Tracy and Susan are discussing how long the shop might be at St Stephen’s when Alan joins them with news that the noises are positive – so long as the parochial church council agree. Tracy assumes that’ll be a doddle, but when Alan mentions a fee for hiring the space Susan’s horrified. Susan seeks Neil’s support but he can see the church’s point of view: they need to raise funds. He suggests the PCC might agree payment of a minimal fee for a specific purpose, like restoring the font. As Susan and Alan continue to thrash it out later Alan’s sympathetic but anticipates opposition to the shop idea from some parishioners. Susan suggests the compromise of covering font restoration costs and Alan agrees that could work.Over at Berrow Farm Jazzer’s shocked when he and Tracy are invited on a double date tomorrow night, with Martyn and Marlene. Neil thinks it’s funny, but Jazzer is determined they’re not going.Kirsty confides in Tracy that she’s been lonely since Roy left, but now worries Kate might not want to move in after all. Tracy reckons Kate still will, then hopes her friend Marlene doesn’t get hurt by Martyn, mentioning Marlene’s idea of a double date. It transpires that Tracy has accepted the invitation despite Jazzer wriggling out of it. Tracy tells Jazzer they’ll be going to a fancy steakhouse and Martyn’s paying, so what’s not to like? When Jazzer demurs Tracy insists it’s for Marlene’s sake – but the last thing Jazzer wants is to be indebted to his boss.
--------
13:06
--------
13:06
13/08/2025
Finding Adam doing more research in the office Brian recommends he leaves it for Stella when she’s back. But Adam’s discovered Stella’s quit and won’t be coming back – when was Brian planning to tell him this? Brian insists he can talk Stella round, but gets short shrift when he calls her. Undeterred, he arranges to meet her later. Trying a charm offensive Brian apologises for his reaction over her bringing in the BL harvest, but Stella reiterates that her patience has worn out and she won’t be coming back to Home Farm. She has other plans, including getting a new dog. She’s sure Brian will find a replacement for her. Later while relaxing at Grey Gables with Pip, Stella can’t avoid Adam, who takes his turn to try and change her mind, emphasising how much stress Brian is under. Stella’s answer is still no, backed up by Pip, and even Adam has to agree that the insults Brian threw at Stella last week were unforgivable. Kirsty and Pip agree the church could make a great new home for the shop if potential plan goes ahead. Kirsty wonders how she ended up agreeing to have Kate lodge at Willow Farm – she’s already planning to make changes. However when Kirsty gets home she’s delighted to find Kate’s transformed the living room into a vision of Scandinavian chic. Meanwhile Brian’s disquiet over the mess at Home Farm leads Kate to delay her move. She tells Kirsty she’s sorry, but she doesn’t think she can leave her dad on his own right now.
--------
13:04
--------
13:04
12/08/2025
On the phone to Robert Lynda confesses her shame over Akram, castigating herself for her thoughtlessness. He still hasn’t replied to her message. Robert suggests going to see Akram to clear things up. Meanwhile at the Maliks it’s Zainab who’s more worked up, while Akram claims he didn’t feel hurt in the first place. Nevertheless Akram hides when Lynda arrives, while Zainab gives Lynda a mouthful. When Akram emerges he assures Lynda he’s put the issue behind him. When Lynda explains how stressed she’s been Akram apologises for not responding to her message; he was so busy yesterday. He was only hiding because he hasn’t counted all the fete money yet. Relieved Lynda offers to do it for him. When she speaks to Robert later she’s distracted and not really listening. It’s his turn to feel put out, and he leaves mystified Lynda hanging.Running the shop at the village hall is proving more chaotic than Susan had hoped, as she tells Zainab. When Alan comes in and reminisces about how the church used to be the centre of the community it gives Zainab an idea. Why not relocate the shop to the church? Susan puts the idea to Alan, who’s not against it in principle, but various permissions will need to be obtained. Later he tells her the signs are looking good and he’ll call a meeting of the parochial church council to seek their approval. Delighted Susan tells him St Stephen’s might just be the saviour of the village shop.
--------
13:01
--------
13:01
11/08/2025
Adam’s grateful Brian eventually agreed to do the BL harvest and offers his thoughts on getting new contracts for the seed drill. Brian admits he and Stella have argued, but warns Adam off talking to her – he could help him out in her place. Later Adam tells Brian he now knows, via David, that it was Stella who decided to do the BL harvest, not Brian. Brian insists that not doing the harvest gave him some leverage over Justin, but now that’s gone. Adam’s astounded Brian risked losing the crop and drove Stella away in the process. He thinks Brian should apologise. Later Brian rows back on his obstinacy and thanks Adam for his work. Adam admits he’s enjoyed it. He’s sure once Stella returns things will settle down again.Lilian declares to Lynda how much she enjoyed yesterday’s fete, with its carousel and barrel organ. Lynda’s more effusive about the stalls which reflected rural heart and soul, like Kirsty’s craft area. She’s sent a photo of the summer wreaths to absent Robert. Lilian feels for James, so far away in New Zealand while Leonie’s suffering with her back. Lynda’s criticism of James for staying away so long while Leonie is incapacitated gets thrown back at her by Lilian, who accuses Lynda of thoughtlessness for forgetting to thank Akram in her closing speech yesterday at the fete. Lynda is mortified as realisation dawns, and she messages Akram to apologise. When he doesn’t respond Lynda becomes even more stressed, to the point where she starts talking about having to leave the village.
--------
13:09
--------
13:09
10/08/2025
It’s the day of the village fête and a stressed Dane is struggling to enlist help with last minute tasks. Kenton’s pulled out of refereeing duties for the tug of war, and the Grey Gables team is looking patchy. Lynda boasts the Ambridge side has a full house. She extolls the virtues of mindfulness; good management starts with a calm mind.Susan’s bottle stall starts slowly, though Neil assures her it will pick up as the day goes on. She hopes so. The shop needs money coming in and a proper plan. Tracy comes up with the bright idea of selling the wine at a lower price with paper cups, to be consumed at the fête itself. Grateful, Susan runs with this and it’s a huge success. Lilian teases Susan that her stall has ruined the day for the Bull’s beer tent, until oblivious Tracy exclaims the beer tent’s rammed, blowing Lilian’s joke out of the water. Lilian picks up the baton as referee and the tug of war gets underway. After a close tussle and some motivational talk from Lynda, Ambridge are the victors. Lynda sees the competition as a metaphor for the true soul of a village – succeeding by collaboration and communication. Dane laughs that his team will be unbeatable next year. Lynda admires his fighting spirit. However, Lynda makes an error in the closing speeches by omitting to thank Akram for his help with the fête. Akram assures Zainab he’s happy to fade into the background, but Zainab declares Lynda shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this.
Netherlands