06/04/2026

Robert finds Lynda following the guidelines by chatting to the budgie, then admits he cannot reconcile himself to keeping a caged bird. They’ll have to re-home it, but without hurting Khalil’s feelings. They agree to name the budgie Elgar and concoct a barely plausible story for Khalil, before quickly realising the only solution is to tell Khalil honestly that they don’t want the bird. But when Khalil calls, Robert scuppers their plan, to Lynda’s despair. Flustered by Khalil’s delight at his budgie idea, Robert changed his tune and even renamed the bird Fletcher, after the TV sitcom, ‘Porridge’.

George appreciates the new Meadow Farm garden gate Chris has made, out of horseshoes sourced by George, as a ‘welcome to Ambridge’ gift for Esme. George dodges having a beer with Chris and says he won’t be joining the pub cricket team. Although tomorrow is George’s birthday, he just wants to get through it. Chris then notices something on George’s ankle and George explains the alcohol tag. Chris feels guilty as he was one of the people who reported George for drunken behaviour, and promises not to say anything about the tag. George knows it’s good for him, but it’s embarrassing. Chris is off to Grange Farm for Keira’s birthday, but George doesn’t feel welcome. Chris persuades George to go with him and wait outside, while he speaks to Keira. When Chris then reports that Keira doesn’t want George there he offers to take George somewhere else instead. But George cycles off, urging Chris to go back to the party.