15/11/2026

Kirsty makes a big decision, and Neil feels the weight of responsibility

Writer: Tim Stimpson Director: Sally Avens Editor: Jeremy Howe David Archer … Timothy Bentinck Harrison Burns … James Cartwright Neil Carter … Brian Hewlett Vince Casey … Tony Turner Alan Franks … John Telfer Usha Franks … Souad Faress Martyn Gibson … Jon Glover Eddie Grundy … Trevor Harrison Chelsea Horrobin … Madeleine Leslay Jazzer McCreary … Ryan Kelly Kirsty Miller … Annabelle Dowler Elizabeth Pargetter … Alison Dowling Freddie Pargetter … Toby Laurence Lily Pargetter … Katie Redford Fallon Rogers … Joanna Van Kampen Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd Donal Gough … Sean Connolly

Early at Lower Loxley, Elizabeth bumps into Freddie who is leaving for work. She makes a comment about Vince’s experienced staff which bristles Freddie. At the Abattoir, Donal is looking for a solution to their excess meat from Freddie who has only left messages with a local procurement manager. Later, Freddie calls Vince with the good news, his idea has worked and Freddie has got a new contract to start in a couple weeks. Donal rushes into the office, when Freddie says he’s fixed it. Donal reveals the truth: Vince sent someone else to negotiate instead of Freddie.At Brookfield, Josh is helping David clean the Hereford’s troughs. David asks how Esme is doing, the last couple years have been tough for farmers and Esme is new to it. Josh changes the conversation to Ruth’s BRCA test, she’s still asking if he’s okay with it when he’s not. David says he doesn’t have opinion on it, his job is to be supportive. When Elizabeth arrives, Josh shows off his photos from Patagonia. He misses it but it’s a remote place. They move briefly onto Vince updates. Elizabeth asks David if he wants her to drive Mum back from Shula’s in Sunderland. When Vince sends a message.Later at the hospital, Vince is singing Freddie’s praises to Elizabeth. He’s sorry for how he acted but he can’t stand Elizabeth seeing him like that. Elizabeth only needed someone in her corner but now Vince can’t do that. From here on out though, he is going to be the best man he can for her.

Alan spots Eddie in the community orchard, it’s looking better after the village’s help. Eddie confesses he can’t see the orchard getting back up to what it was. Alan tries to comfort him. Lynda spots them and says it’s good to see them hard at work. Alan is impressed with Eddie literally bolting a branch back together. Lynda laments the poetry readings Alan organised falling through. Alan leaves to take a call from the Archdeacon. Eddie says he can’t blame Alan for wanting to keep his head down. When Eddie tells Lynda about his plan to plant a tree for baby Storm, she thinks it’s a beautiful idea. They recall the old legend linked to the Tumble Tussock, Joe Grundy’s favourite. Freddie is delivering the news that Midwoods Foods has gone under, when Vince starts instructing Freddie on what he needs to do to stop the abattoir suffering. He complains that he’s being tortured by the physio. Freddie says maybe a visit from Elizabeth would help, before Vince tell him no. Lily arrives to surprise Vince with a grilling. She wants to know why he won’t let Elizabeth visit. Vince says his daughters visit when they can. Lily says she’s taken over Lower Loxley to give Elizabeth time to focus on just Vince. Freddie ushers Lily out. As they wait for the lift, Lily says it would be devasting if Elizabeth and Vince couldn’t make it work after all this time. Lily says her piece to Vince: is he going to hide away from his biggest challenge?

At The Stables, Harrison is trying to find a clean bowl and questions if it annoys Lily that neither of her flatmates can use a dishwasher. Lily says Grey Gables are asking when she’ll be back, but she’s still needed at Lower Loxley. Harrison says the milk is off and invites Lily over to his. Lily is not comfortable, even with Fallon out working. Josh emerges half-dressed from the lounge to their surprise. Harrison offers Josh a lift to Brookfield on the way to drop Lily’s phone at Lower Loxley. When Chelsea spots them, Josh says he’ll walk instead. He offers to be an ear for Chelsea until he returns to Patagonia. Josh is praising Chelsea’s horsebox and compares his own business. Chelsea can’t help but scoff when he complains about only inheriting 30 acres and Glebe Cottage. She points out he’s had a headstart.In the Lower Loxley office, Elizabeth is telling Fallon of the issues the abattoir is facing before asking about Deck the Halls. Lily arrives shocked to see Elizabeth working. She says her and Fallon can manage so Elizabeth can go visit Vince. When Harrison gives Lily her phone, she tentatively asks if he’s seen Fallon. Harrison says this treading on eggshells makes him feel like they’re having an affair. Elizabeth walks in as they kiss goodbye. Lily realises Harrison has dropped off the wrong phone, but when she goes to give it him, she finds Harrison awkwardly asking Fallon if Lily can come over to the cottage tonight. At the cottage, Lily apologises to Fallon about this.

Lynda is pitching all the changes her dog field would require to Martyn Gibson. As much as he loves the idea, it’s a business venture and BL will require a share of the profits, and a monthly rent. Lynda is taken back as this wasn’t the plan. Freddie tries to revive his school meals idea from before the attack last year to a very busy Donal. Donal says until Vince says that he wants to do it, he’s not doing it. They both receive a message saying Midwoods Foods has gone bust. Donal starts to plan for the fallout of this problem as they’re going to be left with a few hundred thousand pounds’ worth of pork meat on their hands. He tells Freddie to contact suppliers. Later, Donal catches Freddie and suggests a couple of options but says they need Vince’s knowledge.At Berrow Farm, Neil and Jazzer are on a tea break when Jazzer quizzes Neil about chaperoning Alan. Neil says it was meant to be secret. Jazzer apologizes for letting slip that Martyn is thinking of downsizing the team. Neil says it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Martyn interrupts Neil and Jazzer’s conversation to tell them about the Midwoods news, but then questions why they were talking about redundancies. Neil takes the blame and says he suspected changes were coming. When Freddie calls asking to delay the next batch of pigs, Neil and Jazzer point out that it would only work for a couple days. Lynda calls to talk more about the dog field, but a busy Martyn promises to get back to her.

