An intense and gripping week of events unfolds in Ambridge. Listen to all the drama here. More
Available Episodes
5 of 27
29/05/2023
Adam calls Brian at Blossom Hill Cottage, ostensibly to check about today’s shearing of the Brookfield sheep at Home Farm. Brian doesn’t seem particularly interested and gives him short shrift. Later, Adam is surprised to find Brian watching the shearing. Brian knows that the real reason Adam called was because it’s his and Jennifer’s anniversary. He thanks Adam for not making a big deal of it, unlike Kate and Alice. Visiting the farm has reinvigorated Brian. He appreciates Adam holding the fort, but he’s determined to get back into the swing of things – starting with the accounts. Later, Brian discovers Stella’s purchase of the new disc drill. He’s furious. He didn’t approve this. Adam claims he didn’t either.
Helen and Pat are cleaning the dairy’s viewing window. It’s been a hit with the public, although Helen mentions one nasty piece of feedback online. A tap on the window makes Helen jump. It’s Harrison asking to speak to her. Alone together, he tells Helen that the Crown Prosecution Service have decided not to charge Rob with kidnapping Jack. Later Helen, Pat, and Tony try to make sense of the decision. Once again, the justice system seems to have failed them. Tony is especially angry and storms out. Having calmed down, he explains he’d convinced himself Rob was heading for prison. He wonders if there are other offences they could go after him for. But Helen can’t bear the idea of another court case. Unlike Tony, she doesn’t want to nail Rob. She just wants him out of her life.
29/05/2023
13:04
28/05/2023
Elizabeth and Freddie are in the office discussing plans for Lower Loxley’s Late Mayfest. Elizabeth notes there’s been grumbling from stallholders about where they’ve been put. Freddie insists it’s only because he’s managed to attract so many stalls. He hopes the trustees notice all the hard work he’s put in. Later, Freddie reveals to Oliver that Eddie’s ‘Wildlife Underground’ stall turns out to mean ferrets. He’s worried the trustees will think it sets the wrong tone. In fact, rather than put up with their scrutiny, he’s tempted to walk away. Oliver counsels him against this, reminding him of the much tougher situations he’s handled. Feeling bolstered, Freddie reassures Elizabeth he has the Eddie Grundy situation in hand.
It's the day of the Ambridge T20 cricket match and Tracy accuses Tom of sabotaging her team. It was Jazzer’s stag do last night, and she thinks someone spiked her players’ drinks. Tom points out that some of his team are worse for wear too. Jim arrives wearing shades, which he insists is not because he’s hungover but because he’s lost his glasses. Later, play is underway, but Jim is struggling to keep an accurate score without his glasses. At the end of a very close match, Jim isn’t sure who’s won, so proposes a tie and the Mark Hebden Memorial Trophy is shared between the teams. Tracy complains she’s been cheated out of a win because Jim can’t keep track of his specs. Jim reveals he lost them somewhere on Jazzer’s stag do. He simply needs to retrace his steps.
28/05/2023
13:15
26/05/2023
Oliver welcomes Tracy and Susan to the lounge bar at Grey Gables, where the cocktail waiter will teach them to mix their own. Tracy insists Oliver stays for her hen party, and this time he can’t refuse. Later, while mixing cocktails for Susan and Emma, Oliver wonders how much money George has raised for the fostering charity. Tracy joins them in time to hear Emma claiming, falsely, that George is doing well. An argument ensues, with Emma and Tracy criticising each other’s weddings and their choice of spouse. Susan’s forced to intervene, reminding them that they’re family. She urges everyone, including Oliver, onto the dance floor.
Helen is fretting ahead of Anna’s visit. She tries to dissuade Lee from joining them, but Lee insists on being there to support her. Anne arrives and mentions Carol, who, despite struggling with her mobility, won’t consider getting assistance at home. Helen shows Anna the most recent letters from Rob’s solicitor. Anna thinks they’re mostly bluster. Rob’s legal case for access to Jack is weak, although that doesn’t stop him from drawing the process out. Anna warns it could be draining emotionally and financially. She advises that Helen’s solicitor, Dominic, should reply, stating they regard the letters as part of Rob’s ongoing abuse. Lee can’t believe the lengths Rob will go to. He hopes Rob won’t insist on a lengthy custody battle. Helen wants to be prepared though and can’t justify the expense of taking the boys to San Francisco. Lee will have to go on his own. Jack is her priority now.
26/05/2023
12:49
25/05/2023
Kirsty bumps into Pat at Bridge Farm. They chat, but Kirsty can see Pat is out of sorts. There’s still no news about whether the Crown Prosecution Service is going to prosecute Rob. Kirsty accompanies Pat while she feeds the goats, where Pat admits she’s scared of testifying in court again – especially after letting Helen down last time. What if she loses focus with Rob in the room? Pat’s hatred of him is becoming overwhelming. Pat feels Tom and Tony are handling it much better than her. Also, Rob is Jack’s father, and when he took him it wasn’t for long. Will he even get convicted for that? And what about justice for everything else Rob did? Pat can’t see how they’ll ever get that.
Susan’s serving Oliver in the shop. Lamenting George and Brad’s break-in at Grey Gables, Susan hopes Tracy and Emma can bury the hatchet before tomorrow’s hen party – if there is a party, that is. She still hasn’t found a venue. Tracy enters and guesses what they’re talking about. Learning that Oliver hasn’t been invited, Tracy insists he must come. He should have been top of the list. Oliver can’t be persuaded though. It’s really not his scene. Later, however, he finds Susan. He would like to contribute by offering the refurbished lounge bar at the as yet unopened Grey Gables as a venue. He’ll even pay for a cocktail waiter. Susan is delighted. With that problem solved, she’s sure Tracy will have a wonderful time.
25/05/2023
13:15
24/05/2023
Tracy pulls Tom a Shires, as they spar over who has the best T20 team. But then Tom claims that Chris’s sprained ankle has deteriorated, and he can barely walk. Tracy will need to find a replacement. Later, Tracy confronts Tom. She’s spoken to Susan and discovered that Chris is fine. Tom admits it was a pathetic attempt to steal Chris. Nonetheless, he maintains that Chris would rather play in Tom’s team. Chris is just afraid to tell Tracy because she’s his aunt. Tracy worries that Chris won’t play at his best and suggests a swap. They haggle over a fair exchange and settle on Adam. Tom promises to break the news to him.
Adam returns after a long day at Home Farm to find Ian and Alice waiting for him. Alice reveals that she and Kate are going to a favourite restaurant of Jennifer’s to mark her and Brian’s anniversary. Over dinner Adam brings up the lack of clarity over Brian’s intentions for Home Farm. Alice insists she doesn’t care about her inheritance – and nor do Kate and Debbie. Adam should move on too. Later, Adam reveals to Ian that once Stella’s back, he plans to put Home Farm behind him. Ian doesn’t believe him. He helps Adam to admit that Home Farm is a big part of his identity and that he still has ambitions for its future. Not that it’s likely he’ll be returning anytime soon. Ian counsels that by accepting that’s what he wants, the chances of it happening have already increased.