The Archers — 2026-10-29

[00:00:00] This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.
[00:00:06] So, uh, quick summer recap.
[00:00:08] Heatwaves, data leaks, AI hacks, holding phones, and a viral,
[00:00:11] finally challenged raccoon.
[00:00:13] Yeah, I think that, uh, that covers it, right?
[00:00:15] I'm Thomas Germain.
[00:00:17] I'm Jess Maddox, and the interface is back from its summer break.
[00:00:20] New season, new co-host, same deep dives into the tech
[00:00:24] that's shaping our world and our lives.
[00:00:26] So before AI wipes out all of humanity.
[00:00:28] Allegedly.
[00:00:30] Join us for the interface.
[00:00:31] Listen on bbc.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
[00:00:38] You're listening to Thursday's episode of The Archers
[00:00:42] from BBC Radio 4.
[00:00:58] Morning.
[00:01:03] What are you doing here?
[00:01:05] Checking you've gone to school.
[00:01:06] I'm just washing up.
[00:01:07] Mum goes mad if I leave my stuff in the sink.
[00:01:10] Then I'm going.
[00:01:11] You'll miss the bus, won't you?
[00:01:12] You won't get there in time, no?
[00:01:13] I'll be fine.
[00:01:14] Leave it, George.
[00:01:15] I can give you a lift.
[00:01:16] The bus is fine.
[00:01:17] Yeah, it would be if you were going, but you're not, are you?
[00:01:20] Of course I am.
[00:01:21] Well, I was.
[00:01:23] I've been looking forward to it.
[00:01:24] It's science.
[00:01:25] You've been looking forward to science.
[00:01:28] OK, but I was going.
[00:01:30] Was, right.
[00:01:31] I mean, we spent so long in A&E yesterday.
[00:01:34] I'm really tired.
[00:01:36] I don't think I'll be able to learn anything.
[00:01:40] I just keep yawning, see?
[00:01:42] Yeah, I see.
[00:01:44] Shouldn't you be at work?
[00:01:45] Yeah, I should.
[00:01:46] Well, go.
[00:01:46] Don't worry about me.
[00:01:48] Mum asked me to check on you.
[00:01:50] What's going on, Kira?
[00:01:51] I'm exhausted.
[00:01:52] I told you.
[00:01:53] Because you spent so long in A&E yesterday.
[00:01:55] Exactly.
[00:01:56] Yeah, when they couldn't find anything the matter with you.
[00:01:58] Funny that, don't you think?
[00:02:01] Well, it wasn't my I do to go.
[00:02:02] It was Will's.
[00:02:03] I think we need another chat, Kira.
[00:02:05] One skiver to another.
[00:02:06] I'm not a skiver.
[00:02:07] No, you were so ill you had to go to A&E,
[00:02:09] and then suddenly you were fine.
[00:02:11] Go to work, George.
[00:02:12] I'm going to be late anyway.
[00:02:13] Another half hour won't hurt.
[00:02:14] I'm not going to talk to you.
[00:02:16] Why not?
[00:02:16] Because I don't want to.
[00:02:17] Because you know I know.
[00:02:18] No, because I don't want to.
[00:02:20] I don't have to.
[00:02:21] You're not going to listen to me anyway.
[00:02:22] You've made a reminder.
[00:02:24] What if I promise I will listen?
[00:02:25] Oh, I'm going to my room.
[00:02:26] I'll talk through the door then.
[00:02:27] What?
[00:02:27] I'll put my music on.
[00:02:28] I can show it with the best of them, Kira.
[00:02:31] Well?
[00:02:35] All the records?
[00:02:37] Yes, please, Rex.
[00:02:38] To be on the safe side.
[00:02:39] That's rather a lot, Martin.
[00:02:40] I don't need printouts.
[00:02:41] E-copies will be fine.
[00:02:43] I'm putting everything I can together,
[00:02:44] so if there's trouble,
[00:02:46] everything will be to hand,
[00:02:47] and we can head it off at the pass.
