The Archers - 29/10/2008

It's the ploughing match and Bert's confidence is wavering as it's pouring with rain and the ground's boggy. He looks to his coach Alistair for encouragement. Although Alistair is at first reluctant to accept this mantle, he soon warms to his task and has Bert fired up to beat arch rival Jimmy Prentice. Sure enough, Jimmy falters and victory is Bert's. Ruth arrives with the boys but not Pip, who's still smarting over Izzy. Bert's full of gratitude for Alistair's help. He, Ruth and David head to the beer tent for a celebratory drink. Lynda's on the lookout for recruits for her pantomime. She wonders if Ruth's seen her bonfire night article in Borsetshire Life, and also asks her about the panto. Ruth replies that Josh and Ben might be interested, but she doubts that Pip will. As for herself, she's far too busy. With Usha away, Lynda laments at the meeting that evening that the response has so far been dispiriting. The only unequivocally keen respondent has been Sabrina Thwaite. Lynda's hoping for an opulent extravaganza with spectacular effects. Alistair remarks drily that he hopes she doesn't want a waterfall - creating a beanstalk's going to be quite enough of a challenge. Episode written by Caroline Harrington.