Darrell takes an overdose. Kirsty tells Rob exactly what she thinks of him. Lynda finds herself without a leading man.

Radio Times: Alistair leads a frantic search. Meanwhile, there’s a casting crisis for Lynda.

Characters: Alistair, Kirsty, Lynda, Rob, Shula, Tom

• Checking on Darrell, Shula discovers that he is not in his room, and to make matters worse, their stock of Paracetamol is missing. Alistair immediately launches a search, gathering other villagers to help.
• Rob upsets Lynda by pointing out a major mistake in the recipe for ginger scones, but is rescued (temporarily) by the arrival for rehearsal of Kirsty. Immediately there is tension between them, and Lynda is forced to insist that Rob recounts his proposal to Jess in detail. He finds it deeply embarrassing, but is rescued (again temporarily) by the arrival of Alistair wanting a word with Lynda.
• Kirsty loses no times during Lynda’s absence to launch a major attack on Rob for his treatment of Helen. Lamely he claims that he never promised Helen anything, and that she knew how things stood. Rob suggests that Kirsty should walk out of the panto if she feels like this, to which Kirsty retorts that she is loyal to people. When Lynda returns, Rob tells her it is no good; he is not an actor, and wants to drop out of the show. A dismayed Lynda does her best to make him change his mind, offering to ‘hone his talent’, but in vain.
• Kirsty rings Tom to try and persuade him to take on the role of Robin, but Tom claims to be far too busy. He breaks off the conversation because he can see flashing blue lights outside 3 The Green.
• The paramedics have arrived and found an unconscious Darrell outside his old house. It seems that as well as the tablets, he has swallowed a bottle of brandy. Shula is beside herself with worry and guilt; if she had not spoken to Darrell as she did yesterday, none of this would have happened. If he dies, it will be all her fault.