18/02/2026

Ruairi worries to Brian about the effect pig farming might have on his social life. Brian’s more concerned by Ruairi turning down the stockperson training, informing him curtly that he’ll be staying at Berrow until Brian says otherwise. Ruairi knows this is about what he did to George, accepting his punishment. Brian disagrees, it’s not punishment. He’s simply doing what he should have done long ago, instilling a sense of purpose in Ruairi and giving him a dose of reality. Lynda arrives, looking to bring Brian back on board with Speedwatch. Brian’s far from keen, resisting both Lynda and Ruairi’s attempts to persuade him. Ruairi then tells Brian he’ll be doing the stockperson training after all, newly determined to be the best pig farmer he can.
After Zach mocks Lynda’s attempts to recruit Stella to the Speedwatch team he tells Stella he’s going for a walk around Ambridge, in an attempt to discover what’s so appealing about it. Zach starts at Hollowtree, engaging disenchanted Josh in a conversation about the travails of farming with all the difficulties and uncertainties attached to it. Zach then tells Josh about the financial security a career in wealth management gives him, before suggesting Pip should make a pre-nuptial arrangement with Stella to protect Brookfield’s interests. When Zach returns to Brookfield he helps Stella in the Events Barn, mentioning the pre-nup arrangement to her as well. He offers to help out at the party on Friday, then casually drops in that Josh won’t be in much of a party mood.