreary…. Ryan Kelly Kirsty Miller…. Annabelle Dowler Stella Pryor…. Lucy Speed Lynda Snell…. Carole Boyd Robert Snell…. Michael Bertenshaw Dane…. Stravros Demetraki
Jazzer receives a tempting offer, and Susan faces a negotiation.
Kate has a change of heart, and Brian has some explaining to do.
Alan offers salvation, and Akram is in a forgiving mood.
Lilian receives surprising news, and Adam comes to the rescue.
Lynda makes a faux pas, and who will emerge victorious in the tug of war?
Writer: Liz John Director: Pip Swallow Editor: Jeremy Howe Brian Aldridge…. Charles Collingwood Ben Archer…. Ben Norris David Archer…. Timothy Bentinck Ruth Archer…. Felicity Finch Susan Carter…. Charlotte Martin Justin Elliott…. Simon Williams Amber Gordon…. Charlotte Jordan Emma Grundy…. Emerald O’Hanrahan Will Grundy…. Philip Malloy Jakob Hakansson…. Paul Venables Brad Horrobin…. Taylor Uttley Kate Madikane…. Perdita Avery Kirsty Miller…. Annabelle Dowler Lily Pargetter…. Katie Redford Stella Pryor…. Lucy Speed Oliver Sterling…. Michael Cochrane Dane…. Stavros Demetraki
Amber unveils her latest plan, and Stella has work to do.
Emma and Will meet Amber at a café near to where she works, Will maintaining it’ll help them get to know her if she’s in her own environment. He suggests to Emma that they pay for some elements of the wedding; they could cut costs on a car or maybe the flowers. But when Amber arrives she assures them she has everything they mention covered. Instead perhaps they can contribute towards the venue? Will says they’d be delighted, and suggests Lower Loxley. Amber resolves to put it on her list. When she’s gone Emma wonders what Will’s playing at. Lower Loxley will be extortionate – it’s popular and beautiful. Precisely, says Will, so it’ll be booked out and the wedding will be delayed, just as Emma wants. Emma thinks this is a risky strategy.
Lily’s on to Ben straight away when he asks where the Grey Gables tug of war practice is taking place. She teases him about spying for the village. Ben admits he doesn’t care about the tug of war, it’s his dad who’s stressing. Ben’s more concerned with filling in nursing applications. Lily’s looking forward to quality downtime – there’s a whole wide world out there she wants to see.
Ruth assures Stella she’s fine to help with the harvest. She knows how difficult Brian can be, and what she’s getting into. Stella intends to start today if the moisture readings are suitable. Perfect reading established and combine ready to go, they set to work on harvesting the wheat.
Lily is on a mission, and Kirsty finds herself in an unexpected situation.
Kate informs Stella that Brian’s gone away with Miranda for the week. Stella didn’t know this, but acknowledged it was unlikely she’d have changed his mind about the stand he was taking against the harvest anyway.
Jakob takes a dim view of having to view Willow Farm as a rental option, but goes along with it. He presents what at first appears to be a negative impression, with Kate attempting valiantly to turn all his downsides into positives. Relieved Kirsty’s fine with the potential outcome, but Jakob stops her in her tracks by declaring the room ideal. He’ll take it. Kate assures nonplussed Kirsty that Jakob won’t hide away in his room, but will spend lots of his time downstairs socialising. Isn’t it wonderful? Kirsty agrees that it is.
It's the final week of Ben’s nursing course and he’s struggling to find a job. David asserts he can always come back to farming, but when Ben gets a soaking from a dirty water pipe he’s not impressed. David gives him an admin task instead, and asks him to gather information on the Grey Gables tug of war team when he goes to the Health Club on Wednesday. Stella arrives to enlist their support with a plan. With Brian away she intends to get the BL harvest in without his knowledge. Will David help her? David has to refuse; Brian is family and he can’t go against his wishes. Ben wonders if Stella might ask Ruth instead.
Brian struggles to see the wood for the trees, and Kate has a brainwave.
Writer: Sarah McDonald Hughes Director: Helen Aitken & Kim Greengrass Editor: Jeremy Howe
Brian Aldridge…. Charles Collingwood David Archer…. Timothy Bentinck Jolene Archer…. Buffy Davis Alice Carter…. Hollie Chapman Chris Carter…. Wilf Scolding Susan Carter…. Charlotte Martin Neil Carter…. Brian Hewlett Justin Elliott…. Simon Williams Martyn Gibson…. Jon Glover Ed Grundy…. Barry Farrimond Emma Grundy…. Emerald O’Hanrahan George Grundy…. Angus Stobie Mia Grundy…. Molly Pipe Brad Horrobin…. Taylor Uttley Joy Horville…. Jackie Lye Adam Macy…. Andrew Wincott Kate Madikane…. Perdita Avery Akram Malik…. Asif Khan Kirsty Miller…. Annabelle Dowler Stella Pryor…. Lucy Speed Annabelle Scrivener… Julia Hills Terry…. Lloyd Thomas
On a prison visit George tells Brad he’s worried about Chelsea upsetting Amber. Brad says Chelsea feels awful and wants to put it right, but Amber won’t let her. Brad then persuades George to try and get Amber to accept Chelsea’s apologies. When George asks about Mia he can’t believe she told Brad on his birthday that she’s seeing someone else. Brad is embarrassed by how upset it’s made him. George’s attempts to console Brad fall on stony ground, until George drops in that he wants Brad to be his best man and Brad is thrilled to accept.
At the hospital Alice doesn’t want Chris to tell anyone about Brian’s suggestion that she take over running Home Farm. Right now Alice is focused on finding out what’s going on with Martha. Chris insists there’s nothing wrong, but Alice has a list of Martha’s behaviours that could show she has Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. After seeing the paediatrician though Alice is disappointed that nothing was confirmed or denied. Chris interprets the doctor’s words as meaning there isn’t any cause for concern. It was only because Alice kept pushing that she suggested waiting until Martha is six before definitively ruling it out. Alice is shocked when Chris then reveals that he too researched the condition and prayed for Martha’s survival. But Alice has to stop, because he can’t take any more of her obsessive concern. Chris delivers some home truths about getting things in perspective and when Martha completes an impressive manoeuvre on some playground monkey bars they agree she’s doing fine.
Emma considers what might have been, and David offers a supportive shoulder.
It’s all hands to the pump at the village shop, and there’s good news for Jolene.
Susan has the rug pulled from under her, and Alice has a decision to make.
Debate rages at Home Farm, and there’s a spanner in the works for Akram.