Stephen Chalkman’s plan to have Lilian get Matt out of the way for a few weeks fails.

Radio Times: Lynda thinks outside the box.

Characters: David, Lilian, Lynda, Matt, Neil, Tom

• The Parish council meeting tackles what to do with the village’s red telephone box, having bought it for a pound. Lynda wants to hold a competition for an art installation a la Banksy; it could be Ambridge’s Angel of the North. Lilian prefers an information booth for tourists and village events and comfortably wins the vote.
• Matt seems stressed out as he arrives home from London. David warns Tom of this, and against going into business with Matt. Tom persists trying to see Matt and finally lays out the offer of buying Brian out. It’s an emphatic no. Matt’s got enough on his mind without any new investments so Tom can stick two fingers up at his uncle. He calms down a little and says Tom caught him at the wrong time; he can’t help, not right now.
• When Lilian arrives back, Matt’s outside, enjoying the peace and quiet and a fine cigar. She unveils the idea of a villa in Lanzarote. Matt’s stunned. Is Lilian kidding? Things are far too ‘tight’ at the moment. That’s why we should go, urges Lilian. She can see what Matt’s doing to himself, and so can Stephen Chalkman. And so the story of yesterday’s visit comes out. Matt’s furious. Far from leaving Chalkie to look after everything, he wouldn’t let him look after the paperclips on his own. Stephen Chalkman is not getting rid of him that easily!