Elizabeth tries to light up.

Radio Times: Elizabeth tries to light up.

Characters: Bert, Jennifer, Jill, Kathy, Lizzie, Lynda, Phil

• The Brookfield humans were tested yesterday for TB and while they’re certain of clean bills of healthy, until the results are back, there’ll be no more drinking of untreated milk – Bert’s not happy they’ve drunk milk that way for ever, but he can understand it. The bovine tests will be repeated next month and Phil is not confident that they’ll be free.
• Lizzie’s been struggling to find builders to quote on the work Lower Loxley requires, no one wants to commit to work at this time of year – but from the few who have said anything she knows it will not come cheap.
• Jill’s realised that it might just be her and Phil at Brookfield for Christmas dinner.
• The Christmas illuminations are about to be switched on by The Green and the whole village seems to be joining in with this signal to the start of the season and almost all of them are putting their troubles to one side for a short time. Lynda, however isn’t, and plays her normal rhino-skinned, self-important persona; first telling Jennifer that farmers have only themselves to blame for the current problems and then trying to bend Lizzie’s ear about being sympathetic in the treatment of the beatle problems.
• Seranaded by the school choir though, the lights are lit and, Bert at least, is captivated.

Summarised by: Chris Harrison