Emma plays the host with the most, and can Tracy get back on track?

Rex and Kirsty put the final touches to their festive trail on the rewilding site and reflect on the distress they saw Ben in on Friday. Rex is pleased to hear Ben appears to be doing well now. They also compare their experiences on the rival choirs. Eddie’s keen to look round the rewilding’s festive offer as he thinks they could replicate it on Grundy’s Field. He twists Ed’s arm into coming along too. Ed’s not got much work at the moment and Eddie’s worried about the turkey sales. Eddie quizzes Rex about the set-up of the Christmas trail, before Kirsty reports some fallen branches are causing havoc. Eddie suggests Ed could tidy the trees and pile up the fallen wood. Afterwards, Eddie points out that the fallen wood might be better used for heating – people would pay good money. Ed reminds him that logging’s illegal, and anyway Emma wouldn’t approve. Joy invites Mick over for a proper chat after not seeing much of him when she hosted him and Kirsty practising for Jolene’s choir. Mick arrives with a big bunch of flowers and the two talk about their feelings. Mick apologises for saying ‘I love you’ so quickly. Joy admits she find it difficult to believe that anyone could love her. Sometimes she feels she’s a boring old frump. Mick puts her straight. What he loves about her is that she gets out there and gets stuck in. Joy warns him that romance hasn’t gone well for her in the past. Mick’s happy to go at her pace.

Brad’s buzzing after his maths trip. He tells Jazzer the best thing was meeting other students. He and Jazzer swap stories on getting hold of freebies and discounted items for Christmas. Jazzer notices Brad’s phone keeps pinging. Brad explains it’s a girl from the course who like him is into Star Wars. Jazzer tries to advise on how to interact with women but it doesn’t really help Brad in the world of instant messaging. Jazzer promises not to tell anyone about Brad’s new friend. Ruth thinks Ben’s looking better. Ben is calm but has to check with Ruth what’s real and what’s not. He feels safe in the company of Bess. Leonard calls round and chats to Ben about how it can be hard to talk about feelings. Ben opens up about feeling suicidal after Vince shouted at him in The Bull. Leonard learns that Ben has shared this with health professionals including his home treatment nurse, but he hasn’t told his parents. He doesn’t want Leonard saying anything to them. Fallon’s noticed Joy’s a bit down and after choir rehearsal she asks what’s up. Joy confesses when she saw Mick and Kirsty having a good time yesterday she wondered if Mick would prefer to be with Kirsty. She adds that a while ago Mick told her he loved her but she couldn’t say the same back. Fallon tries to put Joy at ease, assuring her there’s nothing to worry about with Mick and Kirsty – perhaps Joy’s strength of feeling shows that she does have strong feelings for Mick.

David and Ruth continue to try to understand what’s happening with Ben while he sleeps upstairs. David worries Ben will return to the state he was in on Friday and he still won’t know how to help. Ruth takes Bess up to be with Ben and then she and David talk about Katie, Ben’s home treatment nurse. Ruth warns David about looking for information online; she thinks he’d be better off talking to Elizabeth who has experienced depression. Joy hosts Mick and Kirsty as they practise for Jolene’s choir – she and Mick aren’t seeing much of one another what with being on rival choirs. Mick complains about Jolene’s expectations of her choir, but Kirsty points out Jolene gets cross with him because he’s often disrupting the rehearsal. Joy brings refreshments for Kirsty and Mick. Mick teases Kirsty for being as persistent as Jolene in her coaching of him but then admits that without her he’d have given up the choir – they’ve had a lot of fun. After earlier dropping off a cake made by Jill, Leonard calls again at Brookfield, this time with his Lord of the Rings books which Ben had taken interest in previously. Before heading off he mentions he’d love to see Ben when he’s up to it. David reports his chat with Elizabeth to Ruth: Elizabeth says they both need to take care of themselves as well as Ben. They agree that’s easier said than done.

Writer, Sarah McDonald Hughes Director, Julie Beckett Editor, Jeremy Howe David Archer ….. Timothy Bentinck Ruth Archer ….. Felicity Finch Ben Archer ….. Ben Norris Pip Archer ….. Daisy Badger Jolene Archer ….. Buffy Davis Kenton Archer ….. Richard Attlee Rex Fairbrother ….. Nick Barber Brad Horrobin ….. Taylor Uttley Chelsea Horrobin ….. Madeleine Leslay Tracy Horrobin ….. Susie Riddell Joy Horville ….. Jackie Lye Jazzer McCreary ….. Ryan Kelly Kirsty Miller ….. Annabelle Dowler Stella Pryor ….. Lucy Speed Mick ….. Martin Barrass Paula ….. Therese Collins