[00:02:49] We're going back how far?
[00:02:51] Two years, do you think?
[00:02:52] All the details of any tree surgeries,
[00:02:54] any check-ups, follow-ups, all that.
[00:02:56] Do you use multiple service companies?
[00:02:58] A couple.
[00:03:00] Mostly the Grundys.
[00:03:01] They're local and very reliable.
[00:03:03] That shouldn't take too long, should it?
[00:03:05] You concerned about anything in particular?
[00:03:08] Well, apart from a falling tree,
[00:03:09] nearly killing Vince Casey, you mean?
[00:03:13] Sorry.
[00:03:14] Obviously, that's important.
[00:03:15] If there's a claim,
[00:03:16] we'll need to show that BL as landowners
[00:03:18] and rewilding as tenants
[00:03:19] are completely in the clear.
[00:03:21] Investigations are still ongoing.
[00:03:24] Yes.
[00:03:26] Is there a problem?
[00:03:28] Is there likely to be a claim?
[00:03:30] That's the question.
[00:03:32] I popped up to the hospital last night
[00:03:33] to see how Vince was, poor chap.
[00:03:35] And?
[00:03:36] I don't know.
[00:03:37] He wasn't allowed in.
[00:03:38] Elizabeth said he wasn't up to visitors,
[00:03:39] though we're here on the grapevine.
[00:03:41] He's issuing orders via Freddie.
[00:03:43] So he's obviously awake and compass-mentous.
[00:03:46] Alan got turned away too, though.
[00:03:48] So it wasn't just me.
[00:03:50] I don't know if that means anything.
[00:03:51] Right.
[00:03:52] Seems par for the course for our vicar lately,
[00:03:54] though, wouldn't you say?
[00:03:55] Uh, I wouldn't know.
[00:03:57] So, can I expect all those records
[00:03:59] by, say, two o'clock?
[00:04:01] I'd like to have everything collated
[00:04:02] before the weekend.
[00:04:04] Rex?
[00:04:06] I'll dig out the details.
[00:04:08] And any associated emails, please.
[00:04:10] Belton braces.
[00:04:14] There.
[00:04:15] Well, I'm not drinking it.
[00:04:17] It's a mug of tea.
[00:04:18] I haven't poisoned it.
[00:04:19] You're being horrible.
[00:04:20] I made you tea.
[00:04:22] Well, it's got too much milk in.
[00:04:23] You make terrible tea.
[00:04:25] Keira.
[00:04:25] I'm too tired to go to school, all right?
[00:04:28] We were in A&E nearly six hours.
[00:04:30] Because they kept doing tests
[00:04:32] because they couldn't find anything wrong with you.
[00:04:33] That's not my fault.
[00:04:34] Do you know the state my dad was in
[00:04:36] when he got back yesterday?
[00:04:38] Keira.
[00:04:39] I did have a headache.
[00:04:41] The cut on my leg was red.
[00:04:42] And you played that for all it was worth, didn't you?
[00:04:44] See? Horrible.
[00:04:45] You know what happened to Nick.
[00:04:47] You're not a kid anymore.
[00:04:48] It wasn't my fault.
[00:04:50] Dad was scared you'd got sepsis.
[00:04:52] He was terrified you might die like Nick did
[00:04:55] because she left it too long.
[00:04:57] He was a complete wreck last night.
[00:05:00] It took me and Amber a solid hour to calm him down.
[00:05:03] I'm sorry.
[00:05:04] It was cruel, Keira.
[00:05:06] I didn't mean it to happen.
[00:05:07] Right.
[00:05:08] It wasn't on purpose.
[00:05:09] He got all worried and frantic
[00:05:11] and I couldn't get out of it.
[00:05:13] How could I?
[00:05:14] I didn't want to upset him.
[00:05:15] I was just trying to get off of school.
[00:05:18] It was only a catch-up class.
[00:05:20] Two hours of your life.
[00:05:22] You couldn't manage that.
[00:05:23] Why not?
