Two branches of the Archers wrestle with family issues.

Radio Times: Shula has some questions, and Jill makes herself useful.

Characters: Alistair, Dan, David, Jill, Ruth, Shula

• Feeling rested from being mollycoddled by her concerned husband and mother-in-law, Ruth has left David in bed and is getting on with the milking. He wakes later and they discuss the hot question: should they invite Jill to stay on a permanent basis? If so, how should they broach the subject: Jill is fiercely independent and they wouldn’t want her to think that they just want her as a live-in home help.
• At The Stables, anxious parents are coming to terms with their son’s decision that he doesn’t want to be a lawyer but to go into the army instead. Dan reveals that he has progressed further than they think: he has passed an army officer selection board. Clutching at straws, Shula and Alistair wonder whether his medical history of arthritis might rule him out of the army but no, he has already discussed that at his medical and it wasn’t a problem. Dan has a challenge for them: he really wants to do this but he would like their blessing.