The Archers

WRITER: Tim Stimpson DIRECTOR: Pip Swallow EDITOR: Jeremy HoweDavid Archer…. Timothy Bentinck Helen Archer…. Louiza Patikas Natasha Archer…. Mali Harries Ruth Archer…. Felicity Finch Leonard Berry…. Paul Copley Susan Carter…. Charlotte Martin Vince Casey…. Tony Turner Clarrie Grundy…. Heather Bell Ed Grundy…. Barry Farrimond Eddie Grundy…. Trevor Harrison Emma Grundy…. Emerald O’Hanrahan Brad Horrobin…. Taylor Uttley Kirsty Miller…. Annabelle Dowler

Helen reminds Clarrie and Susan about buying tickets for the Christmas Eve concert at St Stephen’s. Susan and Clarrie discuss Emma’s sadness at them not all being together on Christmas Day. Susan offers to come over to Grange Farm with Neil on the day – could Clarrie convince Eddie to agree? Tom attempts to explain to Helen that his actions over the Beechwood house weren’t deliberate. Helen admits she overreacted; she was just a bit jealous. The house would be perfect for Tom and his family. Helen assumes neither of them are now buying the house, but when Tom mentions the counter offer he and Natasha are putting in, Helen’s furious once again. Later, Tom has a solution – he and Natasha buy the house and Helen and the boys move in temporarily. Helen comes round to the idea. Now Tom needs to talk to Kirsty and stop her selling elsewhere. Eddie thanks Brad for visiting George. The best thing they can do for him is to make sure he has something to come home to. But Brad shares that George’s drone needs fixing and he doesn’t have the funds. Eddie concocts a plan to raise the money – he’ll buy up the remaining tickets for the St Stephen’s concert and resell them for more. Clarrie makes Eddie hear Susan out. Susan wants to patch things up for the sake of both families. But despite apologising for the hurtful things he said to Susan, Eddie can’t bring himself to spend Christmas Day at Ambridge View. They can go ahead, but without him.

Concerned Ruth allows Leonard to continue trying to be useful as he recovers from his injury; he’s getting busy vacuuming. David’s not sure how much more he can take. Ruth points out they can’t order him not to help. After damaging a lampshade, Leonard helps Ruth and David with fresh bedding for the Herefords. Leonard talks fondly of his son in Singapore, who he misses. Leonard feels like a hindrance. Ruth and David show their appreciation and offer him more jobs to take on: he can be on mulled wine duty for guests in the events barn this evening. Leonard realises he’s better helping around the farm than in the house, but as David lists more jobs, Ruth points out he’s not free labour. Later Leonard tells them how much he’s looking forward to sharing this special time of year with them. He hasn’t looked forward to Christmas this much for a long time. David assures him the feeling’s mutual. Susan reminds Emma that they can’t force George to see them. Brad reports back from his prison visit that George thinks it’s better for everyone not to have any contact for a while. Someone else has visited George, though, but Brad didn’t find out who. Susan tries to distract Emma by talking about the upcoming concert at St Stephen’s. Emma’s snappy, before apologising as they reflect on how awkward it is between the Grundys and Carters right now. Emma would like all the people she loves to be together for Christmas, but that’s not going to happen.

Kirsty senses Brad has something on his mind, and she gets him to help her with putting up boxes for dormice. He talks about having seen Mia on Sunday and admits he’s apprehensive about visiting George in prison tomorrow. He’s the only person George will let visit him and Brad isn’t keen to be a go-between. Kirsty points out that no-one’s beyond redemption and it’s good Brad is visiting George, although George is not his responsibility. Brenda catches up with Helen, full of compliments about what Helen has achieved. They gossip about the locals and Brenda’s love life. Brenda mentions Tom and Natasha wanting to buy the house Helen’s in, which leaves Helen confused. Buoyant Natasha gives Tom the news from the mortgage advisor. They can get a large loan, but it’s because Natasha offered a bigger deposit of £50,000. Tom’s shocked, but Natasha has an idea. They can use the safety net money from her business. Helen confronts them about buying Kirsty’s house, and Natasha tries to justify their actions. When Helen presses them on how soon they’ll want her out, Natasha suggests a swap – Helen could rent April Cottage. Helen is offended, and berates selfish Tom.Brenda apologises to Kirsty for putting a possible spanner in the works regarding the house. She hadn’t realised that Helen didn’t already know. Natasha’s still keen to press ahead, but they get a message from Kirsty. She’s had a better offer, and given the situation with Helen, to avoid bad blood, Kirsty is accepting it. Tom and Natasha have been gazumped.