Oliver Stirling’s homecoming looks set to be a tragedy confounded by a further burden.

Radio Times: Eddie comes up with a plan and Jill continues her opposition

Characters: Clarrie, Eddie, Jill, Lynda, Ruth, Shula

• Clarrie manages to catch up with Eddie and share some bad news. A Mr and Mrs Rigby are waiting in the house, expecting to occupy a room until Friday. After much persuasion, he says that he cancelled their stay by text, not with a phone call. She’s not convinced but in any event, she wants them gone as soon as possible. Eddie is tasked with breaking the news.
• Lynda has called in to Brookfield to borrow a dish from Jill. With the sound of Scott McKenzie floating out of the radio, they reminisce about 1967 and the famed “Summer of Love”. Lynda wonders if that just might be the theme for this year’s summer fayre. Jill reminds her of Fallon’s forthcoming meeting and leaves her in no doubt about her feelings regarding the Duxford sisters starring role. Ruth walks in as she finishes a call to Brian. She has accepted the role of Ruairi’s attorney.
• Clarrie is desperately upset about having to send their guests away. Eddie did text to cancel but apparently, their old phone had been destroyed and the message didn’t get through. To make matters worse, they are still in the house. Eddie has suggested using one of Kate’s yurts but the idea didn’t appeal to Mr Rigby. His idea was for them to stay at Grey Gables with Eddie paying the difference, for the whole week. Clarrie dissolves into tears, but not to worry. Eddie has another idea.
• Ruth and Shula are sharing a coffee at Brookfield. Jill joins them and the conversation quickly turns to Brian and “the restaurant”. Shula manages to steer it away to the calmer waters of the lunch at Grey Gables planned by Peggy, Jill and Christine to celebrate Jack Woolley’s birthday. He would have been 98. Jill asks about Shula’s progress with Caroline’s memorial ceremony but is interrupted by Shula’s phone. She has to take it. It’s Oliver.
• Eddie calls Lynda to see if she can help out with their guests. However, she’s fully booked for the week and Eddie’s suggestion of using her Shepherd’s Hut is met with a frosty “no!” Ringing off, Eddie tells Clarrie that there’s only one option available. The Grey Gables scheme would bankrupt them so the Rigbys must stay at Grange Farm as planned. When the room is vacated on Friday, they can clean the whole farmhouse and remove all traces of paying guests. It’s the only viable plan.
• Having checked that Oliver is eating and sleeping properly and with instructions for him to call her when his flight lands, Shula ends the call. She tells the others that he seems strangely upbeat about the whole affair. Anyway, there’s been an alteration to his plans. Due to a change of circumstances in Italy, it’s now become possible for Caroline’s cremation to take place on Tuesday, two days earlier than first thought. Oliver can now get an earlier flight back to the UK. That suits him just fine. He can’t be home soon enough.