[00:05:24] Stop shouting at me.
[00:05:25] I'm not shouting.
[00:05:26] I'm trying to understand.
[00:05:28] Because I'm a waste of space, all right?
[00:05:30] Is that what you want to hear?
[00:05:31] Of course I don't.
[00:05:32] Of course you're not.
[00:05:34] Why couldn't you just go to school?
[00:05:35] I hate it.
[00:05:36] Yeah, I get that.
[00:05:38] I hated school too.
[00:05:39] No, I mean really hate it.
[00:05:41] Really, really hate it.
[00:05:44] Oh, I feel sick every time I go through the doors.
[00:05:48] I know you think I'm just bunking off
[00:05:50] because I can't be bothered.
[00:05:52] But I can't bear it, George.
[00:05:56] I really can.
[00:06:01] I don't understand.
[00:06:02] This isn't a complicated request, Rex.
[00:06:04] I'm just saying there may be a delay.
[00:06:06] I'm not sure I have all the passwords.
[00:06:08] Of course you will though, surely.
[00:06:10] Yeah, yeah, I'm sure.
[00:06:11] I'm not seeing the problem here.
[00:06:13] Call her and ask.
[00:06:14] It's not that simple.
[00:06:15] Tex for then.
[00:06:16] Why does nobody under 50 like using the telephone anymore?
[00:06:20] I'll do it.
[00:06:20] Yeah, please don't.
[00:06:21] Rex.
[00:06:23] Rex, why are you being obstructive?
[00:06:27] I don't think I am.
[00:06:28] It feels like it from where I'm standing.
[00:06:30] What's going on here?
[00:06:32] There's an issue.
[00:06:35] Issue?
[00:06:36] The fallen tree, the one in question.
[00:06:39] Yes.
[00:06:40] It was checked back in the spring.
[00:06:41] Good.
[00:06:42] And a follow-up recommended.
[00:06:44] All right.
[00:06:44] When for?
[00:06:47] The next few weeks.
[00:06:48] Yes.
[00:06:49] It slipped off my list.
[00:06:53] I'm sorry.
[00:06:55] So the tree that almost killed a leading local businessman
[00:06:58] would weaker than it should have been?
[00:07:00] Possibly.
[00:07:01] Possibly?
[00:07:02] It was a very heavy storm.
[00:07:03] The tree may have been fine.
[00:07:04] But we'll never know, will we?
[00:07:06] Because someone failed to book in a re-inspection.
[00:07:09] That was me.
[00:07:10] I forgot.
[00:07:10] Forgot.
[00:07:11] I take complete responsibility.
[00:07:13] Forgive me, Rex.
[00:07:14] Just at the moment, I'm not finding that much comfort.
[00:07:18] Please don't say anything else.
[00:07:20] I'm sorry.
[00:07:21] No, no, no.
[00:07:23] I don't want to hear that.
[00:07:26] I'm finding it hard to know how to respond, Rex.
[00:07:29] Because if I were to share how I'm actually feeling right now,
[00:07:32] they would be a loud, possibly obscene, and very violent confrontation.
[00:07:37] Which I think is best avoided, don't you?
[00:07:39] Yes.
[00:07:40] You do have the passwords, then.
[00:07:41] You can send me the documents.
[00:07:42] Yes.
[00:07:44] By two o'clock, please.
[00:07:45] I shall have to take this to the BL board.
[00:07:49] I'd like you, Rex, and I like what you've done here.
[00:07:51] But you must see that this is potentially catastrophic.
[00:07:54] Yes.
[00:07:55] Vince Casey could sue for hundreds of thousands of pounds.
[00:07:58] More if he doesn't walk again.
[00:08:00] Sue BL, you mean, as land owners?
[00:08:03] That all rather depends, Rex.
[00:08:05] On what?
[00:08:05] On what's in the contract with rewilding.
[00:08:08] I'll be in touch.
[00:08:09] But Martin, what is in the contract?
[00:08:11] I'll be in touch.
