Tom is full of pride. Will is full of anger. Jamie is full of some good news.

Radio Times: Nic offers the voice of reason and Brenda’s stress levels rise.

Characters: Brenda, Jamie, Kathy, Nic, Tom, William

• Tom sets off for work boasting about how well his grills and bar food went at the Ambridge bonfire celebrations. Having heard that Mike is to feature in Borchester Life, Tom thinks he should be the next subject. Brenda tries to tell Tom how awful things are at Amside, but Tom, in full flow about his triumphs, has no time to listen.
• There is tension between Nic and Will. Will spent the entire evening glowering at Ed, and Nic has had enough. She tells Will exactly what she thinks, but he is still full of irrational and menacing anger.
• Jamie is up early because he has an interview with a tree surgeon. Kathy has to have a nag as she chivvies him along
• Brenda’s stress levels mount, and when she fails to answer her mobile, Tom rings the office, to say he will cook tonight as they have something to celebrate; the salty pork balls obviously appeal to some, because Speakmans have renewed the contract. Brenda is distinctly underwhelmed, and later tells Tom she will be late home. James has messed up the files on her laptop and she needs to recover them.
• At the shop, Nic is concerned when George mentions that Emma can no longer buy the cereal he likes. When Will gets home she tells him, which gives Will another excuse for a major rant. Nic stands up to him and tries to make him see that Ed and Emma are finding things hard, just as Will’s parents did when he was growing up. Nic is happy to have George more often, but she will be the one to discuss it with Emma. She will do it tomorrow.
• Jamie’s interview goes well, and he is offered the job, to start in a few weeks. Initially Kathy sees all the negatives, and wants Jamie to stay at college until the end of term, but Jamie is adamant. The job will give him plenty of opportunities to acquire real skills. Kathy not only gives in, but offers to pay for Jamie’s driving lessons and the chainsaw course. Jamie tells her she is The Best.