02/01/2026 - podcast episode cover

02/01/2026

Jan 02, 202613 minSeason 1Ep. 6
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Summary

As George lies critically injured after a brutal attack, his family, particularly Emma, battles with overwhelming guilt and anxiety, exacerbated by past tensions. Alice reveals a poignant pre-attack conversation with George, where he expressed deep remorse and a desire to make amends with Emma. The episode culminates in George awakening and, despite his fractured skull, providing a terrifying, albeit partial, recollection of his assailant, leaving the family desperate for answers.

Episode description

Eddie and Amber arrive outside the hospital, Amber blaming herself for what’s happened. Inside, Susan and Emma struggle to try and work out who would have attacked George. It could be members of Markie’s gang, but equally might be almost anyone in the village. Emma then tells Amber that George is alive, but has a fractured skull. Amber breaks down in Susan’s arms, full of remorse for how badly she’s treated Susan. She declares her love for George, terrified he may not pull through. Eddie reckons they’ve got to put the past behind them and pull together for George’s sake, re-emphasising this to Susan later, leading to a reconciliation of sorts.

Emma talks to Ed on the phone about Keira, not sure why he didn’t get in touch earlier. Then Alice arrives at the hospital, explaining about her heart-to-heart with George outside The Bull. She’s convinced he then set off to find Emma, desperate to put things right with her. Emma wants to know if Alice saw anything suspicious, as she’s probably the last person to see George before the attack. Alice didn’t see anything, though. Emma thanks Alice for being kinder to George than he deserves, while Alice assures Emma she still likes to think of her as her sister. Once George has regained consciousness Emma and Amber go to see him, Amber full of remorse, Emma just wanting him home. George tells them it’s all his fault, but struggles to remember what happened when he was attacked. Apart from a noise behind him, then someone standing over him…

Transcript

Intro / Opening

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George's Attack: Guilt And Family Fears

Eddie, where are you going? The entrance was just there. I can't stop, love. It's for ambulances only. Now, don't fret. There are spaces just here. It was me, Eddie. I did this. Don't be silly. No, I'm serious. I am responsible. If I hadn't walked out on George... You couldn't know someone was going to attack him? No, but I slapped him, Eddie. I called him a loser.

What if that's the last thing he ever hears me say? Hey, don't talk like that. George is going to be fine. We're going to find out what ward is on, and when we do, it's going to be as right as rain. Do you hear me? Yes, I hear you. Don't worry about Keira, love. Ed and Clary are looking after her. She's safe and sane back home. Where did Chris find her? Oh, on the Ring Road, heading to Darrington. And she's OK? I told you she's fine.

A bit in Burris, maybe. I don't think she really knew where she was planning to go. She's got a few friends over that way. I bet that was it. I need to call her, ma'am. Can I borrow your phone? Mine's run out of battery. Oh, yeah, of course. But honestly, love... There's no need to fret. You just focus on George. And the police spoken to you. No, not yet. I came with George in the ambulance.

Dad and Jazza have both given statements and they've cordoned off the bridle path. Your dad said there was a smashed wine bottle next to George when they found him. He thought maybe that's what he'd been hit with. I just can't imagine who'd do such a terrible thing. Can you? What do you mean? Can you? Emma?

Remember those guys on the same prison wing as George? Who were part of that gang that attacked Kenton? That's how the police finally managed to arrest that marquee. George found out where he was and he tipped them off. Emma, we have to... tell the police? And then what? You saw what they did to Jolene and Kenta? Well, I know, but if we think they're responsible... Yeah, and what if I'm wrong? It's just going to put George back on their radar.

Anyway, it's hardly like there aren't plenty of other people who'd like to see George come to harm. Not enough to assault him. Not enough to leave him bleeding and unconscious. What, you really don't think so? After all the people George has hurt. The truth is it... Could have been anyone. Emma, Susan. We've been wandering all over. Thankfully, we found a kind nurse. How's George? What's happening? Is he... He's alive. Oh, thank God.

We don't know much more than that. Can we see him? No, not at the moment, Amber. The doctor's up with him. He's had a CT scan and it showed he's got a fractured skull. Fractured? Oh, good Lord. He's not come round yet. But he will wake up, won't he? I don't know. I haven't been able to speak to anyone properly. I'm OK. I'm fine. Neil and Will have gone to get coffee.

Guess it's a case of just having to wait and see. I'm going to ring Ciara. I'll go out in the corridor. Oh, OK. You know the pin for my phone, don't you? Yeah. You go on, love. Thanks, Eddie. I don't get it. How can they not know? They're doctors. They must have some idea if he's going to be okay. Not necessarily. Well, they could at least let us see him. No, I know. All we can do now is hope and pray. That's our job. Now, come on, sweetheart. Why don't you sit down next to me? Oh, that's fine.

If Kira didn't want to talk to me, just tell her I'm not angry with her. I should have noticed something was wrong. I know, but just so she knows. The only thing that matters is that she's okay. Oh, I'm, um... Oh, Ed, just wish you could be here. How come you wasn't answering your phone? No, before my battery ran out. I didn't know where you were. Okay, I'm only asking. Will thought maybe you didn't have signal. Oh, okay. No, you have to go.

