The Archers

There’s chaos in the kitchen at No. 1 The Green with baby things everywhere. Ed and Will discuss baby Storm’s name. Will says he’d be besotted even if the baby was called Donut.
Akram proposes a family breakfast as Azra doesn’t have work until lunchtime, but Zainab says she wants to talk to them both. She has been thinking about her future, and she wants to help people for a career. Akram keeps interrupting until Zainab says she’d like to join the police. Akram is worried about the possible hostility she might face from the world and from within the police. He asks who she’s spoken to about this, whilst Zainab says she’s only done research and spoken to them. Zainab says they’re clearly against it. Akram says he’s not but just to take her time with it. Azra agrees that she needs to be sure before she commits.
Martyn is visiting Rewilding worried about the tree that fell on Vince Casey. Rex says everything is up to date as Kirsty is always on top of things. Martyn thinks they should be prepared in case Vince decides to sue. Will and Ed arrive to clear the rest of the tree, but any more work will have to wait until Emma is available. Continuing to worry, Martyn asks about the beaver enclosure until Rex pulls him away so the Grundys can focus. Later, Ed finds Rex to talk about the fallen tree. He didn’t want to say in front of Martyn, but that tree was due to be inspected again.

Eddie and George are trying to rescue a turkey. George refers to the turkey as Stormzy as they slowly catch him. When George says he and Amber will be coming to the community orchard later, Eddie doubts anyone will turn up.
The Maliks are heading down to the orchard after Akram takes down his broken greenhouse at the allotment. Zainab offers to help but Akram is feeling sentimental. Elizabeth knocks on the door with a bouquet of flowers to thank Zainab. Akram’s shocked to hear how brave Zainab was during the storm. Azra makes Elizabeth a cup of tea and asks how Vince is. Elizabeth confesses that Vince will probably never walk again, something she hasn’t told anyone outside the family.
Eddie’s giving a speech to thank everyone who turned up to help and proposes an apple-themed bonfire in the orchard next week. George and Amber debate baby names and Eddie suggests naming him after an apple. Amber likes the idea of a nature-based name. They all discuss the damage. Helen says she was lucky, only the garden fence was damaged. Eddie is upset over the destruction, and Amber says they could plant more trees for the whole village.
Akram’s annoyed to hear of Zainab’s bravery from other people. Zainab just says she hardly saved the day. Akram says he just wants to be proud of his daughter.
In the car, Amber says she can smell something. George says that was Stormzy the turkey disgracing itself earlier. Amber says maybe that’s it: “Storm” is what they should call the baby.

Pip and Josh catch up on the way to visit Vince in hospital. Pip can’t believe Josh wound them all up, pretending he wouldn’t be coming back for the wedding. Josh doesn’t yet know if he’ll return to Patagonia.
At Lower Loxley, Elizabeth admits to Lily that a long sleep and food have put her in a better place. She feels up to catching up with some work before visiting Vince. Lily admits that she really likes Harrison and hopes they’ll be accepted as a proper couple one day in the community. Elizabeth urges her to spend an evening with Harrison and not to wait around to look after her mum.
Pip and Josh comment that Vince is looking better than they’d expected. Vince feels he owes them, and Chelsea, such a lot for looking after him and possibly saving his life. They joke about Pip and Stella’s forthcoming honeymoon in Iceland and Vince seems upbeat. Speaking to Pip and Josh in the hospital corridor, Elizabeth’s more cautious. She feels Vince’s attitude could be bravado as they don’t really know what they’re dealing with. His positivity could all come crashing down.
Later Freddie has updated Vince with work matters and Vince makes Elizabeth smile for the first time this week. He encourages her to go and get a cup of tea. But when Elizabeth returns she’s missed the consultant’s visit. They’ve given their opinion to Vince, the worst news he can imagine. They’re not sure if he will walk again.

Zainab thinks she’s seen Joy’s missing cat Ena on the roof of a neighbour’s house. She borrows a pet carrier from the vets while Harrison fetches a ladder, and they work together to get it down. Harrison is hesitant – not because he’s afraid of heights, but because he doesn’t like handling cats. Joy is delighted - she’ll get Ena fed and checked over and let the cat chat know she’s been found.
Elizabeth is on a short visit home to Lower Loxley – Lily worries this this will be her fourth day at Vince’s side but she really needs her to speak to the insurance assessor. Elizabeth doesn’t want to talk to anyone and isn’t really eating. Ian and Oliver have let Lily concentrate on Lower Loxley for now. Lily could do with some help with the insurance claim but Elizabeth is dismissive. She sees Lower Loxley as cursed – nothing good happens there or thrives. Lily suggests she’s catastrophising and is only saying this because Elizabeth is exhausted and in shock. Elizabeth decides to return Joy’s calls and gets upset. She shares that they keep doing tests on Vince but there are no results and it’s so worrying.
When Elizabeth leaves for the hospital, Lily breaks down to Harrison. With Freddie tied up at Casey Meats and Elizabeth always with Vince, Lily’s worried about handling the cancellations and responsibility herself. Harrison tries to console Lily as she explains that she can see her mum could sink into depression again. Lily wouldn’t be able to deal with that.

Keira and Eddie are surveying the damaged trees at the Community Orchard the day after the storm. Many trees have been destroyed and there are hundreds of apples to collect before they start to rot. Keira’s glad to have mild injuries, enough to allow her off school for the day. Eddie comments on how the storm is good for the tree surgery business. After half an hour of collecting apples they’ve still not made an impact, so Keira suggests raising an army of apple collectors. As a community, they’ve all been through the mill so maybe making things out of the apples together will help everyone.
Josh joins Ben in sweeping up glass in The Orangery. Lily is sorting insurance, Freddie is holding the fort at Casey Meats and Elizabeth hasn’t left Vince’s side.
Josh reports the huge amount of damage across Ambridge, however Tom’s new super greenhouse has remained intact. Josh isn’t keen to join the group chat Joy has set up to look for her missing cat, Ena. Sporting a nasty bruise, Chelsea joins them to help. She’s hoping for news on Vince. They know he’s conscious but no other update. Ben remembers the noise when the lightning struck the chimney, like a bomb exploding. Chelsea reflects that she might need more work while The Orangery is closed, and Josh and Ben book in for haircuts to keep her busy. Chelsea can’t stop worrying, as Vince took the hit to save her. Why can’t someone tell them what’s going on?