12/04/2026

0:00You're listening to Sunday's episode of The Archers, from BBC Radio 4. Oh, that smells good, Adam! Potato's going in right now! The crumb will need about half an hour. Should I just leave it on the side for now? Oh, yes, thanks, Adam. I appreciate it. There's ice cream to compliment it in the freezer. Oh, perfect. But what can I most use to fully do? Maybe set the table. Well, that might be challenging. I've left Martha and Zander in possession. They're fighting over felt-tip pens. Ian's really good at refereeing, isn't he? When did our children get so competitive? Well, that might be my fault. I told Zander the best design would go on the new cricketing kit. And he got very excited. He's drawn a board the most enormous horn. Yeah, just the thing to intimidate the opposition.

1:02And Martha? Honestly, it's not so much a board, it's more a two horned unicorn. I could pill the veg. All done. I'm on the orchard now. Oh. Well, family lunch is a really good idea, Adam. Especially with everything going on. Shame Kate can't make it. Busy day at spiritual home. She's spoken to you. About? Well, dad, obviously. No, not really. Oh, she spoke to me. For ages, actually. Let's hold break up with Miranda. Doesn't make sense to why they're of us. Not me, but it's not our business, Alice. Isn't it? Why can't dad tell us himself? I had to find out from Susan in the shop. Look, whatever's happened between dad and Miranda, stay out of it. And for heaven's sake, don't ask him about it over lunch. He hasn't been in the best of moods. How has he said why they split up? No, and he's made it very clear that he doesn't want to talk about it. You see, you're worried too. You're not worried. Well, Kate is. Really worried. Especially after him telling Jacob she wanted to move to Scotland without even asking her. He totally overstepped the mark.

2:03It freaked her out. I'm sure he'll talk to us when he's ready. He's dealing with a lot. Give him some space. Breakups are never easy. Don't tell me. And pull Miranda. I'll show be okay. She's tougher than you think. I mean, she was married to Justin. That kind of an easy. Ah. Morning, Dad. Oh, this is a treat. Alice style. I brought wine. Oh, you needn't have. We have plenty. But this is one of Justin's special models. Oh, is it now? Does he know? Really, I'll find out. Right. I'm off. Dad. You said you'd do the breakfast thing. I mean, too much pain. Everything hurts, Tracy. Well, I ain't got time. I'm already late. All right. All right. Oh, do it. Oh, dear. I mean, who cares if an old man's an agony? Why are you still wearing that thing about your neck? Can't be doing you any good at any of them fit. I need it. This neck brace is all that's keeping me upright.

3:03The pain, Tracy. Where'd you get it anyway? Back on the sideboard. It's been in there years. You were able to bend down and dig about in the sideboard. I thought everything hurt. Give it up, Dad. No! I won't compensate him. Take a photo of me. I'll send it to Alan. Then him see what I'm reduced to. I'm not getting involved. It's a photo. It's a scam. You weren't there. Hey, would you know you were there? Dad, you went stepting soy since Stevens once this century. Look what I did. The church seeded came tumbling down on top of me like a judgment from heaven. My neck's not been right since. How'd you even get there? I managed. You can't get outside to smoke your point, you say. But you got all the way to the church. A year of little faith. A year of this voicey. And I could sense something. Someone just out of the corner of my eye. Calling me. It felt like giving me this strength. An Eastern miracle.

4:04You sound like Clive. We're a spiritual family. Only one kind of spiritual familiar with Dad. And it ain't the angelic kind. Well, I'm off. Where? I told you. I'm cleaning Neville Booth's bathroom. Neville Booth? I offered my services on the Eastern Promises tree. And it's what Illyry Nox allocated me. Why is no one doing Eastern Promises for me? Perhaps no one's offered anything you need. Or cos Illyry Nox hates me. Ms. Ballot bat. I'm not getting into this, Dad. Carol Trogoran gets all the help. Go ahead. Jessica, she lives next to the church. She lives by herself. You've got a family. Sorry, am I late? Not at all. Dad, it's good to see you. Darling. Ah, you're all here. Adam, you've never said. Family lunch, that's all. How are you, Dad? Fine, fine. Are you sure? That is. I'm just concerned. I'm not going to ask the questions or talk about Miranda. That's what you're after. Don't even try. But I just... I'm really rather hungry, Adam. Yep, won't be long. Let me pour you a glass of wine.

5:06Oh, thanks. Is Rory parking the car? No, Rory can't make it, I'm free. Oh. What's he up to? We're out with friends. Where are the children? I come bearing gifts. Although like that. Oh, let's hope so. First day back at school tomorrow, so I got the new pencil case. Different colours, so they can choose. Oh, great. Mind you, you have to be careful with unsolicited gifts these days. Did you hear that Khalil Mallet gave Robert a budget for his birthday? And has had to bring it back to Beechwood. Robert has a thing about birds and cages. And I'm a welfare and all that. Oh, well, yeah. But I hear that after bumpy start, As was Robert taking to the little thing. Well, there aren't any welfare issues with pencil cases, so I'm sure I'll be fine. But the children are in the dining room, Brian. Let's go through. Oh, no, don't forget your wine, darling. Oh, thanks. Do you want another drink? Alice, oh, no, I haven't finished this one. Does Dad seem okay to you? Well, I've seen him chirp here. Whatever's gone on, it's obviously shading him.

