31/03/2025

Emma decides to take the lead, and Khalil hatches a plan.

Freddie sacks Jolene from the cricket team for missing Thursday’s nets practice. If you miss two then you’re out. Lilian overhears and when Freddie’s gone mentions to Jolene that Tracy will also have missed two, so he’ll have to sack her too. Jolene thinks she can have fun with that. Later Jolene tells Lilian and Fallon she’ll reschedule the staff meeting, but she’ll make Freddie squirm for a few days first!When Freddie tells Rex that Jolene’s missing nets practice because of a staff meeting clash, Rex realises Freddie’s made a terrible mistake. Tracy will have to be sacked too! Freddie wonders then if Rochelle’s any good at cricket. Rex admits that he doesn’t know; they went on a date but then she disappeared and ignored his texts. He tried to clear the air with her last night, but she pretty much blanked him. Freddie suggests trying to talk to her again.Emma and Eddie both worry about Clarrie losing her job at The Dairy. When Eddie says Clarrie’s thinking of working at the Chicken Factory, Emma says she has an idea. Later she catches up with Fallon and suggests that Clarrie might be a perfect fit for The Bull’s Kitchen Assistant job. Fallon agrees to consider it, though it’s not just down to her. And when Fallon mentions the possibility of Clarrie working at The Bull, Lilian’s not keen. Jolene and Fallon accuse her of being ageist even though Clarrie’s younger than Lilian! Jolene suggests asking Clarrie to send in her CV, that way they can make a fair decision.

On his way into the Shop, while chatting to Freddie on the phone, Rex worries about being paid to play cricket; if anyone on the team finds out, it’s all on Freddie. Intrigued Jolene overhears the end of this, but when she asks Rex he is evasive. Once inside the Shop though Rex sees Rochelle working there and leaves hastily. Susan then asks Rochelle to restock the chiller cabinet, but when Vince pops in later, he’s shocked to find that everything in the cabinet is out of date. Rochelle takes the blame and wins Vince round. After he’s gone Susan admits it was her fault and thanks Rochelle for handling it so well. Later they go to The Bull, where Rochelle asks Susan about village life and Vince sponsoring the cricket. And when Vince appears, Rochelle asks if she can try out for the team. At Casey Meats Freddie admits to Vince that he hasn’t had a chance to sack Jolene yet. Vince reckons he needs to do it before team drinks tonight. But when Freddie confronts Jolene at The Bull she wrong-foots him and Freddie bottles out. Freddie comes clean to Rex, adding that Jolene won’t be going to nets on Thursday either. Rex reckons that’s Freddie’s solution: Jolene’s already missed one practice and the new rule is that if you miss two, you’re out. Rex then spots Rochelle and suggests it might be awkward if she joins the cricket team, given their history. Rochelle tells Rex she’s sorry, but she doesn’t want to talk about it now.

At Joy's house Rochelle tells Mick that he’s unlikely to hear back from Joy anytime soon. Susan appears, fuming at Joy not turning up for her shift at the Shop - and there’s no-one to cover. Despite it being unpaid Rochelle offers to work Joy’s shifts. Susan reluctantly agrees – but Rochelle has to start straight away. Later on, despite the tension between Susan and Rochelle, who hates Susan’s finicky shelf-stacking instructions, they come to a compromise that seems to work. Back at home though Rochelle moans to Mick about bossy Susan driving her to distraction. Mick implores Rochelle not to mess things up for Joy, who needs the job to come back to.Over at the Maliks Akram is getting everything ready for tonight’s Eid celebrations, including lots of fireworks. When Khalil realises Lynda and Robert will be joining them he tells Akram to ditch the fireworks : they will traumatise Lynda after the explosion at Grey Gables. Akram agrees to do the celebrations without them. When Robert and Lynda arrive, Lynda tells Akram they were expecting a great firework display after Zainab told her what usually happens. Lynda soon realises it must have been Khalil who warned Akram off and is touched by Khalil and Akram’s thoughtfulness. The Eid party goes well, with Akram complimenting Lynda on her dancing. Robert tells Akram how grateful he is for the way they handled the potential issue with fireworks. Akram sees Robert and Lynda as good friends to the family and admits they will almost certainly stay in Ambridge now.

