05/04/2026

0:00You're listening to Sunday's episode of The Archers, from BBC Radio 4. Oh, honestly, Ousha, that was really moving. Coffee? Oh, Tom. Grey Dawn, Lakey Hill, the sun just coming up. It's a special place, I've always thought. And the simple words of the story. First day of the week, very early. Women come bringing spices to the tomb. And just time for quick breakfast before the next service. For which? Much thanks. Update on the promises to you. Oh, yeah. Apparently Linda Snell's been rounding up support. Linda's got Eddie Offeringlifts. Lena Berries agreed to do what he calls rudimentary decorating. rudimentary. A simple, basic, I suppose.

1:02Or botched? Alan No. No, no. Leonard always does his best. Of course he does. Good old Leonard. And Jim Lloyd. Oh, Jim. He's offered reading. He's offered what? Reading. Story's all poem. Oh, that's a bit different. I might take him up on that myself. Someone already has. Quick burst of Sherlock Holmes would just suit after a meeting at the PCC. He's been reading the rhyme of the ancient Mariner to Jill Archer. Oh, and a thousand, thousand slimy things lived on and so did I. Wonderful. And would that be from your next sermon? As if I would. As a matter of fact, this year, I'm going to be thinking about the crowd. The crowd. How we can all become part of a crowd. How we can cheer Jesus on a Sunday. And now we can turn on him less than a week later. Calling down extreme punishment on an innocent man. And how we can still be forgiven for it.

2:06The thing is Brian, words going round the village. Is it? Really? People are talking. People do talk. They're wondering about you and Mariner. I expect you're right. So I thought I'd ask you. I expect they are. I thought I'd better ask because it does have a bearing on home farm. Does it? Home farm in particular. Well, how awkward. Well, if they ever actually ask you, I'm sure you'll know what to tell them. Well, that's just it, though, Brian. I don't. I'll tell them what I'm telling you. Which is what? Mind your own business. Yes. No, Adam. Mind your own business. This is nothing to do with anyone but Miranda and me. So it's all you've come for to stick your nose in? What? Because if it is, you can clear off now. No. I also wanted to ask you about Ruri. Ruri? Ruri. But you're obviously not in Ruri. What about Ruri? Well, people are talking about him, too, are they? No, I just mean... I mean about home farm. What's the plan? What's the plan? Is he helping me to run home farm or not?

3:07Because he's still at Barrow learning about pigs. And we don't keep pigs and never have, unless that is the plan. No. Then what's Ruri doing at Barrow? Because I think I need to know. If I should ever God forbid, think of going on holiday. Who's going to step into cover for me? Will it be Ruri? With his wealth of pig experience? But with a porosity of experience in running home farm? I need to know Brian. And it was infectious. The joy that run through the crowd on that first Palm Sunday. Everyone responded to the moment. They were caught up in it, shouting out as if with one voice. It's all right, it's all right. Park on the ceiling has come down. No one's been heard, I think. Listen to me. I think it's best if we all leave the church. Could you please follow the church warden's directions?

4:09Thank you, Neil and Hillary. So let's exit by the south door or through the vestry. Yes, whichever is closer. But steer clear of the west end and don't go beyond the font, just to be on the safe side. We will all gather on the path outside the south door. There's no need to rush, and I'll see you all outside. Lindy. Happy birthday, Robert. What's all this? They're the breakfast things. Yeah, let me take that from them. No, no, no, I can manage. It's not that heavy. We'll make some space. What, no, please. I have no idea. You. What do you mean up to? You've already given me my present. But this isn't from me, Robert. What a churk County cricket cufflinks, which I shall treasure forever. No, this is from someone else. And just found it on the doorstep. No name, no label. And you think it's from me?

5:09Acres of Happy Birthday, wrapping paper. And today's your birthday, of course it's for you. I'm intrigued. Well, go on then, open it. It's the right idea, of course. It's them. Oh, my word. Well, well. It looks like, wouldn't you say... A birdcage. An empty birdcage. Ah, there's a note inside. Have a look. Yes, just a minute. Here we are. It's from Khalil. Khalil. Happy Birthday, Robert. This is the cage for your new buggy. Buggy? I haven't got a buggy. Have I? No, of course not. You haven't bought me one, have you? Absolutely not. No, listen. Your new buggy. Which will be arriving later today. What? How? He says Zaynab will bring it round. How sweet of him. Sweet, I don't want a buggy. It's so thoughtful, Robert. He knows you like birdwatching. Watching budgies.

