Richard Locke is establishing himself in the village. Rob continues to undermine Helen, and Ruth’s absence from Brookfield will be felt this Christmas

Radio Times: David gets some news, and a new resident offers a warm welcome.

Characters: David, Helen, Henry, Pip, Richard, Rob, Shula

• Pip’s doing an oil and filter change on a tractor which impresses Shula when she arrives to ask if she can help with anything. She’s on her way to deliver a new home gift to Richard Locke. She’s impressed with the finish on Keeper’s Cottage. They discuss their respective Christmas Day arrangements: Richard’s with his ex-wife and daughter and Shula with Alistair and Jim. Dan will be on duty and perhaps with his girlfriend, Dorothy, over New Year. Before she leaves to deliver the donkey to church for the nativity, Shula suggests that Richard throw a housewarming party, to get to know some of the local residents. If he plans it for the evening that Carol was due to have her party, which is now cancelled, then most people should still be free.
• Pip knows that Rex and Toby are struggling with processing the birds and pops to Hollow Tree to see how they are managing. On her return, she updates David on the fact that they’ve roped Clarrie in to assist. He can barely believe it, knowing that the Grundys don’t hold the Fairbrothers in high regard, for stealing their market. Pip reminds David that Toby has the gift of the gab – and that they are paying Clarrie.
• Richard arrives at the nativity service and expresses his sheepishness to Helen and Shula over having taken up residence in the Grundys’ old home. Henry is excited that the moment to wear his costume has finally come and Rob is impressed with Helen’s creativity – she should do more sewing, in his opinion. As Shula introduces Richard and Rob, Richard feels sure that they have already met. Rob disagrees. He has a good memory for faces and would have remembered. As Richard extends the invite to his party, Rob quickly declines, but Helen reminds him that they are free, due to Carol’s cancellation. Shula notices that all is not well with Helen and asks her. Helen excuses herself from the pew and goes outside to have some air, followed by Rob who seizes another opportunity to attribute her distress to ‘doing too much’. She needs to listen to him, take things easy and put the welfare of their unborn son first.
• David has heard that Ron and Vera Meddler of Bank Farm are selling up and getting out of dairy farming, causing him to further reflect on his own situation. A far greater blow comes from Ruth’s email to let him know that she will be staying on in New Zealand and won’t be home for Christmas. Her return date remains open-ended and David has no answers for Pip, who equally can’t understand why Ruth wouldn’t want to be with her family at Christmas.