The Archers

Ellie does some milking for Ruth and is a natural. David invites Ellie and her girls to check on the ewes. There’s a special Thanksgiving dinner at Brookfield for Faith and Chuck. It was Eddie and Clarrie’s idea and they’ve provided a turkey. And of course Jill’s baking is called on. Ellie opens up to Ruth about splitting from her emotionally abusive husband. She has taken the kids away while he hopefully packs his stuff and leaves. Despite the problems, Faith has had a wonderful reconnection with Ambridge. Clarrie and Eddie get an open invitation to visit them in America. Eddie feels sorry for Clarrie that he’s just a failed, daft schemer – but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Jakob joins the community effort and catches up with David and Ruth. He admits defeat in tracking down the scammers but learns what a hero Kate has been, looking after everyone. He and Kate finally reunite, and Jakob concedes he has been difficult. Kate is also apologetic, for jumping in and offering up his home. As Jakob admits he could have been more giving, he’s full of admiration for Kate’s natural generosity, and they agree that they are who they are. Having started the week unable to agree about where to go on holiday, Jakob declares he agrees with Kate’s idea of somewhere warm. But now she says she wants to try his suggestion, Finland. Faith interrupts them, as it’s time to pull crackers while Clarrie carves the turkey. Happy Thanksgiving!

Faith enjoys her tour of Brookfield, telling Chuck what farming royalty the Brookfield Archers were when she was little. Meanwhile, Clarrie’s anxious to make a good impression, as Eddie dumps a flagon of cider on the table. She’s aghast at Eddie’s lie about them being landowners with an antiques business. Over dinner they all reminisce about the Grundys, the Larkins and Faith’s childhood exploits, and Chuck generally warms to his Ambridge experience. When Eddie’s unhappy customer berates him for the junk he sold him, the bubble is burst for Eddie – but Faith and Chuck see the funny side. Chuck even shows some interest in an old spokeshave of Eddie’s, which is a genuine antique. Ellie’s taken with country life and bonds with generous Kate. Ellie senses Kate’s mood and Kate admits she and Jakob have fallen out. Kate’s touched when Ellie invites her to stay and join her at the Brookfield bonfire. Kate explains how obsessed Jakob has become playing detective with the holiday fraudsters. Ellie helps Kate to see things from Jakob’s point of view, allowing for their different ways of dealing with things. As Kate works out what to do, she’s invited to sleep over with the others at Brookfield. But she persuades Ellie not to promote Brookfield too much as a retreat – she already runs one of those! Staying at the barn also allows Faith and Chuck to talk about some of their problems and even realise they have new things to discover about each other. This makes Kate think.

Faith bumps into Jazzer as he takes Jim’s old airbed over to Brookfield to help with their ‘big barn sleepover’. Faith is so grateful for the community support, and Jazzer makes no secret of how relieved Jakob will be to have his home back. Eddie’s visiting Joe’s grave, and chats to his old Dad. Visiting the churchyard also is Faith. They bump into one another and Faith remembers him from her childhood. She jokingly reminds Eddie of when they got “married” when they were five or six years old. It has been more than sixty years, but Eddie hasn’t changed at all. Over a drink at the Bull, they catch up and share their life stories. Eddie lies, making himself out to be in the antiques business with Clarrie. Faith’s delighted to accept his invitation to come over with Chuck tomorrow and try some home-made cider. A stranger arrives at Greenacres, and startled Jim takes immediate action to make a citizen’s arrest. The stranger had let himself in thinking he’d booked into Jim’s bungalow. Jazzer arrives and points out that this guy isn’t a scammer but rather has himself been scammed. With this clarified, apologetic Jim shares a drink and gets to know Joel. Having been contained by Jim in the living room, Joel admits he enjoyed looking at Jim’s impressive library. Joel is an archaeologist and connects with Jim over his Classical literature. Joel resigns himself to going home, but Jazzer has another idea, mentioning the Brookfield Barn. Joel’s happy; he feels he’s found a kindred spirit in Jim.

It’s action stations for Ruth, while the Grundys spot an opportunity.