6:09What do you say so here? Now you can birdwatch in the comfort of your own home. Let me see that. I'm happy to do this because it's a double good thing. It rescues little bird from a too small cage where it was unhappy. Oh. And it will bring joy into the life of my friend. Oh, Robert. Isn't that wonderful? Actually, Adam, I've been thinking this for some time. The roar is not ready. Not ready for managing anything as big as home farm. No. And that was the point of getting in place to burrow. It would be nice to do with pigs. It was about coping and resilience. Starting at the bottom, taking a few knocks and earning the right. It's a call himself a farm. I suppose so yet. And you don't think he is coping, I mean? Well, this is between you and me, Adam. Entirely. Yes, of course.

7:09Then what I think is that for all his considerable qualities, he's not nearly ready now. I see. Not yet the farmer. And maybe he never will be. Do you think he's ready? Well. Can you manage without him? Frankly. Yes, I can. It's actually a lot easier when he's not around. I thought as much. Because then I don't have to do the job and mentor Rory at the same time. And you've always been a farmer and shown resilience. I've had to. So yes, I can manage. Very well, in fact. That's what I think. So what does this mean for me? For me and home farm? Well, if roar is not so much part of the picture. I should have thought that's become quite clear. You run the farm on your own. As manager. As manager, plus. Meaning? Well, you'd inherit the land.

8:10What? It makes complete sense. Are you serious? I told you. I've been thinking this through. But what about the business side of things? Yes, I know. Because I can hardly manage properly if I'm forever being outvoted by the rest of the partnership. Well, that can be fixed. How? If I add a codicil to my will, making it clear that it's my wish, you should have the majority share of the vote when I'm gone. So. So what do you say? I don't know. Oh, come on. I don't. I'm still taking it in. Well, it's what I want to happen. And it makes things. Well, tidier. It has been you and Rory. And now it's just you. Yes. Yes, I see that. So? So, yes. Of course. Yes. Good, good. Look, I'd rather we didn't send anything about this to the others though, not just yet. No, no. Do you mind?

9:10No, I'm sure you're right. And it'll give you time to talk to your solicitor about changing the will. Alan! Alan! Oh, love! What are you doing here? I was worried Neil sent me a text. Well, about the ceiling. I got the impression there'd be piles of rubble of people hers. No, no, everyone's safe. No. But whole chunks of plaster did come down. Clouds of dust. Luckily, it was by the west door, where there's no seating. But no one's injured. No one. Oh. Mind you, the church wardens have had a couple of people wanting to go back in. Back in? What for? Can you believe an umbrella, a pair of gloves? You didn't let them. Well, Neil was suitably firm. He used his formidable voice. He certainly did. In the end, they were quaking in their boots. Oh, honestly, Alan, I imagine there were worse. Sweetheart, there's no need. I'm fine. Thank God. Thank God indeed. You all are. Yes. So, is that the end of Easter Sunday?

10:10No, no, it's not. As a matter of fact, you could lend a hand here, if you'd like, and help us get started again. What can I do? Round up a couple of healthy-looking parishioners and go over to the bull to see if they'll lend us one of their folding tables. What for? To conduct the service from. Oh, leave it to me. Neil, Neil, have you got in my way? Thanks, who's here? Ladies and gentlemen, normal service is about to be resumed. Oh, hey! I understand you were rather cramped where you were before. I was so sorry to hear that. This should be a little roomier, at least. Anyway, I hope you'll be very happy here. Breakfast is served from seven o'clock. But you won't need to know that, will you? Lindy, I've been looking at the instructions in, I've brought with the bird. The guidelines, you mean? Well, they are effectively instructions. For the sake of the budgie's well-being, we have to abide by them.

11:12That's the implication, the very firm implication. And where's the difficulty in that? For a start, it says the bird has to have two hours free-flying a day. Free-flying? Out of its cage, round a room. Well, not the dining room, they surely can't mean that. Not in a bed and breakfast, that's not going to work. Then where, the lounge? The bedroom? This is impossible. No, no, it's not Robert. I'm sure it can be made to work. Let me see these guidelines. It's also says we have to talk to it. I mean, talk about what? It gives no guidelines about that. I don't think it matters, Robert. It might. We don't know that's the trouble. No. Listen, all this is perfectly manageable. You're just panicking. What about toys? Because you don't want it. We have to provide toys. Entertainment. Robert. No, you're right, Lindy, I don't want it. I like birds in their natural environment, not as prisoners in cages. And I do not want to spend my twilight years entertaining budgets. Then what do you suggest? Well, it's obvious.

12:12We give it back. Back to Khalil. Yes. Robert, we can't. We can't do that. He put so much thought into this gift and he'd be so hurt. Wouldn't he? Yes. Yes, of course he would. Khalil more or less rescued this budget from cramped quarters in the lack of exercise and no one to talk to. So he can have a much better little life with us than he had where he was before.