The Archers BBC Radio 4

Joy attempts to make amends, and there’s trouble brewing for Lilian.

Vince calls Jason and Freddie into his office and confronts Jason who seems totally oblivious to what’s up. So Vince comes out with it – Jason has been stealing meat and selling it on. Jason vehemently denies it. But Freddie encourages Jason to just come clean and he might keep his job. Later, Vince wonders why Freddie looks so miserable – he did well, causing Jason to tell all. Freddie’s sad that Vince has sacked Jason anyway and explains that Jason was stealing to fund a ski trip for his kids. Vince lacks sympathy.
It’s Harrison’s birthday and for a moment his and Fallon’s recent problems seem far away as they share a joke, and he marvels at the results of Fallon’s baking frenzy last night. They admit they didn’t sleep well – Harrison is on the sofa – and agree it’s time to stop this. Harrison loves his presents, especially a book of poetry, and wishes he’d booked the day off work. Lynda has asked Fallon to be in her play, inspired by Fallon’s Great Aunt. As Fallon and Harrison have hardly been talking recently, Harrison realises he knew nothing about the real-life story.
Fallon has a surprise for Harrison, but when he nervously suspects it’s a party he persuaded Fallon to reveal all - it’s a private cinema screening at the Brookfield Barn of his favourite film – Footloose. Harrison laughs – that’s not his favourite film! Fallon’s confused and wants to try and change it, but after some awkwardness Harrison jokes and they agree to watch it anyway, before sharing a tender “I love you”.

Lynda can’t stop thinking about the piece of writing by Fallon’s Great Aunt, about the soldier who died. Lynda wants to write something herself for the D-Day event. A short drama perhaps? She comes up with three characters and considers Chelsea and Ben to feature. She’ll ask Fallon to play her own Great Aunt but worries about Fallon. Robert tells Lynda to just ask Fallon what she thinks about the idea, but Lynda wants to just get something written and then check.
Lost in her work, Lynda asks Robert to deputise as Chair at today’s cricket, and to also ask Ben and Chelsea to pop over after the match against Loxley Barrett.
Freddie shares the latest with Chelsea from his stakeout over the stolen meat. Freddie feels bad about the thief, Jason – a nice guy with two kids to feed. Vince is dealing with the situation tomorrow, and Jason has no idea of what’s coming. Harrison turns up to gee up the players and Freddie and Chelsea tease him about his upcoming 39th birthday.
Chelsea delivers a great catch to complete the win, before Ben shares Lynda’s request and they head over to Ambridge Hall to find out more.
Meanwhile, Lynda asks Robert to read her work and be brutally honest. Robert is spellbound – it’s the best thing Lynda has ever written. Lynda’s delighted, but then suddenly panics about casting Ben and Chelsea as tragic lovers, remembering their own history. Ben and Chelsea arrive, as Robert reassures Lynda to just let them read it, and to have faith.

Writer: Sarah Hehir
Director: Pip Swallow
Editor: Jeremy Howe
Ben Archer… Ben Norris
Jolene Archer…. Buffy Davis
Pat Archer…. Patricia Gallimore
Harrison Burns…. James Cartwright
Lilian Bellamy… Sunny Ormonde
Vince Casey…. Tony Turner
George Grundy…. Angus Stobie
Jakob Hakansson…. Paul Venables
Chelsea Horrobin…. Madeleine Leslay
Tracy Horrobin…. Susie Riddell
Freddie Pargetter…. Toby Laurence
Fallon Rogers…. Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell… Carole Boyd
Robert Snell…. Michael Bertenshaw
Oliver Sterling…. Michael Cochrane
Jason Burntwood…. Ian Conningham

Freddie is in the loading bay at Casey Meats talking to Vince on the phone. Yet another customer called yesterday complaining their delivery is short. Freddie thinks a driver is taking the missing meat. Vince sets Freddie to trying to spot a pattern. He mentions that one of the drivers has a criminal record. But Freddie says he’s served his time. Freddie asks Jason how easy it would be for something to go astray from an order. Jason points out that most customers don’t have time to check through deliveries when they arrive. Later Vince and Freddie look at a spreadsheet of incomplete deliveries. There’s no pattern that links to a single worker. They’ll have to follow drivers on the late shift. Vince still thinks ex-con Antonio is the prime suspect. But Freddie points out that he himself has been in jail. Later, Freddie leaves a voicemail for Vince saying he’s going to follow Jason tonight.
Lilian and Oliver meet on the way to the shop. Inside Vince is buying champagne. He’s taking Elizabeth away for a long weekend but he forgot to pre-order the fizz. Lilian gets a call from Jakob – the tests results for Cinnamon are back. She rushes to the surgery. It’s bad news – Cinnamon has strangles. Jakob recommends a full lockdown. And with the horse’s paperwork missing the stables looks incompetent at best. Horses will have to be quarantined when it’s show season, the cross country course will shut and lessons will have to be cancelled. Lilian needs time to think. But later she tells Jakob a lockdown is the only way.

It’s Lynda’s birthday and Robert serves pancakes with raspberries and Bridge Farm yoghurt in the garden. Ben stops by with a birthday card from all at Brookfield. Lynda wastes no time in press-ganging him into giving a presentation on wartime nursing for their D-Day event. At the Tearoom Chelsea presents Lynda with a whole marmalade cake baked by Fallon.
Meanwhile, Fallon is at The Bull dropping off some loaves for collection by the brewery for its bread beer. She tells Jolene Lilian had planned to help at the pub but something has come up at the stables. Jolene is looking for pictures of Auntie Connie, who served in in Egypt, when she comes across photos and artwork from Fallon’s schooldays. She finds a picture of Connie with a note from her American sweetheart, and a poem. Fallon confides that Harrison sent her a poem but things are difficult and he is still sleeping on the sofa. They find a diary entry written by Connie but Jolene’s not sure Fallon should read it.
When Fallon returns to the Tearoom she tells Lynda she is on board for the D-Day event. She agrees to make Woolton Pie, a hearty but frugal vegetable-filled dish. But as she tells Lynda and Robert about Auntie Connie’s diary entry she is overcome and has to step outside. The situation feels impossible, she tells Lynda. But she loves Harrison – misses him.
That evening at the Bull, the participants in the D-Day event gather to finalise their plans. During their chat they take the opportunity to toast Lynda’s birthday.