TH

The Archers

BBC Radio 4

Brian Confronts His Personal Troubles

From 18/06/2026Jun 18, 2026

Excerpt from The Archers

18/06/2026Jun 18, 2026 — starts at 0:00

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That's why having fast, reliable internet that can keep up really matters and why you need optimum famously fast fiber Internet Optimum fiber blows flaky five G out of the water and keeps it cool with the fastest and most reliable speeds that don't slow when things heat up. And right now, they have the deal of the summer, just thirty dollars a month for five years. So don't wait, callall eight eight eight for optimum. Visit optimum dot com or stop by your local optimum store today Famously Fast fiber for thirty dollars a month for five years. You can't beat it Terms apply see optimum. com for details You're listening to Thursday's episode of the Archers BBC radio four Okay, I've got the sheet king size flat. Now it's easiest if you stand at the bottom of the bed in the center. hereere. Perfect. Now shake out the sheet, then let it fall evenly over the sides of the bed. Okay? Yeah. Now grab and lift the bottom right hand corner of the mattress. Whoa,'s heavy. I know, better than a workout, Wait until you're making beds for a whole morning shift I know I'm a porter, not a housekeeper, but Dane twisted my arm to cover a few months back. Right, so do I tuck the sheet under? Yeah. Though you'll find your own little tricks, your own method once you're making hundreds a week. Can you teach me how to do one of those neat hospital corners? Hold on, stop. Why? what's wrong? Look. hereere There's a little stain And if you can see it, the guest can see it. Oh, so I reject it, startart again. Afraid so. I'll get another sheet off the troey Brad, can you hear that? What? Stand still, wait. There's something in the wardrobe What do we do? open the door, see what it is? Hm. Good idea. U Do you think it's a mouse? It sounds bigger than that. A rat, maybe. Or a cat. We sometimes have the odd stray that finds its way into the hotel. Well, I'll open the door and you get ready to catch it. Really? Yep. One, two, three.. id! What's going on? What about I? come in? Quickly. Come in and close the door. hey, all the way down the corridor. There's a bird. What? Wh? Oh there it is! On the curtain rail. Oh, it's a budgie! Goodness. I think it's Fletch. It escaped from the mallocks weeks ago. Oh do you think he's okay? Well, he looks remarkably unscathed Rather like he owns the place and can't work out what we're doing in his room. Well we have to catch him and get him back to the mallet. Brad, can you do it? Oh, I don'n know. I don't love the idea of holding a bird. I think if I try balancing on that mattress to get to him, I'll be asking for trouble. You don't want to be dealing with an escapepy budgie and an injured octogenarian. No, don't worry, I'll do it Brad, helpel me for a second. Oh hereere, I've got you. I just need to get steady. Careful. Then slowly, slowly Fletch. Come on. That's it. Oh, I almost had him. Oliver Oliver, he's there. Where? just by your shoulder?. have him Oh Well done you too. Oh poor thing, his heart's beating so fast. Mine too. Now what? I'll call the Malx, get them to bring his cage to reception. but in the meantime, maybe Zanab can settle him, you know, a familiar face Now Brad. Pass me one of those pillow slips and we'll wrap him gently so he feels safe. Okay. Gossh, it's only my second shift and I feel like I've fallen into some hotel fast Carry on Grey Gables Just a sparkling water for me, Jolene. Thankks. Would you like ice and a slice of lime? Yes, please. I'll have a pint when you've got a minute, Jolene, Yeah. And putut Kirsty's drink on my toable. Oh thanks, but I'm with Rex in the beer garden. I was gonna get him a pint too. Shiers? Yeah. Two pints of Shiers, Jolen, a sparkling water. All right, coming up. That's very kind of you, Brian Is Miranda still in the garden? I think so. yeah, she was definitely sitting over by the honeysuckle when I got here. Brian's plucking up the courage to go and talk to him. I don't need courage. I'd just rather speak to her and Oliver isn't glued to her side. Has anyone seen David today? Kendon said he was very upset last night. Oh yeah, those poor sheep. I thought Martin would win the prize for leaving me the most messages this week, but David's certainly in the running pooor guy. Thankfully he's no longer blaming me for the attack, but he's definitely on a mission that catches his door. I can't say I blame him. Well, it's up to me there'd be a blanket ban on the general public crossing farmland where livestock's grazing. Oh no, I wouldn't agree with that. I mean, access to the countryside is something we don't want to lose because of one irresponsible owners. That's true. Do you think these walkers care about the countryside Most of them leave their picnic rubbish in the hederows and empty beer cans tossed into field Brian, most of them hardly.. Anyway, David told me he's planning to use the Borchester showh to spread clear positive messages to dog owners. I'm seeing adverts for the show everywhere at the minute Promo videos popping up. Yeah me too. Amber and George are doing a really great job hijacking the algorithm. Oh hey, Brian, don't turn round, but Miranda's just come into the bar. She'onea with her shadow. She's on her own. Oh, Miranda. Evening, Brian. Hi Cter. Hello. I've been waiting for the chance