At Lower Loxley, the staff prepare for the two-minute silence as Lily says everyone is really excited about the reopening. When Elizabeth says she’s not visiting Vince today, Lily becomes concerned. Freddie swings by the office to ask if there’s anything he could do to help. Lily starts talking about all the insurance paperwork, losing Freddie. He moves onto his ideas for the abattoir and how he wants to show Vince the business is in safe hands. Lily says she’s noticed something’s changed with Elizabeth and Vince. She’s worried Elizabeth is spiralling.After Alan leads the wreath-laying at the war memorial, Lynda comes to say it was a very moving service. She says more could learn from Alan’s words including those making comments about Alan. Alan starts pointing out who was absent to Usha who tries to calm his nerves by saying they must have had ordinary reasons for not attending. Lynda bumps into Alan on a stroll, she lets slip about the additional comments online. Later, Usha visits Elizabeth. When asked about Alan, she can’t hide her distress and tells Elizabeth that Alan has been accused of stealing £6,000 from Carol Tregorran, and now he’s not allowed to work unchaperoned. They start to talk about Vince, and how helpless he is. Elizabeth knows you lash out at those closest, but she doesn’t want to be a punchbag. Hearing a noise, she finds the twins eavesdropping. They volunteer to visit Vince, but Elizabeth says he just needs time.

Elizabeth is visiting her dad’s grave when she bumps into Alan, who asks after Vince. In the hospital, Vince won’t stop messaging Freddie, but Elizabeth says he can’t run the abattoir from his hospital bed. She asks if he’s heard more about the rehabilitation centre. Vince is tired and asks her about Lower Loxley. When Vince shifts uncomfortably, he snaps at her questions asking for her to get a nurse. After they’ve changed the bed and Vince’s gown, Elizabeth says they’ve got to be honest with each other. Vince confesses he wants to scream and smash things, instead he’s got strangers wiping his backside. He yells at Elizabeth to get out. Susan and Neil are bickering when Neil says that she shouldn’t be angry at Jazzer. Neil says maybe redundancy wouldn’t be a bad thing. He’s nearly seventy and the mortgage is paid off. Alan arrives to be chaperoned on a visit to Pauline. In the car, Alan apologises for making Neil miss bonfire night, but the conversation shifts to Neil’s report to the Archdeacon. Alan is grateful to have Neil on his side. After praying with a parishioner at the hospital, Alan and Neil run into Elizabeth. She’s been debating whether to go back upstairs to Vince. She asks if Alan would go to speak to him, he agrees but when he tries to go, Neil stops him. Elizabeth didn’t realise Alan needed a chaperone and says not to bother. Elizabeth returns to Vince who tells her to go home. He gives her the silent treatment until she leaves before crying alone.

The celebration at the Orchard is getting into the swing as Alistair helps clear space for Susan’s Malvern pudding. He asks where Neil and Alan are and Denise says she doesn’t blame Alan staying away. They start to question Susan until she’s saved by Esme who wants to thank the vets for their kindness. Later, Josh is telling anecdotes from Patagonia and watching the World Cup. Esme is disappointed when Josh says he’s got his return ticket booked. She confesses to him about the state of Meadow Farm and the fall out with George. Josh says she’s just got to hang on, but Esme says for how long for when everything is a trainwreck. Jazzer is delighted when the housing association confirms the fence is shared ownership between them and Helen. He says he’s going to tell Helen at the Orchard tonight. Tracy says no way as this evening is about bringing everyone together. Jazzer is watching the pennies and says whilst we can afford half now, they need to save. Tracy smells a rat and demands Jazzer spill. At the orchard, Tracy asks why Jazzer is worried if he’s been told either Neil or Helen will get the chop. Tracy tries to get Jazzer to spill the beans to Susan who thinks it’s him who’s spread the Alan gossip. Tracy says it was Bert who started the gossip, and then says Jazzer’s keeping Martyn Gibson’s secrets. As the fireworks start, Jazzer crumbles and says Neil might be out of a job.

Anna is meeting Helen at the Tearoom. The auction valuer came round to Glebe cottage and her Dad’s Georgian furniture isn’t worth much as no one wants brown furniture. They move onto the complaint against Alan. Anna says there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute so the complaint was all she could do. Fallon interrupts the conversation saying she doesn’t believe Alan is taking advantage of anyone vulnerable. Anna becomes annoyed because why was this confidential investigation the topic of conversation in the pub?At Lower Loxley, Lily is checking on the pop-up café in the gallery when Fallon apologies for yesterday. She really wants to work with Lily to make the workshop programme work but of course Lily has a lot on her plate. Lily becomes teary. She can’t help but open up about everything she has to do to keep Lower Loxley going. When Fallon asks if there’s anyone to help Lily, Lily says there’s only so much family can do. She’s worried her mum’s depression will come back. Fallon offers to help with Deck-the-Hall to take some of the stress. Alan and Neil are planning Alan’s visits to parishioners. He’s sorry Neil has the hassle of having to chaperone him. Anna bursts into the church calling for Alan. Anna states the Clergy’s code of practice says any attempt to put pressure on the complainant is improper, so why is Alan going around currying favour in Ambridge. Alan tries to explain but Neil interrupts saying the two of them shouldn’t even be talking. Alan asks Neil to tell the Archdeacon what happened