10/06/2026

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What do Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney?

YouTube megastar Mr Beast.

And former Facebook executive Cheryl Sandberg all have in common.

All being discussed in the new season of Good Bad Billionaire, the podcast which explores the lives and fortunes of the world.

That's good, bad billionaire. From the BBC World Service.

Listen now, search for good bad billionaire wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

You're listening to Wednesday's episode of The Archers from BBC Radio 4.

Sheep are different animals once they've been shown, aren't they? Look at that one.

The joys of summer. They're a good size, David. I like having sheep on home farmland.

Wheat and barley don't quite hit the spot, Louis.

Well the cash does. Not that it's any more reliable than sheep nowadays.

Not with the weather and the world markets, no. Brian, uh I realise it's none of my business, but have you really thought through taking charge of this place?

I've thought of nothing else. Adam and Debbie gave me no choice.

Really?

Don't think I'd clocked how power mad Adam is. But megalomania doesn't end well when you lack business now.

Oh, come on. Adam's a great farmer. He has a real depth of knowledge. He knows the land inside out. Plus he's very ambitious for the fun.

He's ambitious, all right. Turns out he's got quite a nasty streak to go with it.

Well how did you expect him to react? You tell him he'll inherit the farm and then you do a screeching U turn and last week you call the police on.

He came running to you, did he? Well that doesn't surprise me.

No, as a matter of fact I bumped into him right after you told him he'd inherit. He was genuinely over the moon. Didn't take a genius to get something bigger to happen.

I swore him to secrecy.

No, it wasn't difficult to winkle the truth out of it. I hope you know what you're doing. That's all.

Hello, boys.

Hi Ed.

Did you check on the mouse?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it looks great. And I'll um check over the trailer now, like you asked. Good.

Sorry, David, I need to make a call.

Yeah all right.

Gloeming, that sounded a bit strong.

Well sometimes you have to tell it like

Ja, I suppose. I can't do right for wrong. Adam says one thing, Brian says another.

Match it.

The way Brian speaks to him, I don't know why Adam doesn't just walk.

I think he's just sticking around in case Brian changes his mind.

Well, from what I've seen there's no chance of that.

While the partnership exists, it's got legal contracts to fulfil.

Sheep are in fine condition? Hmm.

There's a rosette or two coming your way, is there?

I'm quietly confident, shall we say?

Why does he keep doing this? Afternoon,

Adam, good. I've tried Brian a couple of times, but he's not answered.

Well we're still on for this afternoon, Martin, if that's why you're ringing.

Want to hear it? Four o'clock?

Actually I've got to do a few quick emails.

Yeah.

A couple of orders that um need amending. So

Time by me. And Brian will definitely be there. I do need you both, Adam, especially after last week's intervention by his Majesty's Constabulary.

Yeah, sorry about that. But it it's all sorted.

What the hell was Brian playing?

I can't apologize enough that you ended up in the thick of it, Martin, but it was just crossed wires.

He called the police on you, Adam. It's hardly crossed wire.

Yeah, if we could forget Friday, that'd be the best thing, I think. Anyway, how are you? All well at Barrow?

It would be if one of my staff hadn't gone A-Wall on his lunch break yesterday. Solidly unrepentant.

Sense.

Are we talking about jazzer, I wonder?

I can neither confirm nor deny, Adam. Right, I need a quick conflab with Neil, then I'll meet you at the Eco Office four hundred one.

See you there.

David.

Sorry to pounce. Um I was chatting to Helen in the shop and we saw you heading home.

Oh I've literally just walked in the door. Do you wanna come in?

No, you're all right, Amber, I can't stay. Uh what I came to say was that we have just confirmed some faster Wi Fi for the show. So where all systems go for spreading the word. Uh let's hope it ups the trade stand bookings, eh?

Wel, yna. George and I can get the message out to local businesses.

Okay.

Uh I've got the sight map. If you're not going to be able to do that

Uh sure.

Where are we? Yes. Um these are the big trade stands around the main arena. See here? Mm-hmm. They need takers because that's a crucial chunk of the show's income. So these are the ones we sold.

Hang on, so those other two are still up for ground.

That's right. And we really don't want big gaps around the arena.

But we're only a month away.

Not great.

No.

I just hope this new Wi-Fi'll do the trick,'cause it wasn't cheap until

Right.

Still fingers crossed it'll be worth it.

So which one does your car dealer guy usually take?

Yeah.

Uh this one, yep, good position facing the arena. He usually pays a fortune for that. It's such a shame he's not gonna be there. So if your boss happens to know someone local.

I can probably think of some options myself.

Really? Well, if you let me know your thoughts I'll get our volunteers straight on to them.

Of course.

Thanks Amber.

Bye David.

Bye.

What do you want?

Martin will be here in twenty minutes. Are you on your way?

I will be short.

I wanted a quick catch up beforehand so we're singing from the same hymn sheet. And we ought to double check all the small print in case there's something we've missed.

We've worked those estate contracts for decades, Adam. We know exactly what we're doing.

I know, but Martin wants every eye dotted this year, especially after Friday.

It was entirely your fault, Adam. So I suggest you do the double check.

This is important.

I'm checking on the deer, then I'll be there.

Sorry? Ed checked them before he went home. What? Yeah, he said everything was fine. Didn't you see his message?

