The Archers

George is feeling optimistic, and there’s good news at last at Brookfield.

At The Bull Brian, Alistair and Jolene muse on Jim’s possible whereabouts on his travels. Alistair’s already missing him and will let them know when the first of Jim’s promised postcards arrives. Brian wishes he could still go on holiday with Miranda, somewhere well away from his children. He sees himself as the victim in all Home Farm’s current travails.
Whilst checking on their sheep at Home Farm David and Pip make a terrible discovery: the sheep have been attacked by a dog, with up to fifteen dead and many injured. David’s extremely upset but Pip helps him focus on calling Alistair, while she calls the emergency services, with the dog still nearby. Alistair then gets David’s call and Brian sets off after him.
PC Nicola Trueman establishes the facts with David, but thinks they’ve probably missed their chance to catch the dog. Then Alistair gets to work on treating the surviving ewes and lambs, with shocked David’s help, while Nicola and Pip survey the field, taking footage. They both despair at how frequently this kind of incident happens, despite signs all over the countryside. Nicola outlines the investigation procedure then recalls meeting Brian, Home Farm’s owner, recently. Meanwhile, David angrily casts aspersions on dog owners while Alistair saves one ewe at least. Brian is full of righteous indignation when he arrives, before David takes him to task in front of Nicola and Pip for not managing his land properly. David demands compensation, before accusing Brian of being unfit to be in charge of a farm!

George tells Amber his big surprise for the baby should be ready tonight. Amber’s been putting off asking her dad to take the trade stand at Borchester Show but George persuades her to go for it. Later, Amber thinks the upcycled Grundy family cot George reveals is gorgeous, before Bill replies belatedly to her message about the trade stand, asking her to meet for a talk.
Seeing George fly his drone over the Green Adam baits him with remarks about Brian backing him and how well he’s recovered from the attack. George has heard Brian’s ‘lost it’, then mentions New Year’s Eve, realising Adam knows Brian was there. George mentions Ruairi confessing to the attack, and presumes Adam will try to protect Brian, like Ruairi. Adam denies this, wishing George well. Later, Adam helps Kate and Alice prepare Xander and Martha’s sleepover. Adam declares he’s done with fighting for control of Home Farm, revealing that Brian passed his mental capacity test. Alice is hugely relieved Brian hasn’t got dementia, but Adam felt like Brian enjoyed crushing him. When Brian arrives, ready to babysit as previously arranged, Adam tells him to go home, swapping barbs before Brian leaves. Alice and Kate try talking Adam round from shutting Brian out of Xander’s life, but Adam’s determined to protect his son. Brian returns after Adam’s gone out, but Kate can’t let Brian say goodnight to Xander, under instruction from Adam. Since Brian’s the winner of this family feud maybe he needs to think if it’s really worth it?

Brian is disturbed to find Kate working at Grey Gables, but Kate assures Brian she isn’t trying to humiliate him. She simply needs a secure income to enable her to keep Spiritual Home going. For Brian the bigger issue is Kate taking a job from smug Oliver. Kate says she’s more worried than ever about Brian, after recent events. Brian wants her to ask Adam about the letter he presented to him. Brian then corners Oliver, who doubts Miranda will ask after Brian any time soon.
At the cricket Alice tells Kirsty she’s not sure what to do on Father’s Day next week – stick with Martha and Chris or spend it with Brian, who’s practically disowned Adam and Debbie. She envies Kirsty’s uncomplicated life with Erik. Later, Alice tells Kirsty she’s making a Father’s Day kit for Martha to give Chris, while Brian will just have to endure the hell of enforced fun with his own children. Back home, Kate’s keen to hear about Kirsty’s scan. Kirsty compares it to Wren’s scan and how that was all she ever got to know of him. Kate hugs Kirsty before Alice arrives and they talk about babysitting arrangements for tomorrow, now Brian’s persona non grata with Adam. Kate wonders if Alice knows what Brian was hinting at about Adam. Alice doesn’t, but Kirsty’s sure they’ll get it out of Adam tomorrow night.

Alistair greets Jakob with news that the minibus taking them to the World Cup cricket match is stuck with a flat tyre, but thanks to a suggestion by Jakob they manage to fix it. Later, at Edgbaston cricket ground, Tracy is thrilled just to be there, while Alistair’s determined nothing will stop Jim having a wonderful day with his friends. Tracy is delighted that Jakob is relaxing and enjoying himself, before Alistair tells them this is Jim’s unofficial leaving do as he’s catching the Eurostar in the morning then following an extensively researched itinerary known only to him.
Adam phones Brian, chasing up some budget forecasts that need updating. Brian tells him the forecasts are none of his concern now and Adam gives up trying to persuade him otherwise. However, Adam turns up later wanting to check some other figures and Brian again does his best to put him off, before telling Adam he’s going to train Ed to use their system. Adam is astonished, suggesting it makes no sense. Brian reckons Adam no longer has a say in running Home Farm, to which Adam retorts that no-one trusts Brian after a series of embarrassing errors. Adam produces a solicitor’s letter starting legal proceedings to remove Brian from the business, as he’s displaying signs of dementia. But Brian trumps this with a letter of his own, proving that his mental capacity is just fine. If Adam challenges it, he’ll fight him to the bitter end. Brian then tells Adam triumphantly to get off his land!