The Archers

Helen can’t believe Justin appears to be dictating the future of the rewilding. Kirsty reckons Justin’s mellowed, but she’s still very wary. She reports all is proceeding with the Willow Farm purchase. Helen’s pleased for her. She’s fine about living with Tom and Natasha for a while. She’s no longer annoyed at them for not keeping her in the picture about wanting the house. It’s how they operate. She doesn’t want to move back to the farmhouse with her parents. She needs to be living her life on her own terms before she can move on. Kirsty understands.Tom wants Helen’s house key to do some measuring up. She suggests he gets the spare from Joy. She asks Tom if he can look at some homework Henry’s struggling with. That’s fine, says Tom. Mick’s preparing to get in the hot tub and surprises Tom by appearing in just a towel. Mick gives him the key and Joy offers their assistance if he needs anything; they’re looking forward to his family moving in. Tom asks that they don’t make any noise after 7pm. Affronted Mick assures him they’re not loud people. Later Mick and Joy have been disturbed by Tom’s squealing girls in Helen’s garden, and they acknowledge it’ll be different having little ones next door. Later Tom’s reluctant to return the key but Joy insists. Mick admires her tenacity. He can’t see Rochelle getting on with Tom. He mentions the chemistry between Rochelle and Rex, but Joy brusquely brushes this off. Mick asserts everyone deserves a bit of happiness.

Brian’s not impressed to find Justin at Grey Gables with Miranda. He corners Justin about the beaver release on the rewilding land, the prospect of which he heartily disapproves. He threatens to take it to the BL board; there’s no way any of them will allow beavers in Ambridge. Miranda pronounces this a shame, and points out the benefits. Brian undermines her views and she declares she’ll make up her own mind. Justin departs, not before asking innocently whether Brian dabbles in bridge. Miranda’s looking for a new partner due to her existing one moving away. Brian blusters that he’s not bad. After Justin’s left Miranda suggests Brian joins her at a Bridge club open session to see what he’s made of.Kirsty’s on edge awaiting Justin’s decision regarding the beavers. Rex says he’ll ring him to request a meeting. Ruth arrives, unhappy not to have heard from the rewilding team that the plan’s not going ahead. Kirsty assures her there’ll be no wild release now, but Ruth’s aghast to hear a licenced scheme is still a possibility. Rochelle joins them having walked on Lakey Hill. She’s keen to think about ways to help improve peoples’ wellbeing. She’s in search of Rex, and Kirsty suggests she asks him about his running. However Rochelle struggles to track Rex down. Later Rochelle tells Ruth she wants to organise a wellbeing event in the village. Impressed, Ruth offers the Events Barn as a venue. Later Rex and Kirsty’s wait continues as Justin tells them the beaver scheme is very much in the balance.

Khalil and Henry seek elusive panto tickets, interrupted by Justin, who Khalil is keen to avoid. He’s worried after divulging Rex and Kirsty’s wild beaver release plans to David. But Justin is grateful for Khalil’s honesty, as it’s worked out for the best for the rewilding project – but Khalil had better avoid Kirsty! Later, as Justin snags the last Panto tickets, Khalil tries to persuade Justin to gift him two as a reward for his earlier work, but Justin’s wise to it. Henry tells Khalil about Lee moving to San Francisco. Khalil comments his dad’s always away, and he sees it as an opportunity to guilt his dad into giving him really good presents. But Henry knows that whilst Lee will stay in touch, he can’t rely on him and has to make his own plans. Fallon finds Harrison up early. He explains yesterday’s conversation with Norris, who he admits is right about him. Fallon understands how he feels, and if he wants to leave the force, they’ll manage. Harrison reveals he’s been offered a secondment in Yorkshire. It’s a special confidential case and he’d have to go and live alone in the training accommodation. Shocked Fallon discusses it further. They agree that time apart might do them good. Harrison wants to phone every day, but Fallon suggests only doing that if he wants to, the important thing is for Harrison to focus on what he needs to do. He still loves her, and they wouldn’t be splitting up. Fallon acknowledges how adult they’re being. They persuade themselves it’s right and reaffirm their love for one another.

Ruth and David worry over Leonard’s revelation yesterday that he’s considering moving to his son’s home in Singapore. Leonard seems animated when he talks about it, but Ruth detects doubt in his voice. Ruth comments Jill will be devastated. Leonard ends the speculation by announcing that Jill thinks he should go if he wants to; she won’t stand in the way of such a golden opportunity. Nothing more to say then, shrugs David. Ruth presses Leonard and they agree to wait a couple of days before taking any action, and Leonard goes to think things through. David and Ruth agree this could be a disaster, wondering how to keep Leonard and Jill together. When Leonard returns he has news; he’s spoken to Jill again, and instead of moving to Singapore she’s asked him to move into Brookfield. He’s staying. David and Ruth are overjoyed, and Leonard says he’ll help out at Brookfield. And as it’s Fallon’s first evening doing food at The Bull, Leonard insists on taking them for dinner.Harrison wonders to Inspector Norris if there’s been any follow up on the case of the young girl they attended on Tuesday. Norris confirms it’s in the system. Later she questions whether Harrison's heart’s in his work and has concerns over his objectivity, particularly in cases regarding children. He seems to be struggling. Is he sure he still wants to be a police officer? Harrison can’t imagine being anything else, but admits he sometimes feels like he’s drowning. He’s not happy. Norris wonders whether a change might be worth considering. She has a suggestion for him.