Yeah, I will. Love you too. Emma. Alice. What are you doing here? Don't blame you, Susan. Suddenly this random girl turns up saying she's engaged to your grandson. A total stranger. And then all that stuff with your mum's engagement ring and telling you he didn't want you at his homecoming party. I'm sorry. I've been awful to you. I really do love George, though. You believe that, don't you? I know you love him, Amber. You don't have to convince me. It's OK. Yeah, Susan's right.

Whatever's gone on in the past don't matter now. We've all said and done things you wish we hadn't. But what we need to do now is pull together for George. Don't you reckon, Susan? Yes, I do. I do. We can't change what's happened, but we can try to move on. How are you doing, love? Feeling a bit better now? Yeah. Are you sure? Yeah, I'm sure. Sorry for crying on you. Is my mascara everywhere? I must look a state. No, not at all. Where were you when you heard about George? Huh?

You were at Jazza and Tracy's, weren't you? Yeah. Didn't go out partying then. No, I just stayed in. Right. I'm going to go and find the toilets. Tidy myself up a bit. Oh! Yeah, all right. I think they're back down the corridor by the lifts. OK, thank you. Oh, poor girl. Yeah. I...

George's Final Intentions Revealed

Meant what I said, by the way, about making mistakes. We shouldn't have had to end up here. Oh, no, Eddie. Oh, no. After George left the pub, I went after him. I spoke to him outside. I wanted to make sure he didn't do anything stupid. We ended up having quite the heart to heart. Really? What did he say? That's why I'm here. He told me about...

Some of what's been going on. He was beside himself, Emma. Beating himself up for the pain he'd caused. He was terrified you'd never forgive him. He actually said that. But I told him that it... If he's genuinely sorry, then of course he would. He was desperate to put things right. I don't know, Alice. He might have told you that. He meant it. I promise you. He was coming to find you. What? Yes. To tell you how remorseful he was.

I wouldn't be here saying this to you if I didn't think he was sincere. Wait, so is that why he was on the bridal path? He was coming up to the farm? Yeah. This was all outside the ball? That's right. And then he walked off towards the bridge? Well, I did try to offer him a lift. Did you see anything? I mean, did anyone follow him? Was there anyone else about? No, sorry. As soon as George headed off, I went back inside. And you don't think anyone else might have seen anything? Well, I doubt it.

I mean, Adam left around the same time to watch the fireworks with Ian and Xander from the cottage. And Rory went to meet Paul at a party in Borchester. I suppose I could ask. No, no, I expect the police will be going round everyone anyway. And obviously I'll tell them everything I've just told you. Yeah, please do. You might be the last person who saw him. Other than the person who did it, of course. George is going to be OK, you know.

He's a strong lad. He'll pull through. Whatever's happened, I... I still like to think of you as my sister. Oh, Alice. I'm so sorry, Emma. Oh, come here. I still can't say I'd have done what you did. No, I know. But I can see how you and Neil felt you had to turn George in. We didn't want to do it. We all know George ain't no angel, though. I guess that's what I found hard to accept. Now ain't the right time to talk about that, though. No. But thank you, Eddie.

Oh, it's not as if I haven't gone over that day again and again in my head. Did we do the right thing? Could we have dealt with it differently? Who knows? If George hadn't gone to prison, we might not be here now. That's not your fault, though. He made his choices. If you ask me, George was probably always heading down a bad road. You did the right thing. Thank you, A.D.

Trying to work out how long he must have been lying there. Tracy says he came into the bull about half eleven. The bull? I thought he was barred. Oh, didn't stop him wanting to be served. Although he was already half cut, apparently. You're joking. Tracy managed to persuade him to leave, so... If he left then and Neil and Jazza found him around half twelve-quarter to one...

He could have been lying there in the freezing cold for almost an hour. Yeah, possibly. Where were you? Eh? You weren't in the pub then? Oh, no, no. We were meant to be walking down with Edward and Emma, but then Ciara went missing. Me and Edward went straight out looking for her. Still, at least we don't have to worry about her now. We could still be looking for her if it wasn't for your Christopher. Oh.

George Awakens, Recalls Attack

Don't bear thinking about it. Not knowing if George is going to make it is terrible enough. Mum, Eddie. Oh, what is it, Emma? Have you spoken to Keira? No, but one of the doctors just came to find me. George is awake. George? Can you hear me? It's Mum. Peter, can you open your eyes? Look, Amber's here too. Amber? It's wonderful to see you. We've been so scared. Your dad's just outside, and so are Nana and Grandad and Grandpa.

We're only allowed to be in here two at a time, but everyone is desperate to see you. I'm so sorry for what I said before. I just need you to get better, okay? No need to worry about anything else. We'll work all of that out later. Yes, Aunt Clay. We just want you home. I... I'm sorry, Mum. I know. It's all my fault. Do you remember what happened, George? Did you see who attacked you?

Oh, don't worry, babe. Look, if it's too hard to talk... There was a noise. Yeah? Behind me, it was dark. Okay. A noise behind you, and then what? Maybe not now, Emma. Perhaps it'll come back to him later. I saw someone standing over me. Who was standing over you? I... Yeah. Yeah. Go on. I... Tell us sweetheart, who was it? Who did this to you? At the BBC, we go further so you see clearer. With a subscription to BBC.com, you get unlimited articles and videos.

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