Jean’s arrival in the Calendar Girls cast causes ructions and David’s soul-searching over the future of dairy farming continues.

Radio Times: Has Lynda bitten off more than she can chew? David swallows some hard figures.

Characters: Brian, David, Lilian, Lynda, Robert, Susan

• Brian’s planting the seed with Lilian that she must be missing the Dower House and will be pleased to get back. He’d be only too happy to move some of her things across. He and Adam have been discussing buying a younger stag for the estate. Lilian can’t resist drawing the comparison under her breath between the newer model of stag and Adam taking over from the ‘old stager’ on the farm, but this is lost on Brian.
• Brian’s taking David to the National Farmers Union conference – after all, David deserves a day off with his current run of bad luck. They discuss the lot of the Fairbrothers over a pint and don’t envy them their task, preparing a couple of hundred geese. Following the conference, David is quite depressed to have learned the fact that two hundred million pounds less is going into the rural economy. This fuels his uncertainty over the future of dairy farming. Having gone back to basics in getting rid of the mixer wagon, he’s unsure what more he can do. Brian agrees that it’s an age of austerity for all.
• Susan tries to persuade Lynda to wear a festive hat in the shop, but Lynda’s having none of it. Bad enough that the dreadful tabards have to be worn, without the addition of synthetic chemical-containing headgear from central China. So that’s Susan told. Lilian pops in to collect the Echo and is reminded by Lynda that there is an additional rehearsal this evening due to Jean Harvey having time to make up, although her acting career to date suggests a seasoned performer with a professional approach. At rehearsal, however, Jean sets the cat among the pigeons with her dogmatic approach, tendency to upstage the rest of the cast and failure to grasp the philosophy of the company. Privately, Lynda despairs but Robert points out that at this late stage, Lynda may have little choice but to placate Jean.
• Robert and Lynda are preparing for Christmas back in Ambridge Hall. With Leonie, James and Mungo due to visit, they are quite relieved that Coriander has made other arrangements, as the house will not be so full. Lynda muses on the stress of pulling together a performance each year and wonders why she does it. One year, it would be nice to book themselves into a hotel to escape, but really, they both agree there’s no place like home.