Alistair meets newcomer Ryan at Gamblers’ Anonymous.

Radio Times: Alistair finds a new comrade.

Characters: Alistair, Christopher, David, Ruth, Ryan

• David’s looking forward to the N. F. U. meeting at the Black Dragon, Borchester tonight; Tony’s driving. Alistair lands Ruth with making Jill’s birthday cake; Shula’s too busy. They laugh at Elizabeth for thinking Abbie was christened after her instead of Betty.
• Christopher’s late, having just come back from Southampton. Chris sees a lot of overweight horses these days. Alistair warns him of the difficulties of a long distance relationship.
• Ruth tries to get David to discuss Ed and Emma renting Rickyard Cottage but he’s too busy. Soon though.
• Alistair’s chairing Gamblers’ Anonymous in Borchester and coaxes young newcomer Ryan to speak. Afterwards, Alistair says it took him a while to realise he had to take full responsibility for his problem and not blame his wife and urges Ryan to come again.
• The pub’s busy post-meeting. David, with his father-of-young-daughter hat on, is surprised to hear Chris stayed overnight with Alice in Southampton.
• An oiled David returns home to tell Ruth that a pig farmer says their rival Loxley Norton biodigester has permits for supermarket waste and an agreement with a chain in place. The Ambridge scheme has been totally overtaken!