In this festive special, the Larkins are gearing up for Christmas, and in the village all talk is of the pantomime and an ongoing spate of burglaries - with Miss Pilchester, the Normans and the local celebrity among the victims. While PC Harness applies his limited gifts to finding the culprit, Mariette and Charley take their love to the next level, and Pop and Ma are overjoyed to have the pair back for Christmas, but chaos descends when Charley's parents arrive to meet the Larkin clan, and the entire village is left without lighting and heating following a power cut.

The Larkins dash to the railway station and manage to stall Mariette's departure to France. They convince her to stay for a donkey derby/gymkhana and cocktail party in a few days.

The Larkins have visitors they would rather avoid. There is tension between Mariette and Charley, and Alec Norman is up to his old dirty tricks.

News reaches Pop that the train station is to close. With the help of reluctant Miss Chand and villagers, Pop seizes the opportunity to save the railway - and make money along the way. Mariette fights with Pauline, and Charley makes a big decision.

Ma is worried that Pop is working too hard and books a weekend in Margate, with Charley and Mariette left to mind the kids and sort out the new TV aerial, which is being delivered by the wily Wilf. Meanwhile, Tom Fisher makes his move and asks Mariette on a date, much to Charley's chagrin.

With wit, charm and a little bit of cunning, the Larkins woo Charley the taxman. Mariette agrees to put her plans on hold and stay for the summer, but with the arrival of Charley and the enigmatic Tom Fisher her heart is pulled in many directions.

Excited and busy, plans for the approaching May Day Fair are underway in the village but everything is not as peaceful as it might be in the Larkins' world.