to have a word What about what? Well I'd rather talk in private if that's okay. It's not okay. I've got nothing to say to you as well as the biscuits, tea bags and coffee, you need to check that you've restocked all the cleaning products for the next shift. Oh, we were low on furniture polish. Okay, that's here on the middle shelf. Zay never seemed relieved to hand the budgie over to her dad. Yeah. I didn't think many people kept birds in cages these days. Seems a bit old fashioned. Kaillil came across him somehow and he was really upset by how he was being kept. Oh I see. So the Malks rescued him I once saw a short film when I was living in South Africa about a budgy and unrequited love. How did it end? Badly. Oh. Well me, I prefer a love story with a happy ending. But you have to admit there's something beautiful about a soul earning. Oh in the movies, maybe, not in real life. No, you're right. In real life, it's just rubbish if you love someone who doesn't love you back. Oh who does love you back, but shouldn't or she did, for a bit, maybe. Well you don't even know how she feels now But do you still feel the same about her? Who? I don't know, whoever it is you're talking about. I was speaking hypothetically. And hypothetically, did you ever declare your love for each other? Well, hypothetically, we did kiss on New Year's Eve. it was o, it doesn't even matter we can't be together. Why has she said that? I just know, we can't She's with someone else. Oh even if she really does like me more than him, it's too late. She's committed. I see. Yeah So, this is my advice to you, Brad. Do everything you can to move on. There's actually nothing romantic about indulging yourself in the misery of a broken heart. Even Romeo looks like a prize prune going on about Rosaline until he meets Juliette. Yeearning is fine for short budgie films, but in real life, it would be so much more beautiful to make the decision to move on. if you can. I don't think I can. Well not with that attitude. If it really is as hopeless as you say it is, then you, Brad Horbin, deserve better. And do you know who is the only person who can get you out of this fug of doomed love Me. Correct. Now, pass me the toilet cleaner and stop wasting precious time. You're young and talented and the sea is more plentiful than this little fish pond Can I get you another pipe, Broan? No no, thank you, Joen, but I'm going to make a move. You anything nice planned for the rest of the evening? I thought I might pop up to home farm. These farmers do work hard. Well I'm not going to the office. I'm going to the farmhouse to speak to Miranda Do you think that's a good idea, my darling? She didn't seem too keen on talking to you earlier. That's all part of the game. It didnn't look to me like she was playing a game You know, Brian, if you want the advice of a woman I'd leave it for tonight. I don't think pressuming Miranda right now is going to get you anywhere. I'm very grateful for your words of wisdom, Jolene, but don't worry about me You did wal? I caught a budgie that had been hiding in a wardrobe. How? I heard a terrible scream and walked into Mayhare. Kate leapt onto the bed, balancing precariously on the mattress clinging to the curtain pole where Fletch was sitting and who's Fletch? I guest? No, the budgie. In what world would a guest be sitting on the curtain pole? In what world does a budgie hide in a hotel wardrobe? Anyway, I caught it and returned him safely to the manador. And was Kate okay? Actually, Kate was brilliant I know it's early days, but she's a fabulous worker. Oh, that's lovely to hear Oh It's a shame I can't text Brian to let him know I know he's an idiot and yet he's still the first person I want to message when anything important happens. Well, you might be in luck. What do you mean? He's walking towards us right now. Randy on the terrace, how marvevelous. Brian. What are you doing here? I could say the same about you. I invited Oliver here for a night What do you want, Bran? But To tell you that I'll soon have sole control of the farm again. I honestly couldn't care less. Although I hear you treated Adam quite dreadfully, that poor man. willilling to give you his all just to be rejected and let down again and again. No, it's not like that, Alen. I'm willing to tell you everything, Mirne, if you'll consider having me back. However I think that'd be better if you make yourself sca. He's not going anywhere. We are having a very pleasant evening on the terrace of my gorgeous new home, and I won't be hassled by the local farmer. The land may be yours, but I am not So tell me the news. Okay got the results from the blood test and it's good. The baby has a low score for all the genetic conditions. What a relief. I'm so pleased for you. It's not a guarantee everything will be fine, but you are allowed to be happy. I know I found myself dreaming a little bit this morning about actually holding this baby in my arms. Is that dangerous? Tempting fate? No. No one ever lost a baby because they wanted it too much He. Oh, is that your dad? Coming Sorry to turn up so late. Is everything be al right But come in I was just having a cup of tea with Kirstie. Oh hello again, Kirstie. Oh come in, Brian, sit down. What's happened, Dad? What a night. What a week. Oh firstirst I'm banned from seeing my grandson. And then Miranda refuses to even listen to what I have to say

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