The Archers

Writer: Tim Stimpson Director: Jessica Bunch Editor: Jeremy HoweBrian Aldridge.... Charles Collingwood  Lilian Bellamy.... Sunny Ormonde Alice Carter.... Hollie Chapman Chris Carter.... Wilf Scolding Neil Carter.... Brian Hewlett Susan Carter.... Charlotte Martin Rex Fairbrother.... Nick Barber Amber Gordon.... Olivia Bernstone Ed Grundy.... Barry Farrimond Eddie Grundy.... Trevor Harrison Emma Grundy.... Emerald O'Hanrahan Will Grundy.... Philip Molloy Brad Horrobin.... Taylor Uttley Tracy Horrobin.... Susie Riddell Jazzer McCreary.... Ryan Kelly Fallon Rogers.... Joanna Van Kampen

As the New Year begins Emma and Will desperately search for Keira, unable to contact Ed or Eddie, while drawing a blank with Keira’s friends. Will reassures Emma, who believes that somehow it’s all her fault. Lilian finds Fallon treating a cut to her hand, downplaying any effect George’s appearance earlier might have had on her. Meanwhile, Neil and Tracy meet up on the Green, joined by Jazzer, then Will and Emma, the strain beginning to tell on all of them. Jazzer and Neil head off to check a bridle path, while Emma blames herself again, before Tracy suggests calling George, in case he knows something. On the bridle path Neil hears the sound of a phone, before spotting a body. Fallon joins Emma, Will and Tracy, suggesting they ring the police, before Will tries George and increasingly frazzled Emma despairs her phone has died. Elsewhere, Neil calls 999, reporting that George hasn’t got a pulse, while Jazzer reels in shock. Neil then wraps George in his coat, desperately looking for signs of life, while an ambulance someone else has called approaches. Emma panics, thinking the ambulance is for Keira and chases after it, followed by Will, not hearing Tracy report that Keira’s been found. On the path Neil tells Emma it’s not Keira, while Will passes on the news that Keira’s safe. Neil then tells them George has been attacked, but won’t say how badly he's been hurt. He tries to hold Emma back, but she tears herself free to be with her son.

Emma and Ed are about to go The Bull for New Year’s Eve when they realise Keira’s not there. They find a note saying she can’t stay there any longer and wishing George was back in prison. Fearing the worst, Ed blames George for tearing the family apart. Lilian and Tracy have been distributing free bottles of wine they were given after winning the Best Local Pub award, before George bursts in through the door, drunkenly demanding to be served and then mocking Kenton’s fear of dogs. Alice tries to reason with George before Brian takes hold of him and George sends Brian stumbling backwards. Tracy takes George aside, threatening to get the likes of Harrison to throw him out. George then beats a retreat, sarcastically wishing them all a Happy New Year. Lilian is full of praise for Tracy, while Alice reflects knowingly on George’s drunken state, before they hear the news that Keira is missing. Alice goes outside and stops George from throwing a rock through the window, reminding him he promised to be a better person. He tells her the terrible things he’s said and done to his family and Alice responds in kind. But despite all that her family have forgiven her. His family will too, but he has to earn their forgiveness. George is stunned that Alice is being so helpful, agreeing to go and talk to his mum. But as George walks home, shouting defiantly that he’ll prove everyone wrong, he’s smashed over the head with a bottle and falls to the ground.

At the Rewilding, Alice is hoping for a photo as Rex points out the beavers handy work, before wondering how Alice really feels about Chris looking for a new partner. She admits it’s difficult, the idea of Chris moving on, then realises that’s what she needs to do and work out what she really wants, which might include having another child. Before going to work Jazzer tells Brad to take care of Amber. Amber didn’t sleep well, due to George texting constantly, and asks Brad what she should do. He offers to be with her as a friend, but Amber wants him to be more than that. They’re interrupted by George hammering at the door, then trying to force his way past Brad, before Amber calls to let him in. George then apologises to Amber for flipping out, claiming that’s not who he really is. The counselling will help sort him out. Amber calls him out on the disgusting things he said to his family. George reckons it was all true, but doesn’t care about them anymore. He wants a fresh start with Amber, somewhere else. Amber says she’s not going with him, before Brad tells George to leave her alone. George accuses Brad of wanting Amber for himself, mocking him cruelly until Brad launches himself at George. Whereupon Jazzer intervenes, threatening to do some serious damage to George, who slinks off, with Amber saying she’d rather be with Brad and doesn’t know why she ever wanted to marry him.

Emma confers with Will over what Brad said about George and Ed, with Will admitting he’s thought sometimes that George might hit him too. Emma reckons they have to do something to stop it getting worse, but what? Then Eddie asks them what’s going on. George tells Amber he’s been referred for counselling over his temper. He later interrupts Amber making a video, pushing her to have sex, before Will calls him downstairs, where Emma and Eddie are waiting too. They insist George tell the truth about what’s been going on, which he does very reluctantly. Emma accuses George of emotionally blackmailing Ed, like he did with Emma so she wouldn’t tell people he was driving Alice’s car. George tells them about the counselling, but shouts at Eddie when he berates George for deliberately hurting his own family. Amber then snaps at George for not telling her the truth. George tries to justify his actions, claiming they’ve all felt like killing Ed, before doubling down with vicious comments about Emma and Nic, only stopping when Amber slaps him in the face and walks out. Will tells George to pack his bags, with Emma and Eddie adding that he’s not welcome to stay with them either, before George storms off. Amber tells Brad she’s finally seen the light about George, after what he said to Will and Emma. She clings to Brad for solace, asking if she can stay the night, while rejecting a call from George. She needs somewhere she can think.