Brian is encouraged in his wish to expand Home Farm; Johnny appears to have learned a lesson.

Radio Times: Johnny prepares to strike a pose, while David is not in the Christmas spirit.

Characters: Brian, David, Elizabeth, Jennifer, Johnny, Pat, Shula

• Elizabeth mentions her children’s first driving lesson to Shula and makes it clear that Freddie has taken to the task like a duck to water. She’s rather pleased that he’s found something that he can do rather better than his sister. They meet David chopping wood at Brookfield. While they chat over Christmas related matters, all David can do is moan continually about Kenton’s new car. Why couldn’t he pay off his loan from David instead?
• At the fashion show, Johnny is disappointed to discover from Pat that almost half of Ambridge knows of his blossoming relationship with Amber. He points her out to Pat. She’s somewhat taken aback by her striking purple hair. At Home Farm Brian discovers Jennifer vainly trying to open the front door using her mother’s door key. She complains that she’s rushed off her feet and has little time to go to a dull fashion show. All she wants is a good family Christmas. Brian is certain that it will be smashing. I’m not so sure myself.
• Elizabeth, Shula and Pat take their seats for the show. Jennifer turns up saying how delighted she is to support the work of local youngsters. Oh yes? Pat lets out a cry of disbelief. Who’s that wearing a yellow shirt, with his hand in Amber’s top? Johnny makes for a sharp exit. Pat follows in order to find out exactly why he’s leaving before time. Elsewhere, as David and Brian travel to the NFU event, David looks back over the past year. It was memorable but for the wrong reasons. Brian decides to seek David’s opinion on another matter.
• Freddy has taken Johnny’s place modelling formal wear. When Pat catches up with him, it’s clear that something untoward has happened. He thinks that he would have been terrible. Pat thinks not and anyway Amber had asked him, not Freddy. Johnny couldn’t give a fig what Amber thought. He’s off home to help Jazzer with the pigs.
• At the NFU event, Brian asks David for his views on land acquisition. Given that he has no detail of the purchase, David agrees. It’s a wonderful opportunity, almost not to be missed. All farmers want to leave something extra to the next generation. David’s certain that his own forbears would applaud such actions at Brookfield. As far as he can see, the money is a secondary issue. Above all… it’s the land. Brian agrees.