The Archers

Alan is just trying to get through his Sunday duties. Usha laments how much of people’s time will be wasted before the formal complaint against Alan is dismissed. Alan says he hopes it will be dismissed, but talking about it won’t speed it up. He’s just grateful he can still do his job. As Alan gets into his cassock, he chats to Neil who has arrived to chaperone him. Alan knows Neil has been given an important safeguarding task and wants to make this as painless as possible. When Alan goes to get the plate, Neil says he’s changed the code and asks Alan to leave the room. During Alan’s sermon, Usha tries to get sympathy out of Neil who takes his duty seriously. Later Alan tells Usha he got to try to rise above the complaint.
At No. 6 The Green, Jazzer is trying to prop up the old fence panels. Tracy says the posts are too rotten. Tracy just wants to buy new panels to sort it quickly. Jazzer says they don’t even know the fence is theirs, and Helen is just trying to put the bill on them. Jazzer rambles about how Helen even made Brad pay for driving in her gate. Tracy tries to help him but the panels fall over, revealing Helen who has been listening to the whole conversation. Helen says she thought the housing association would pay, but Jazzer says he’s not even sure it is their fence. Jazzer is convinced that Helen knows it’s not their fence, but he needs proof.

Returning to Ambridge, Jazzer and Tracy look at all the damage the storm has caused. Tracy becomes emotional at the spot where the tree nearly injured Chelsea. At least Pip and Stella were able to go on their honeymoon. They’re unloading their suitcases when Helen approaches. She asks how their holiday was, before pointing out that a couple of fence panels have blown across the garden damaging some plant pots. Helen says she’ll leave it with Jazzer and Tracy to fix. Jazzer says isn’t it her boundary?
The Archdeacon arrives to talk to Alan. Alan welcomes him to the Vicarage, offering cake. The Archdeacon says he’s here in an official capacity as a formal complaint has been made about Alan. Alan maintains he has done nothing wrong. He didn’t know that Carol had transferred the money. The Archdeacon says that’s not the point of this meeting. Alan says Anna is riddled with guilt. The Archdeacon cuts him off saying they should use neutral language: the complainant and the deceased. Alan laughs – does that make him the accused? The Archdeacon asserts he’s here to explain how this will be dealt with by the diocese. Alan becomes upset and says he’s innocent. The Archdeacon says they have to refer the complaint to Adult Social Services and there will be interim safety plan. Alan won’t be able to handle collection boxes or the plate on Sunday. He won’t be able to visit any parishioner unaccompanied. Alan has to sign to say he agrees to these terms.

George arrives at Little Grange to check if Keira has gone to school. He offers to give her a lift, but Keira says the bus is fine. George says it is if she was actually going to school. Keira says all that time in A&E tired her out, and George points out they couldn’t find anything actually wrong with her. George makes her a cup of tea and forces her to talk. She says he’s being horrible. He argues that Will was in a state yesterday and it took an hour to calm him down; Keira knows what happened to Nic and isn’t a kid anymore. Keira says she didn’t mean to panic Will, she just hates school. She can’t bear it. George tries to question why she doesn’t want to go to school. He threw away the opportunities school gave him, and he doesn’t want Keira to do the same.
At Rewilding, Martyn Gibson is demanding copies of all the files relating to tree maintenance. He says if there is a claim, they’ll need to prove that BL and Rewilding Ambridge are completely in the clear. Martyn says he tried to visit Vince but got turned away, as did Alan. Rex stalls handing over the files saying he doesn’t know all the passwords. Martyn says they can just call Kirsty to get them. Martyn detects that Rex is being obstructive. Rex confesses that the problem tree was due an inspection, but shoulders the blame saying it was his fault that the inspection was forgotten. Martyn barely controls his anger before leaving. Rex calls Helen in a panic. Helen says he has to tell Kirsty, but Rex says her blood pressure is through the roof and he doesn’t want to add to it. Rex says he will take the fall for the omission.

Zainab thinks her dad is avoiding her. Azra says he’s just on a plumbing job in Penny Hassett. Zainab says she can protect herself and that she’s already dealt with racism, recently from Lawrence at the golf club. Azra says she might have to arrest people she’s sympathetic to, but Zainab says she’s hardly the first Muslim woman to join the police. Azra says she would be the first in the family, to which Zainab points out their cousin Usman is a detective. Later, Azra says they’ll support Zainab’s decision.
Will is driving Keira to school as she doesn’t want anyone seeing her on the bus and knowing she’s having to take catch-up classes. Will tells Keira to wave to Alan as they pass but she says there’s something going on with him. News that he got chucked out of Carol’s funeral has spread. Keira says she’s got a headache and pleads with Will to pull over. Will gives her water and painkillers, but Keira says she just needs to lie down. Will wants to check her cuts aren’t sore. One looks particularly red, so Will says they should go to A&E.
In the surgery, Elizabeth has come in for an appointment as she’s scared her depression will come back. Between Vince being relentlessly upbeat, Freddie trying to hold down the abattoir and Lily micromanaging, she confesses she feels fragmented and is having panic dreams. Azra asks if Elizabeth always puts this much pressure on herself. Azra advises they start with counselling. She’ll put a list together of counsellors.

Ed calls Storm a “little bruiser” whilst George recounts some of Will’s storm puns. Keira pulls a face at having to go to catch-up classes during half term. Storm then needs changing, getting them off the topic of school. As Ed double checks Keira has everything, she becomes teary and begs not to go. Keira says she’s getting flashbacks and can’t be around people. She pleads for one more day at home to recover as Ed says he’ll call the surgery. Ed and Emma agree she must go in tomorrow but can have today off. George says he’ll teach Keira how to change Storm’s nappy as payment. Confused, Keira plays dumb, but George says he knows she’s just skiving.
At Rewilding Ambridge, Helen’s checking on Peggy’s artwork. It has survived. Helen is chatting whilst Rex’s mind is clearly elsewhere. He asks if there’s any news about Vince, but Helen’s vague update brings him no relief. Kirsty arrives, to Rex’s surprise. She’s meant to be resting but has grown bored. Helen says they could grab a smoothie later. Rex had said he would call Kirsty with an update, but he hasn’t. She quizzes him. Rex repeats that everything’s fine and says it’s just boring paperwork, nothing to interrupt Kirsty’s rest. Rex promises he’ll tell Kirsty if anything important comes up. Kirsty goes for a stroll around Rewilding. Helen asks Rex what’s wrong as he’s clearly the worst liar. Rex is worried about the tree that fell on Vince and how it was meant to be booked by Kirsty for an inspection.