16/02/2026

Akram is delighted to be gifted a packet of seeds by birthday boy Tony, who explains he’s giving the same to everyone in the village, rather than receiving presents he doesn’t need. Tom hopes it will encourage some guerilla gardening, before sending Akram off to work in the packing shed. Later, Tom finds Akram trialling a new system for packing the veg boxes, but it ends up taking far longer than the usual system. Akram apologises, then admits he’d much prefer doing outdoor work, including all the muckiest jobs.

Stella suggests Pip is distracting herself with work to stop thinking about the rift with Josh over the inheritance. Pip admits it’s preying on her mind, before Stella changes subject to Ruairi starting at Berrow, comparing Brian’s rash decision-making to her current boss’s calmer approach. Stella’s looking forward to her brother Zach arriving in the run-up to Friday’s engagement party. Later, Pip is impressed when she finds Zach already installed at the Bungalow, having brought champagne, crisps and other treats, claiming they’re to ease Stella’s burden and celebrate Pip’s birthday. Zach teases Stella with an embarrassing memory, before Tony arrives with his gift of seeds, accepting a glass of champagne in return. When Pip and Rosie go home later, Zach punctures the sense of bonhomie by suggesting Stella might be settling for less than she should in backwater Ambridge, where everyone’s related to each other. Stella gets defensive and Zach backs down, saying he's happy for her, so long as she’s thought through the consequences.