The Archers

Akram challenges the system, and a new arrival at Brookfield shakes the tree.

At the Rewilding, Alice is impressed by how the beavers have already reduced the risk of flooding downstream on the Am. Alice takes photographs for Phoebe before circuitously asking Rex if he did anything for Valentine’s Day. Rex, though, is worried about his taxi licence renewal after a drunken fare made a complaint about Rex “stealing” an expensive watch he left in Rex’s cab. Unless Rex can prove the man’s suspicions are groundless, that could be it for him as a cabbie. Alice suggests checking if the watch was handed in at any of the pubs and bars the man drank at before getting in Rex’s cab, offering to split the task if they go on Tuesday. Rex agrees.
Alice confides in Ruairi that she’s debating whether or not to ask out someone she fancies, before noting Ruairi is more subdued than usual. Ruairi denies this and heads off to Berrow Farm, where Neil lets Hannah know that Ruairi is starting as a trainee. It’s all very last minute, Martyn having told Neil that Brian wants Ruairi to get more hands-on farming experience. Hannah is unimpressed, what they need is a skilled worker, not a complete novice. Neil agrees, but they’ve got no choice in the matter. Ruairi then listens carefully while Neil and Hannah outline the seriousness of the responsibilities Ruairi will be taking on and the necessity of avoiding contamination. Later, while Neil starts showing Ruairi what to do, Ruairi gets distracted, then slips and falls in the muck. Hannah can’t see him lasting a week.

As oblivious David collects glasses at The Bull, Ruth turns up dressed for a romantic dinner. Her plan has worked, and they settle down for a Valentine’s date. David admits this is better than squeezing in at the bar, but now they’ve got a free evening tomorrow. Ruth jokes they could use that time to work on their wills, as they’ve already told the children the succession plans. David hopes his dad would think they’re passing on Brookfield in good shape. Reminiscing, the couple recall their first Valentine’s Day together almost forty years ago.
Alice arrives at The Bull to take Fallon for a night out at a comedy gig as a surprise. In between acts, Fallon asks if Alice is looking for a Valentine, and flustered Alice confesses there is someone who has crossed her mind. Fallon agrees Rex is lovely. She points out if Alice is interested, she’s just going to have to ask him out.
Ruairi arrives back from the Suffolk farm visit to Brian, who tells him about George’s visit and his own subsequent confession. Ruairi is stunned – surely Brian didn’t confess without solid evidence? Brian asks if he’d rather he told George that it was Ruairi who attacked him. Ruairi says he’ll tell the truth, but Brian insists he’ll do no such thing. He made a promise to Siobhan to keep him safe. If Ruairi wants to get back into Brian’s good books, then he’s got to work for it.

Lilian can’t stop George pushing through the door, frantically searching for Brian. Brian appeases Lilian and she reluctantly leaves. Brian hears that George has started to remember things about his attack, particularly the smell of Brian’s aftershave. George accuses Brian – he knew George was too drunk to defend himself. Brian’s motive was that he couldn’t forgive him for what happened to Alice, even though he was only trying to help her… Brian fires back that George tried to ruin his daughter's life and cannot be forgiven. Brian finally admits that he took a wine bottle, followed George and hit him. He didn’t want him dead, so called an ambulance from George’s phone.
George retorts that Brian still abandoned him – at least with the car crash George stayed around to rescue Fallon from drowning. Brian notes George hasn’t gone to the police; does he have a plan? George thinks some sort of compensation is in order. It might stop Brian going to jail for attempted murder.
Brian scoffs that the smell of aftershave is not reliable evidence, especially from one with a grudge and a recent brain injury. George may even be sent back to prison for perverting the course of justice again. Brian suggests they instead call it quits, both forgetting what they did to each other. They agree and both apologise.
As George leaves, Lilian returns to the house to quiz Brian, who covers by saying George had heard Brian had been badmouthing him to other farmers, and that maybe it was time to move on.
Back home, George replays his recording of Brian’s confession on his phone.

Chelsea persuades Jazzer to test drive the horse box to work out what repairs would be needed. As it judders through Ambridge, Chelsea explains her wedding plan – the horse box would get the wedding party out of the house for their beauty in the ‘Glam Van’, and she’d park up at the venue for the day for people to get refreshed. She’ll also drive to clients’ homes and the painted van will act as her billboard! Jazzer outlines the van’s problems – most likely the clutch, and part of the suspension is shot – enough to haggle the price down to her budget. Tracy catches them on the test drive and can’t believe Jazzer is helping with this mad scheme. He defends Chelsea’s idea and says he’ll help with the repairs and renovations. She’s worked so hard and he wants to help make her dreams true. Tracy is still sceptical – even if Chelsea can haggle the price down, how will she pay for the conversion and repairs?
George is retracing his steps on the bridle path where he was attacked, when Amber finds him to remind him about his counselling session. He is distracted as his memory has been jolted and more details about the attack have started to come back to him. Amber thinks he’s avoiding counselling and accuses him of spiralling in his intentions, but he promises he’ll be back from his walk in time – he just needs to get his head in order. Later, George knocks at a door, where Lilian answers his urgent request to open up.