Helen tells Clarrie that Susan’s got the job. Clarrie’s pleased for Susan, and entreats Helen not to get upset as it doesn’t help. Helen goes through the process for Clarrie, telling her she doesn’t have to work her notice. But Clarrie insists; she just wants to get back to work, while she can. She tells Susan she just wants an ordinary day, and Susan’s happy to oblige. Clarrie admits to feeling a bit sorry for Helen, but Susan retorts that’s for Helen to deal with.Mick intimates to Rochelle that Joy has filled him in on their troubled past. It becomes clear to Rochelle that Joy hasn’t told him the whole story. Rochelle tells shocked Mick that the ‘couple of days’ Joy referred to when she said she’d gone away was actually more like a couple of months. Rochelle also discloses she had to deal with their dog dying that summer, assisted by a lad she barely knew. When Joy arrives home and tells them about Constanza, Rochelle makes a barbed comment about disposing of a dead llama. Catching up with the conversation, Joy insists a lot of what Rochelle’s said isn’t true. Rochelle sticks to her guns and Joy defends herself, pointing out she was in a bad way. Rochelle accuses her of blocking out everything that happened. She conveniently forgets and it’s exhausting. Distraught Joy leaves the room, returning with an overnight bag. She needs some time away and will be back soon. Mick protests but Joy’s adamant. Neither Mick nor Rochelle have a clue what to do.

Eddie approaches Neil in the Bull. The awkward atmosphere between them dissipates as they share fellow feeling over the predicament of their wives regarding tomorrow’s decision about the remaining job in the dairy. Both women are trying not to think about it and remain philosophical. Eddie’s heard a rumour Martyn Gibson’s on the board of Borsetshire Water, but when he realises it’s news to Neil he thinks maybe it’s not true. Neil speculates that it would make sense though, given Martyn’s reaction to the campaign. They could check the website. They go on to chat about George. Eddie acknowledges how painful it must have been for Neil and Susan to report him to the police. The pair agree it’s been good to chat, and that they care about one another. Emma and Robert make tea before the parish council meeting. Emma’s made the decision to resign – she has no fight for it left in her, and she’s had enough of people talking about her in meetings. Robert’s dismayed. They’re interrupted by Mick, who announces his intention to speak at the meeting. He makes a heartfelt plea to the assembled councillors, extolling Emma’s virtues; he’d like to withdraw his complaint. Afterwards in the Bull Emma declares Mick’s speech brilliant. She appreciates it. Mick doesn’t know about that, but Robert’s words the other day helped him see the error of his ways. Robert reckons they should now let the matter rest. They join Eddie and Neil, and a toast is proposed to Susan and Clarrie: the best of women.

Lynda’s concerned for Khalil after the loss of Constanza yesterday. Khalil assures her he’s okay. They take Salieri for a walk, the start of a regular thing and Khalil loves it. He admits he sometimes feels stupid and his mother has low expectations of him. Lynda assures him this isn’t true. He tells Lynda about a boy whose funeral he attended. Seeing the boy’s mum’s face put him in mind of his own mum and how she might feel if he died. He knows his cancer could return. He apologises for the dark conversation and Lynda comforts him. She knows his mum’s just thrilled he’s alive and thriving, and has complete faith in him. Joy checks in with Mick, making sure he’s still happy for Rochelle to stay with them. Mick confirms it’s all good; he’s pleased for Joy that Rochelle’s around. Joy declares him a good man. Mick raises the delicate topic of what’s really going on between the two women. He needs Joy to be straight with him. Joy gradually opens up, disclosing the extent of her ex husband’s betrayal as he conducted a string of affairs. She thinks Rochelle might blame her for her father leaving. Joy worries she leaned on Rochelle a bit too much at that time. She confesses she left for a few days, acknowledging Rochelle was probably too young for this. It was a dark time in their lives; they’ve never really got over it. Mick understands, relieved Joy’s been honest with him. He promises things will be better from now on.

