Pip gains another slant on life; Neil accepts Justin’s offer; things go from bad to much worse for the Aldridge family.

Radio Times: Jennifer finds herself the talk of the town and Pip needs reassurance

Characters: Adam, Helen, Jennifer, Neil, Pip, Susan

• Jennifer warns Adam that Brian is in a terrible mood. Apparently, Martin Gibson is trying to persuade the BL board to postpone development of Berrow Farm. He feels that its continuance would be tainted, by association, with Home Farm’s continuing troubles. The news ruined the Aldridge’s breakfast, and Jennifer had made devilled kidneys.
• Neil wants to take a little time to ponder Justin’s offer, Susan can see no reason to delay. He feels that he would miss being his own boss and wouldn’t like to break his longstanding relationship with Bridge Farm supplying weaners. He’s also not sure that he’d be up to the job of running a team. Susan points out that he’s probably the only person in Ambridge who thinks that way. It’s a job made in heaven, he keeps contact with his pigs and has a job worthy of respect. It would provide cash for the whole extended family. But he’s still not sure.
• Pip is making a delivery of supplies to Helen and tells her that while in Borchester, she ran into Alfie. Both were embarrassed and couldn’t wait to get away. He had clearly heard of her pregnancy. Only Toby is treating her like a human, and that boat isn’t floating ever again. Seeing that Pip is in a state, Helen insists on a walk, to talk things through.
• Adam phones Jenny and tells her to take a look at the Borchester Echo’s website. It doesn’t sound like good news. Elsewhere, on their walk, Pip confides in Helen that she’s being overwhelmed by advice and is panicking about not being able to bond with her baby. Helen assures her that things will work out; things will change at work, parenthood does change you, but for the better. You begin to see a bigger picture. Just then, Susan and Neil interrupt them. Pip leaves and they tell Helen that Neil has accepted Justin’s job offer. Helen is surprised, but offers her congratulations. Susan can’t get over how they have both shot into the management stratosphere within 24 hours.
• Adam insists that the Echo article looks even more “gruesome” on the big screen. The article contains a picture of Jennifer at Grey Gables, holding a glass of wine and roaring her head off. The storyline goes on about the wife of “controversial businessman” enjoying herself at a corporate event. Worse still, the article is adjacent to another, mentioning the Environment Agency’s activities at Home Farm and the fact that some villagers are concerned for their health. As Jenny says, the photograph makes it look that the Aldridges “couldn’t give a damn.” What on earth will Brian say?