Crying out loud.

How you doing?

Hey Ed.

Oh, Kira's not getting you to do her homework again, is she?

No, no, I I just wanted to chat.

Rydw i'w ddw i'w ddw i'w ddw i'w ddw i'w ddw i'w ddw i'w ddw i'w ddw. What am I saying? Sorry. Uh can I get you a soft drink?

Don't worry Ed. I've got my water.

I thought I'd grab a few rays while I can. Booty starts tomorrow, so I'm gearing up for a few weeks glued to the telly.

Ah the World Cup. Forgotten about that. We're off to the T twenty in Birmingham on Friday.

Oh yeah.

Cool.

There's a few from the village, so that'll be fun.

Yeah. Oh I love this time of day.

Mm, me too.

Especially when I'm back from home farm.

George said you're doing more hours.

Which would be fine, normally. Except they're in the middle of a joint normal's family row.

Yeah.

I never know who I'm taking orders from.

Pull you.

No, no, it's okay. I shouldn't complain. So how you feelin' Amber?

I just feel bigger every day.

That sounds about right. Put your feet up for a bit.

Ugh, actually I will, if that's okay.

Cảm ơn các bạn đã theo dõi và hẹn gặp lại. Is um George behaving himself?

Is he?

He's so much happier now that he's at Meadow Farm.

You can't beat an honest day's work, eh?

I'm just struggling with something. Nothing to do with George. It's a tricky dilemma.

Well, you're looking at the Dilemma King here, Amber.

Have I?

Trust me, if I can navigate my way through home farmed civil war, I reckon I could advise on anything.

guys.

Don't try me.

Right, I will. You see, David Archer has told us a couple of the big main arena trade stands for the show aren't sold yet. I know. And what happens if their incomes write down?

Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada

But George and I are doing such good work on this, Ed, and we'd like to do it again next year.

That's a nice little owner for you, is it?

Especially with the baby coming.

Okay, so you want the show to do well.

Really do. And it seems that one of the unsold stands well. It's usually occupied by a car dealership. Yeah.

What, and you're thinking that you should contact your dad?

Well should I? It's so complicated with my parents.

Have you um spoken to him since

Mm since they were horrible.

Mm.

They've messaged a few times. A lot actually.

Okay.

I'd hate Dad to feel obliged to spend money and I do not want him thinking he's doing me a favour.

Say that to him?

I could, but You don't know them, honestly. If I give them an in...

That's their first grandchild in there. I'm pretty sure they're gonna wanna help out a bit.

Yeah, but I need everything out in the open, you know? Because that's always been the problem. The stuff going on underneath, what they really think, what they expect. I've never understood the rules. if you get what I mean. So I just never knew where I stood.

It's not great for a kid.

Was it? I don't want any of that going on when the baby's born.

Listen, I don't know the guy, but your dad sounds like the ultimate businessman.

Yeah, he is.

And you're pretty smart business wise yourself. So if you just said, here's the deal, take it or leave it.

Mm. Maybe.

But if you're not comfortable with it, Amber, don't do it. You don't need extra stress when you're pregnant.

I don't. No, that's true. Thanks for listening, Ed.

No props.

No, I told you, Martin, it's all in hand. There's no need to micromanage a small.

I simply want reassurance that the BL contract will be fulfilled to the letter. I'm paying you a hell of a lot of money, Brian. I know that.

The work will be done exactly as specified.

Thanks, Adam, but I need to hear it from Brian.

And you have

Because there are substantial penalties built into our contract.

Which you needn't worry about because everything will be delivered. Won't it, Brian?

Course it will. I mean so for instance, look, if the wind gets up next month, we'll spray pod sticker on the oil street.

Yeah.

Uh yes. Here we are harvest.

I've uh emailed Martin all the shirchels.

Yeah, so it's winter wheat firm.

Winter.

Wheat No no we stuck to spring wheat this year. I think you're looking at the twenty twenty five spreadsheet.

Am I? Oh yeah, my mistake. In which case it's spring balianic, am I right?

Uh actually ten acres down to Herbal Leigh this year.

Really?

It's all under control, you have my worst.

Sorry, Adam, but that means nothing. If you're gonna be out of the picture in what the next fortnight.

Come on, old chump. You're making a mountain out of a molehill.

Have you forgotten your little escapade last August? I certainly haven't. Look, if I were you, I'd be slowing down now, playing more bridge, booking my next holiday, leaving others to worry about the harvest.

Lucky you're not me then, huh? Now I've got things to do, so if you'll excuse me.

Brian, we are not finished here.

I say we are.

I am really sorry. I I think he might be overtired.

Give it to me straight, Adam. Does BL need to find a new contractor or not?

No, no, I promise you the work will be done.

Yeah.

But okay, if there's any danger of things going awry, rest assured I have something up my sleeve.

I hope so, because as far as I'm concerned, this is the very last chance for home farm.

YouTube Megastar Mr Beast.

And former Facebook executive Cheryl Sandberg all have in common.

All being discussed in the new season of Good Bad Billionaire, the podcast which explores the lives and fortunes of the world.

Super rich. That's good, bad billionaire. From the BBC World Service.

Listen now, search for good bad billionaire wherever you get your BBC podcasts.