The Archers

Joy gives Susan the latest batch of Shop surveys, while Ben is asked what he’d like them to change. Joy suggests letting dogs in, but Susan’s not keen, preferring Azra’s idea of introducing a hardware section. Later, Ben catches up with Joy, grateful to her for remembering when he broke down at the Shop over Bess, knowing that’s why she suggested allowing dogs. Joy admits the guilt she feels over Rochelle turning out the way she has, but Ben reminds Joy of the role she played in his recovery – their conversation on the Green that day was a turning point for him. He’s certain something similar could happen to Rochelle. Alice has brought Martha to Chris’s flat, where he’s planned a day in and around Ambridge, inviting Alice to join them at the playground. Alice wants to talk about the effect her drinking during pregnancy had on Martha’s development. Chris thinks it’s a massive leap, but Alice has been dreading the thought of foetal alcohol syndrome for years and the nursery visit on Friday hasn't helped. At the playground later Chris tries convincing Alice there’s nothing wrong with Martha, but she wants to see a doctor as soon as possible. Chris worries she’s torturing herself unnecessarily, while Alice suggests he’s more worried she’ll start drinking again. When Susan approaches they’re happy to talk about letting dogs in the shop instead. Afterwards Chris says he’ll go to the doctors with Alice, who’s really grateful. She wouldn’t blame Chris for hating her after what she’s done to Martha.

At the Shop Jim tries a super-courteous approach to get Lilian to fill in the survey, while Jazzer adds a mocking commentary. It’s only when Jim spells out the existential threat Underwoods Local poses that Lilian agrees to answer the questions. Between them Jazzer and Lilian come up with several suggestions for improvements. Then Jazzer points out the biggest issue is friendliness – or the lack of it - and despite Jim’s denial Lilian agrees that it’s an issue. Later on Jazzer snatches Lilian’s completed survey, reading out her score for friendliness: three out of five. He tells Jim it’s not going to save the shop. Jim confesses how exhausting he finds maintaining the façade of friendliness and his relief at going to stay at his daughter’s next week. But Jazzer loves it when Jim is grumpy! While Chris is relatively relaxed before the meeting about Martha at the nursery, Alice can’t help thinking there must be a serious problem. The manager tactfully points out that Martha has haphazard concentration levels and limited attention span. She suggests working together with the staff to get Martha to focus on tasks for longer. Chris is happy to go along with this but Alice seems more troubled. Back at the Stables Lilian pushes Alice to confess her fear that her drinking during pregnancy is now affecting Martha’s development. And if Lilian leaves Ambridge then that’s another huge plank of Alice’s support network gone, after Jennifer and Peggy. Lilian tells her she’s changed her mind and she’s not going anywhere.

Susan summons Jim and Joy to the Shop, telling them its future is at stake due to the threat from Underwoods Local. Jim proposes calling a village meeting. And making sure to emphasise the benefits of a village shop, Joy adds, such as lower prices. But Susan’s heard the introductory discounts at Underwoods Local could go on all summer. Susan then tells them to look for common threads in the few surveys that have been completed, so they can root out any issues. Reporting back later it appears unfriendliness is the big one. Susan then dismisses the comments as biased, but Joy insists they act on it by working on their customer service skills. Both Jim and Susan are highly sceptical though, leading Joy in despair to suggest they try at least to be more positive with all their customers. Jim and Susan agree, but remain unconvinced that they’re really doing anything wrong. On the phone Helen worries to Ian about Dane not getting back to her after she suggested another date. He’s always responded so quickly before online. Ian still has his doubts, but Helen insists Ian find out what Dane thinks about her. However, when Ian tackles Dane about the meal last night and his companion, Dane cleverly avoids giving his opinion of Helen. Ian tries again later, but is embarrassed when Dane reveals he knows Ian is trying to find out what Dane thinks about Ian’s best friend, Helen. Dane thinks she’s amazing, then realises his message to Helen about the date never got sent. When he sends it again Helen excitedly tells Ian – he said yes!

When Helen turns up for her date with Dane, the new manager at Grey Gables, Ian waylays her with an escape plan, which includes Adam keeping an eye on them. Adam assures Helen he’ll intervene as soon as Helen gives a prearranged signal. Then Alice arrives, suggesting Helen could hide in the Ladies, but Helen insists a dropped napkin will suffice. When Dane appears though, both women think he looks gorgeous, before Helen goes to greet him. Dane compliments Helen, before adding a touch of self-deprecation, and they soon hit it off. Meanwhile, awkward Adam and Alice watch from a nearby table. Ian may think Dane’s a massive phony, but Adam finds him attractive. They talk about Open Farm Sunday, before Adam mentions the nursery and Alice says they’re seeing the manager on Friday, about Martha becoming “school ready”. Despite Adam’s attempts to reassure her Alice is worried that none of the other parents have been called in, so what it’s about? Then they move on to talk about the disappointingly small inheritance Peggy has left each of them and what they would do with a more generous legacy. Dane fills Helen in on his personal history, before asking Helen about hers, which she edits quite severely. When Ian notices Helen’s dropped her napkin he sends Adam to interrupt. But Helen insists it was an accident and Dane immediately susses what’s been going on. Helen is mortified, but Dane treats it as a great joke. Relieved Helen then suggests another date, at Harrison’s fortieth birthday party next week.

Joy reckons the Village Shop customer survey drawn up by Susan and Emma is too comprehensive and offers to cut it down. Susan won’t give way though, before explaining the survey’s purpose to Jazzer. Both him and Joy wax lyrical about a superior shopping experience at Underwoods Local, pushing Susan into agreeing to take a look for herself. Later on, after bumping into Jazzer again, Susan is gobsmacked to discover Clarrie is working there. Clarrie tells Susan most of the village have been in already - and they’re all dead impressed. Susan fears it could be the end of the Village Shop. Chris is at The Stables trimming some of the horses' hooves. He catches up with Alice and they discuss taking Martha to Peggy’s funeral, agreeing that she should go. They arrange to meet up later over a curry to discuss preparing Martha for the day itself. At lunchtime Alice is joined by Joy at the Playground and they talk about how Alice’s family are coping with Peggy’s death, before comparing notes on the hard times both have been through recently. Joy then prompts Alice, she and Chris have cracked co-parenting, so she doesn’t have to cope with everything on her own, does she? But then Chris phones and tells Alice that Imaani, the nursery manager, has called them in for an unscheduled meeting on Friday to talk about making sure Martha’s school-ready. Chris doesn’t think it signifies much, but Alice is unsettled by it. Later she calls Chris and cancels their catch-up later; there’s things she needs to do at The Stables.