Writer: Liz John
Director: Marina Caldarone
Editor: Jeremy HoweHelen Archer…. Louiza Patikas
Jolene Archer…. Buffy Davies
Lilian Bellamy…. Sunny Ormonde
Alice Carter…. Hollie Chapman
Chris Carter…. Wilf Scolding
Susan Carter…. Charlotte Martin
Ian Craig…. Stephen Kennedy
Justin Elliot…. Simon Williams
Clarrie Grundy…. Heather Bell
Joy Horville…. Jackie Lye
Jim Lloyd…. John Rowe
Adam Macy…. Andrew Wincott
Jazzer McCreary…. Ryan Kelly
Hannah Riley…. Helen Longworth
Fallon Rogers…. Joanna Van Kampen
Dane…. Stravros Demetraki
Imaani…. Theo Angel
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13:01
29/05/2025
Susan summons Jim and Joy to the Shop, telling them its future is at stake due to the threat from Underwoods Local. Jim proposes calling a village meeting. And making sure to emphasise the benefits of a village shop, Joy adds, such as lower prices. But Susan’s heard the introductory discounts at Underwoods Local could go on all summer. Susan then tells them to look for common threads in the few surveys that have been completed, so they can root out any issues. Reporting back later it appears unfriendliness is the big one. Susan then dismisses the comments as biased, but Joy insists they act on it by working on their customer service skills. Both Jim and Susan are highly sceptical though, leading Joy in despair to suggest they try at least to be more positive with all their customers. Jim and Susan agree, but remain unconvinced that they’re really doing anything wrong.On the phone Helen worries to Ian about Dane not getting back to her after she suggested another date. He’s always responded so quickly before online. Ian still has his doubts, but Helen insists Ian find out what Dane thinks about her. However, when Ian tackles Dane about the meal last night and his companion, Dane cleverly avoids giving his opinion of Helen. Ian tries again later, but is embarrassed when Dane reveals he knows Ian is trying to find out what Dane thinks about Ian’s best friend, Helen. Dane thinks she’s amazing, then realises his message to Helen about the date never got sent. When he sends it again Helen excitedly tells Ian – he said yes!
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13:08
28/05/2025
When Helen turns up for her date with Dane, the new manager at Grey Gables, Ian waylays her with an escape plan, which includes Adam keeping an eye on them. Adam assures Helen he’ll intervene as soon as Helen gives a prearranged signal. Then Alice arrives, suggesting Helen could hide in the Ladies, but Helen insists a dropped napkin will suffice. When Dane appears though, both women think he looks gorgeous, before Helen goes to greet him. Dane compliments Helen, before adding a touch of self-deprecation, and they soon hit it off.Meanwhile, awkward Adam and Alice watch from a nearby table. Ian may think Dane’s a massive phony, but Adam finds him attractive. They talk about Open Farm Sunday, before Adam mentions the nursery and Alice says they’re seeing the manager on Friday, about Martha becoming “school ready”. Despite Adam’s attempts to reassure her Alice is worried that none of the other parents have been called in, so what it’s about? Then they move on to talk about the disappointingly small inheritance Peggy has left each of them and what they would do with a more generous legacy.Dane fills Helen in on his personal history, before asking Helen about hers, which she edits quite severely. When Ian notices Helen’s dropped her napkin he sends Adam to interrupt. But Helen insists it was an accident and Dane immediately susses what’s been going on. Helen is mortified, but Dane treats it as a great joke. Relieved Helen then suggests another date, at Harrison’s fortieth birthday party next week.
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12:58
27/05/2025
Joy reckons the Village Shop customer survey drawn up by Susan and Emma is too comprehensive and offers to cut it down. Susan won’t give way though, before explaining the survey’s purpose to Jazzer. Both him and Joy wax lyrical about a superior shopping experience at Underwoods Local, pushing Susan into agreeing to take a look for herself. Later on, after bumping into Jazzer again, Susan is gobsmacked to discover Clarrie is working there. Clarrie tells Susan most of the village have been in already - and they’re all dead impressed. Susan fears it could be the end of the Village Shop.Chris is at The Stables trimming some of the horses' hooves. He catches up with Alice and they discuss taking Martha to Peggy’s funeral, agreeing that she should go. They arrange to meet up later over a curry to discuss preparing Martha for the day itself. At lunchtime Alice is joined by Joy at the Playground and they talk about how Alice’s family are coping with Peggy’s death, before comparing notes on the hard times both have been through recently. Joy then prompts Alice, she and Chris have cracked co-parenting, so she doesn’t have to cope with everything on her own, does she? But then Chris phones and tells Alice that Imaani, the nursery manager, has called them in for an unscheduled meeting on Friday to talk about making sure Martha’s school-ready. Chris doesn’t think it signifies much, but Alice is unsettled by it. Later she calls Chris and cancels their catch-up later; there’s things she needs to do at The Stables.
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13:16
26/05/2025
At Chris’s Forge captain Hannah gets very frustrated by Chris and Adam’s lack of competitive edge for this afternoon’s T20 cricket match against Jolene’s team. Alice joins them and promises Chris that she and Martha will be there, cheering on both sides.Over lunch at the Dower House Justin catches Lilian scrolling through a world cruises website. Justin’s appalled as Lilian outlines her plans for their retirement, going on exotic holidays. Just the thought of the family holiday Peggy stipulated in her will is enough to make Justin quail. In any case, he enjoys working far too much to give it up, but reluctantly agrees to talk about Lilian’s proposal later.During the cricket innings break Hannah chastises her ‘Elite’ team-mates for batting so poorly and can’t understand why Chris and Adam aren’t taking it more seriously. Jolene however is loving how well her ‘Underdog’ team performed in the field. Alice joins Justin and Lilian on the boundary edge, apologising for not being more receptive yesterday to Lilian’s idea of leaving Ambridge. She now thinks Lilian should go ahead and do whatever is best for her and Justin. Once Alice has gone though, Justin makes it clear to Lilian he’s still not keen.The cricket ends in defeat for Hannah’s team, with everybody repairing to The Bull for drinks and a T20 photograph. Chris and Alice tentatively agree to spend more family time together with Martha, and Alice says she’ll accompany Adam to keep an eye on Helen when she goes for her date at Grey Gables on Wednesday.
Australia