09/02/2024

Tony starts to celebrate as he thinks he’s found someone to take Hilda. He is keen to pass her on to a friend of Eddie’s known as ‘the Interceptor’ -, but Pat is worried that Peggy will be upset. Grateful that despite the debacle with the cat, Tony and Pat insist on paying him for his extra hours, Adam offers to buy them a drink. Later at The Bull, Tony confesses he got cold feet about handing her over as the family already had a menagerie of pets. Kenton turns up at the pub, stir crazy from recuperating at Ambridge Hall. It’s busy– a bad night to be without Tracy who has called in sick. Adam orders beers and whiskies for Pat and Tony. Kenton insists on serving the drinks, over Jolene’s protests. But he overestimates his recovery and drops a full bottle of whisky – shattering it - and pulls his stitches into the bargain.

Alice berates Harry for not updating her sooner about his mum. Harry is evasive but tries to reassure her. He tells her he went through a difficult time – with his marriage falling apart - after his eventing career came to an end. He adds his mother is protective of him but lies about why. The penny drops and Alice asks him whether Eve found out about her drinking. He admits she has. Alice is devastated – saying she will never be free of her past no matter how hard she tries. Harry is conciliatory but she tells him to go, saying she needs space.