David grovels, Jill storms, Rob rants and Alan flounders as peace fails to descend on Ambridge

Radio Times: Usha meets a prospective tenant, and Jill faces up to the enemy.

Characters: Alan, Anisha, David, Jill, Pip, Rob, Toby

• As she completes yet another batch of cakes, Jill tackles David about Toby. She feels that David is allowing him to take advantage of his good nature by allowing him to keep the still. Lamely, David tries to remind his mother that Rex is not part of the problem. All David wants is a peaceful family Christmas. Surely the Fairbrothers will be going home, snaps Jill. David is not so sure, but biting their tongues about Toby, at least in front of Pip, is the only way.
• Usha receives a call from Anisha, who wants to view Blossom Hill Cottage. As she and Alan chat about Alan’s Christmas schedule, they are interrupted by a near-hysterical Rob demanding to see Alan. Usha leaves to meet her prospective tenant.
• Anisha seems rather negative about the cottage, asking about traffic noise and commenting that it is very small for the rental asked. But she is fine about its recent history, and while Usha finds her confrontational at first, they soon strike an accord, so over coffee in The Bull, a deal is struck.
• Rob rants wildly to Alan about the injustice of the Family Court, paying no heed to Alan’s attempts to make him see that the decision is all about protecting Jack. Unwisely, Alan confirms that Henry will be in the nativity play, so Rob is full of plans to talk to the little boy and give him a present. Alan tries in vain to make Rob see how unwise this would be, but, as Alan later tells Usha, Rob can see life only from his own perspective.
• Pip tells Toby he can ‘make himself at home’ in David’s workshop. David comes to grovel to his daughter, begging her forgiveness for his attitude to Toby, which pleases Pip immensely. She haughtily informs her father that she has everything she wants for Christmas; a job she loves and her boyfriend, so what she wants is for her parents and Jill to make Toby feel welcome; a bit of everyday civility. Meekly David assents.
• Jill fails to share David’s wish to appease. Finding Toby at work on his pick-up, she storms at him, to be told that he has got rid of the still and the cannabis factory is doing well. Furious at being wound-up by the obnoxious Fairbrother, Jill orders him to leave Pip alone and get off the farm. Sorry, Grandma, smirks Toby. That’s not going to happen.