[00:08:13] Oh, damn, damn, damn.
[00:08:25] Rex, everything OK?
[00:08:27] No.
[00:08:28] Sorry, I can't quite hear you.
[00:08:29] I have to see you, Helen.
[00:08:31] Can I come over now?
[00:08:36] Here.
[00:08:37] Feeling any better?
[00:08:39] Not really.
[00:08:40] Do you want a sandwich or something?
[00:08:41] Or a bit of toast?
[00:08:42] Why is this you trying to be nice?
[00:08:44] Maybe.
[00:08:44] Why it's not working.
[00:08:46] I can see that.
[00:08:48] So.
[00:08:50] So what?
[00:08:51] Why don't you want to go to school?
[00:08:54] Is someone bullying you?
[00:08:57] Is it because of a boy?
[00:09:00] Oh, I see.
[00:09:01] What?
[00:09:01] Oh, that's great, George.
[00:09:02] Absolutely great.
[00:09:03] What do you mean?
[00:09:04] Oh, my sister is upset, so it must be a boy.
[00:09:07] Oh, wait.
[00:09:08] Maybe it's her time of the month.
[00:09:09] Or maybe she's just hysterical and irrational.
[00:09:12] Girls are, aren't they?
[00:09:13] Sorry, sorry.
[00:09:14] Honestly.
[00:09:15] I didn't mean it like that.
[00:09:16] Well, try thinking before you open your mouth.
[00:09:18] I said sorry.
[00:09:21] OK.
[00:09:22] I just want to understand.
[00:09:25] It's not just one thing.
[00:09:27] It's everything, everything on top of everything else.
[00:09:30] OK.
[00:09:31] I cope with school most of the time, don't I?
[00:09:34] I get myself there.
[00:09:35] I make it to the end of the day.
[00:09:36] I do my homework.
[00:09:38] Sure.
[00:09:38] The holidays.
[00:09:40] Well, I need the holidays, George.
[00:09:42] I need to, I don't know, refuel,
[00:09:45] recharge myself just so I can face going back in.
[00:09:48] Is it the work?
[00:09:50] Well, yeah.
[00:09:50] That's hard.
[00:09:51] Some of it's really hard.
[00:09:53] I found that too.
[00:09:54] But I'm thick.
[00:09:55] You're not.
[00:09:55] You're not thick.
[00:09:57] What about your mates?
[00:09:58] Henry and Khalil.
[00:09:59] I mean your mates at school.
[00:10:01] Exactly.
[00:10:02] Henry and Khalil.
[00:10:03] They're great.
[00:10:04] They get me.
[00:10:05] You've got other mates?
[00:10:06] People I know, not mates.
[00:10:08] I don't even like most of the merch.
[00:10:10] I get through it because I can walk away
[00:10:12] and calm myself down, especially in the holidays,
[00:10:15] when I don't have to be anything.
[00:10:17] So the extra class is...
[00:10:19] Why do I need maths?
[00:10:21] I can add up and multiply and stuff.
[00:10:22] That's all I need.
[00:10:24] I've got a calculator on my phone if there is a problem.
[00:10:26] I don't need Venn diagrams or equations
[00:10:29] of working out how many empty small jars Julie has.
[00:10:33] What?
[00:10:33] It doesn't matter.
[00:10:34] Who's Julie?
[00:10:35] It was a homework question.
[00:10:36] It doesn't matter.
[00:10:37] Well, science is stupid too.
[00:10:39] Who cares?
[00:10:40] History's the worst.
[00:10:42] Oh, I hate history so much.
[00:10:44] It's really upsetting.
[00:10:45] History?
[00:10:46] It's just people endlessly killing each other
[00:10:48] and taking stuff that doesn't belong to them
[00:10:50] and being hateful to everyone else.
[00:10:53] Really hateful.
[00:10:54] I'm going to get enough of that when I turn my phone on.
[00:10:57] You see?
[00:10:58] Yeah, I'll see.
[00:11:00] Thing is, you have to go to school.