6:06You don't think it's more than that? Well, he's had a difficult year, Alice. And he's dealing with it in his own very Brian-old Ridgeway. Mm-hmm. Kate and I have been wondering why it's been such a difficult year. I'm not with you, darling. Well, it does is so important pretty much all of it on himself. He's getting really erratic. That's a strong word. Well, the head-toed with Justin, stopping Stella from bringing in the harvest, then letting her go when she's been the best manager home farmer the had, now breaking up with Miranda with no explanation. And it certainly hasn't been your dad's finest hour. Well, Kate thinks it's something more serious. And I'm starting to think she might be right. What sort of serious? I did the dishes. Oh, so I say thanks, Dad. Hey, Neville's bathroom came up a treat. I had seen one of them avocado sweets in years. What did you have for your lunch? I've been waiting for you. We talked about this yesterday. I'm off to help Chelsea in a minute.

7:07There's still so much to do on the horsebox. I'm only back to drop this stuff off. But I'm starving. Make a sandwich. There's some nice am in the fridge. I'll cook tonight. Huh. Everyone goes off galvanting and I'm left sitting here and able to move for the pain. Not even some do good from the promised tree thing to help. That church is going to pain. You know you're never going to be able to prove that. Alan's wife's a solicitor. If you start making a fuss, she'll be all over this. You can't deny the ceiling collapsed. I was there. You'll need witnesses. And how will you do that when it enters? I'll find some. Alan does not deserve to be sued, Dad. Look how we help Susan out when the shop had nowhere to go. I'm not backing down. Oh, please yourself. See you. Can you pick me up some back here on your wheel and stuff in those chocolate marshmallows? Oh, I think if you can make it all the way to St. Stevens, then you can make it as far as the shop. I'll call Susan. She won't abandon her own dad.

8:10I'll leave these here. We can stack the dishwasher later. Oh, no. Oh, the crumbles caught at the edge. Oh, only a tiny bit. It looks delicious, darling. I'll get the ice cream. I've always been good at crumbles. Mum used to say it's all in the fingers. She taught me how to rub the ingredients together when I was only 809. I became my first signature dish. Then nobody called it that then. There was long Sunday lunches around that big table. Oh, I thought we might be having some of those again. I hope Dad and Miranda would bring some love and warmth about to home farm. So, um, what do you think? Who gave me right? Is it something serious? Dad's barely made eye contact with me all day. Mmm, I noticed. You think I'm going to give him the third degree? To be fair, darling, you would give him half a chance. It's probably just stress. Well, then he should get some help. He's getting worse and worse. He can't go on like this. I certainly can't go on with people whispering in corners

9:11behind my back. I came to get another bottle of wine, and this is what I find. I'll tell you, Alice. And that's for you, Lydia. Darling, you're getting the wrong end of the stick. Oh, you didn't just sneak out here to gossip about it. We're here to get the pudding. No, but we are talking about you, Dad, because we're worried. Oh, yes. Do you want a blow-by-blow account of my relationship going to the dogs? And I'm not allowed a private life. No need to get upset, Brian. Talk to us, Dad. Let us help. You can't. This is personal. If you can understand that. And I can sort it out without any help from you. Adam, I'm leaving now. Dad, please. We're on your sides. Well, that's not how it looks. Since when are there sides? And thanks for the lunch, Adam. I'm going. Oh, but this crumble. What's happened? Ask a sister. Unless you're in on it, too. Unless you're all in on it. Oh, Lord. What was that? Alice?

10:11He calls us talking about him. That was really uncomfortable. I warned you not to ask him about my random... I didn't even get the chance. Something's going on, Adam. I think Kate's right. Kate? What's Kate's got to do with this? Dad? Dad? Oh, you're back early. Oh, Chelsea's on top of things, and I felt a bit bad leaving you. Do you want a cup of tea? Oh, make it. After all, you've been working. Oh, that'd be nice. Thanks. 10 minutes from my feet up before I start on the tea. Oh, I picked up your back, eh? But you said I changed me mind. Thanks. What about the marriage mellows? Don't push your luck. Oh, see, you've taken the brace off. Yes, I've had a moment of enlightenment. I'm not going to sue since Stevens after all. Was it what I said about witnesses? I could find witnesses if I wanted to.

11:11Yes, Dad. It was more what you said about Alan helping Susan out. It's one thing to do in the church, but you're right. You don't need the algae baggie. And I guess you don't need us, you're asking difficult questions. Yeah, well, not too. Where's your blue mug, Liv? Oh, top shelf. Right. Might as well have your favourite. Dad? Dad, what is it? Oh, my neck. I can't move in the home, my neck. Oh, Dad? Oh, Dad. I'll speak to Brian once he's calmed down. There's no point going after him now. So, what is it that Kate's saying? I wonder if I should call Debbie. She should know what we're worried about. Will someone please tell me? Kate's worried that it might be... I feel bad even saying this out loud. Saying what exactly? She thinks it might be the start of some full of... dementia. Alice.

12:12But that's... No, Kate's being way too dramatic. Think about the past few months, Adam. He's been really erratic. Yes, but this is Kate being... Kate, you know what she's like. Lilya? But he hasn't been himself. That much is true. He's never been easy. He has it. But dementia. I know. But now Kate's said it. I can't stop thinking about it. I don't want it to be true either, because if it is, it's going to take some dealing with.