Elizabeth decides to take the bull by the horns with Richard, only to find his path has crossed with Debbie’s once again.

Radio Times: Debbie does some straight talking, and could Elizabeth have missed her chance?

Characters: Brian, Debbie, Elizabeth, Kenton, Lynda, Richard, Susan

• Debbie enlists Brian’s help in transporting costumes for Kate. She capitalises on having him to herself to probe into his motivations for going against family opinion over the land purchase. She suspects he’s asserting his authority as dominant male and head of the family, which he denies.
• Lynda is in despair at the panto dress rehearsal. There is not a costume in sight and Kirsty is absent. Brian’s arrival with costumes for Act One allays some of her anxiety, until Kenton makes his appearance in a rather skimpy affair.
• The Bull is hosting ‘The Great Escape’ evening, following Christmas and Elizabeth and Debbie bump into each other and report on their respective Christmas experiences at home. Elizabeth confides that she may be ready to make a fresh start. Six years since she lost Nigel and maybe there is one man who she has lately been indecisive about. Richard Locke arrives in the pub and joins them before Elizabeth can say any more and when she later goes to the bar, Richard and Debbie’s conversation turns very cosy and they leave together.
• At a post-rehearsal drink in The Bull, the cast rate the performance. Lynda detects something of a loss of on-stage chemistry between Justin and Lilian, whereas Toby gave his best performance yet. Perhaps due to having had Pip in the dress rehearsal audience.