The Archers

As the veteran cricketers await a training session with Lee, they discuss the Picnic Day pudding competition, and their lack of match fitness. Lee arrives and drives home the importance of good preparation, though he assures them this session will be basic and not arduous. Pat and Tony bicker gently as they exercise. They seek Lee’s arbitration over their ongoing runout dispute of the day before, but when Tony demonstrates his action on the disputed shot, he accidentally whacks Lee with his bat. As Lee nurses his bruised knee over a drink bought by guilty Tony, he listens to Tony’s philosophical musings on the irony of the team’s trainer picking up an injury. With great restraint Lee pledges to pass on the wisdom he’s gained today to Tracy: never let Pat and Tony bat together. Lily chats to oblivious Jazzer about his telesales technique. He believes it’s all going swimmingly; the prospective customers like his conversation. Lily points out he’s not converting enough calls into actual appointments. Is he the right man for the job? Privately to Shula Lily admits she’s worried he’ll lose the job. She feels Jim and Alistair’s laughter at his methods may be undermining him. And if he goes, she’ll lose her bonus for recruiting him. Shula offers to have a word. She hints to Alistair that Jazzer might be struggling, and when Jazzer gets home Alistair tackles it. All Jazzer needs is for a customer to book a visit from a rep – and he might have an idea about that.

Vince has two daughters on his hands to deal with after yesterday. Elizabeth sympathises and brings him lunch while the builders continue to work in his kitchen. She says she’s spoken to Ben, and tries to put his point of view to Vince. She emphasises how unlike Ben it would be to do something like kiss his girlfriend’s sister, but Vince is able to focus only on Beth and Steph and how they’re feeling right now. Tom and Helen joke good naturedly about name suggestions for the twins, before Adil arrives to be shown round the farm. Tom’s determined he should see the thick of the action around their beautiful veg, as Helen points out to Adil that losing Grey Gables as a customer wasn’t something they were expecting. Adil’s impressed with the farm, reassuring them they’ll have the Grey Gables business back in eighteen months. He further suggests a mutually beneficial relationship – Grey Gables could lease them some grazing land to allow Bridge Farm to diversify into other cheese varieties. After he’s gone Tom and Helen can see possibilities, but Helen’s keen to guard against empty promises. They agree it’s worth exploring some options. Alice is taking Martha to a Borchester park. Envious Chris has tedious paperwork planned, so Alice suggests he joins them. She admits the trip is to take her mind off today’s social services assessment result. Chris is worried too. Alice reads the email when it arrives. There will be no further action regarding Martha’s accident. They’re both elated; they’ve been handed a clean slate.

Pat sympathises with Kathy over the Grey Gables news; it must be very sad for her. Kathy admits she loves Grey Gables, and her job, and was hoping not to retire for at least another couple of years. It’s a nightmare and she reckons Oliver’s handled it badly. There’s been no consultation period. She’s determined to have it out with him, and Mr Shah. Oliver’s very down about the news he’s had to give the staff – they’re his friends and he feels he’s let them down. Adil reassures him; Grey Gables will be reinvented, better and with more opportunities than before. That’s little comfort to the staff right now, declares rueful Oliver. They agree it would be good to open the bar for the staff as part of their send-off. As Oliver tries to negotiate a better severance deal for Tracy with Adil, they’re interrupted by Kathy, come to express her indignation at the way everyone’s been treated. As she angrily sets out her case, Adil floors her by offering her a job – she’d be a perfect liaison officer overseeing the transition from old Grey Gables to new. Kathy shares her news with Pat. Apparently Oliver had furnished Adil with glowing reports on Kathy and Adil had seen her feistiness as a positive. She’s torn. Clearly Adil genuinely believes in the project, and she feels she could work with him. But it doesn’t look good if she takes the job. She doesn’t know what to do.

Natasha unveils her new pad to Pat – it’s April Cottage! Pat declares Kathy a dark horse, while Natasha hopes this might be a nice surprise for Pat. But Pat’s quiet, and a little bit shocked. She tells Kathy they were all getting on alright at Bridge Farm, and Natasha will need all the help she can get once the babies arrive. It seemed ideal having them at the farm. Kathy apologises for upsetting Pat’s plans, but Pat says there’s no need. She’s just being selfish and can see Tom and Natasha will be thrilled to have their own place again. She declares she’ll miss Kathy terribly. Eddie reckons Ed’s got a good bunch of lambs for showing this year, but notices they’re not as good looking as usual. Ed admits he’s been concentrating more on the Texels’ liveweights and meatiness than their faces. Eddie helps him to choose a suitable handsome specimen for the Borchester Show. Miserable Oliver confides to Eddie he’s been keeping Grey Gables afloat from his own pocket – when Adil came along it was too good an offer to resist. Eddie doesn’t have a good word for Adil, but Oliver insists the new owner’s vision is well intentioned and chimes with him. He’ll miss everyone at Grey Gables, and hopes they’ll forgive him. He thought they’d appreciate his view that the buyer’s offer would be something Caroline would have wanted. Eddie counsels him to give them time; they’ll come round. Oliver wishes he could believe that.

Jazzer’s excited. Tracy has her interview at the Orangery, and he’s secured a commission with a sales rep visit to Greenacres. Freddie informs him this will also mean some commission for Lily, as Jazzer’s recruiter. Tracy comes out of her interview and chats to Freddie about their job situation. She declares thoughtlessly that Freddie has everything on a plate. Freddie reminds her he’s taking over from his dad, and Tracy apologises for her comment. They agree they’re just on different tracks. Tracy gets the news that she hasn’t got the job – but Chelsea has! And every penny she earns will go to her mum. Overcome Tracy hugs her daughter. The Felpersham Kitchens sales rep flatters Jim on the state of Greenacres, but declares the kitchen is underperforming. Panicked Alistair has the rep fetching tile samples, while Jim rolls his eyes. They don’t need a new kitchen. Alistair just wants to help Jazzer out. Jim has a brainwave, and informs Fern the rep that they’ll need agreement from Alistair’s ‘wife’ Shula, who’s currently away. Fern’s about to leave when Shula walks in the door. Initially mystified, Shula soon cottons on to the plan, and plays along, doing an expert job of convincing Fern that she really does not want a new kitchen. Fern is finally squashed. Jazzer’s delighted her visit will mean commission for him, and will help Tracy. Jim’s less positive. They came within a whisker of buying a kitchen they didn’t want, and the odd bit of commission won’t make any difference to Tracy’s money worries.