[00:11:03] You need your exams.
[00:11:04] Everyone says that.
[00:11:05] They're not making it up.
[00:11:07] Please don't do what I did.
[00:11:08] Go to prison, no chance.
[00:11:10] Keira.
[00:11:11] What did you mean then?
[00:11:13] I didn't listen in school.
[00:11:15] I thought it was a waste of my time.
[00:11:16] I thought I could blag my way through life.
[00:11:19] I only realised in prison how many opportunities I threw away.
[00:11:23] Like I said, I'm thick.
[00:11:25] Stop it, George.
[00:11:26] I must be.
[00:11:28] To have thought I didn't need qualifications.
[00:11:30] You've got a decent job.
[00:11:31] Yeah, because of Amber's dad.
[00:11:32] Not because of me.
[00:11:34] If I don't get a proper job in farming,
[00:11:36] I'm going to have no chance in life, Keira.
[00:11:39] None.
[00:11:39] And that means Storm won't either.
[00:11:41] It's scary.
[00:11:44] I hear what you're telling me
[00:11:45] and I understand the pressure you're under.
[00:11:47] Well, enough of it anyway.
[00:11:49] But please, please don't make your life
[00:11:52] any harder than it needs to be.
[00:11:54] Go to school.
[00:11:55] Stay and sit your exams.
[00:11:57] It'll be worth it.
[00:11:58] You think?
[00:11:59] I know it seems like a really long time
[00:12:01] until you can leave.
[00:12:02] But honestly, it isn't.
[00:12:03] Hang in there.
[00:12:04] Find a way.
[00:12:05] I don't know if I can.
[00:12:07] Maybe you'll surprise yourself.
[00:12:10] What are you going to tell mum?
[00:12:12] Well, it depends.
[00:12:14] Are you going back to school next week?
[00:12:16] I suppose.
[00:12:17] And you'll stick to it.
[00:12:18] I said so, didn't I?
[00:12:20] Then I'll tell mum you're puking your guts up
[00:12:22] when I got here.
[00:12:23] Charming.
[00:12:24] And I wouldn't drive you
[00:12:25] in case you were sick in the car.
[00:12:27] All right.
[00:12:28] Deal?
[00:12:30] Deal.
[00:12:32] Hug.
[00:12:32] Oh, no way.
[00:12:33] Look, I'd love a bit of toast.
[00:12:40] You have to tell Kirsty there's no alternative.
[00:12:42] I can't.
[00:12:43] There's no way she'd want you to get
[00:12:45] into trouble for her mistake.
[00:12:46] I called her straight after I called you.
[00:12:48] Did you say anything?
[00:12:49] No, no.
[00:12:50] I nearly let it slip.
[00:12:51] But then she told me the midwife was with her.
[00:12:54] She's being monitored daily now.
[00:12:56] Her blood pressure's through the roof.
[00:12:58] I can't put any more stress on her.
[00:12:59] What a mess.
[00:13:01] Look, I've told Martin I'm to blame.
[00:13:03] I'll just take the roller king from the BL board,
[00:13:06] leave Kirsty out of it completely.
[00:13:08] And have Vince sued?
[00:13:10] I don't know.
[00:13:12] I'll just have to hope for the best.
[00:13:31] So, uh, quick summer recap.
[00:13:44] Heat waves, data leaks, AI hacks,
[00:13:46] folding phones, and a viral,
[00:13:47] finally challenged raccoon.
[00:13:49] Yeah, I think that, uh, that covers it, right?
[00:13:52] I'm Thomas Germain.
[00:13:53] I'm Jess Maddox, and the interface is back
[00:13:54] from its summer break.
[00:13:56] New season, new co-host,
[00:13:58] same deep dives into the tech
[00:14:00] that's shaping our world and our lives.
[00:14:02] So before AI wipes out all of humanity.
[00:14:04] Allegedly.
[00:14:06] Join us for the interface.
[00:14:07] Listen on bbc.com or wherever you get your podcasts.