Lynda wonders to Robert whether she should pay Khalil to feed and walk the llamas. She wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t become a vet. As they approach the paddock they notice Constanza is lying down. To their horror they realised she’s died. They call Alistair to her, and he explains she had bloat. It would have happened very quickly. Lynda’s sad but tries hard to be philosophical; Constanza had a lovely life. At that moment Khalil arrives and is devastated. He’s convinced he must have fed Constanza something she couldn’t eat. Alistair reassures him, but he struggles. He asks what will happen to her and whether there’ll be a funeral. Alistair’s explanations do little to console Khalil and he leaves, distraught. Lynda’s concerned for him. Joy and Mick are finishing off the cleaning at Home Farm as they prepare to leave the house. Joy can see that it must have been a wrench for Brian and Jennifer to relinquish the the farmhouse, but much as she’s enjoyed her stay she wouldn’t swap it for her Beechwood home. When they get to Joy’s house they’re relieved and delighted to find it’s been refurbished beautifully. However they soon discover Rochelle’s back; she’s used the spare key. Joy asks why she left so suddenly. Rochelle obfuscates. They catch her up on village events, and she wonders whether she might stay with them at Beechwood for a bit. She’s had to move out of her house share. Of course, effuses Joy. It’s lovely to have her back.

Emma’s relieved to report that there’s been no negative activity around her media exposure for the water company campaign. Nevertheless she announces she’s decided to resign from the parish council. Robert’s dismayed, and urges her not to be too hasty. Mick praises Emma tentatively for her work with the campaign – he was impressed. Emma snaps that she didn’t do it to impress, rather that it was the right thing to do. Later Robert urges Mick to think again about his complaint to the parish council; Emma’s a good person who’s already suffered enough. Chastened Mick promises he will give it some thought. Helen and Pat face the challenging task of interviewing Susan and Clarrie. Pat reckons due process will at least take the emotion out of it but Helen doesn’t agree – it’s like being asked to choose between two diamonds. As the time draws near flustered Clarrie needs help from Emma to clean her mud splashed skirt. Susan’s somewhat calmer, but in the interests of fairness Emma offers to make them both a soothing coffee. The interviews surprise all four women. Susan struggles to be coherent, while Clarrie finds her flow and speaks with passion. Afterwards Helen and Pat agree this wasn’t what they were expecting. Helen needs a few days to think. Does she give the job to Susan, who is more senior, or to Clarrie, who did the better interview? Despite Pat’s protestations that it’s too long to wait, Helen declares she’ll make the decision on Friday.

Emma’s not at all happy to find she’s become the poster girl for the water company campaign; her picture has made the local paper. Robert reckons it’s a positive – it’s all good publicity. But Emma’s worried about the prominence attracting negative comments about George on social media. Her place on the parish council may also be in question, but she’s not worried about that. If they don’t want her, that’s fine with her. Robert reminds Lynda the decision on Emma’s future on the parish council is this Thursday, but Lynda’s distracted. The Malik family have gone back to Beechwood and the house is quiet. Robert reminds her what good news this is that the Maliks’ house is habitable again. Azra has left them with profuse thanks and some delicious chocolates. Lynda’s happy for the family, but still laments their own house feels empty. She’s cheered by the prospect of Khalil returning from time to time to feed the llamas. Clarrie feels no matter how much she prepares for her interview tomorrow, she won’t get the job. She’ll have to look for something else. Eddie suggests she might retire, but Clarrie declares they can’t afford for her to do that. Later Emma tells Eddie that Susan’s hating the process too. They agree it’s a rotten situation all round. Emma promises Clarrie any financial help she can, and they’ll just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings. Clarrie acknowledges she can only do her best.