In Motherland, Christmas comes but once a year, and thank God for that, because it's time for Amanda's annual festive soiree (dress code: tinsel and tiaras). Nothing says Christmas like evil Santa, a thirty foot Christmas tree, Anne's Christmas cocktails and very strict rules about where you can and can't drink mulled wine.

Julia struggles to abide by the rules and clashes with Mrs Lamb as she attends her first ever school sports day. Apparently it's no longer acceptable to cheer for individual kids and you can only offer generic support like "good job". Over at the Kidiverse soft play centre Kevin is devastated that an important work presentation means he will miss the dads' race. Liz worries that her new boyfriend is blanking her. And Anne discovers something that leads to a nasty surprise for Amanda.

The gang are delighted when Kevin books a cottage for them to spend half term holidays in the countryside with all their kids. But it is not as nice as the pictures online, and Kevin seems to have miscalculated the number of bedrooms.

When it transpires that Julia has failed to bring any booze, the atmosphere takes a turn for the worse. All hopes rest on Kevin's plan to cook an event meal by roasting a whole pig in a pit he has dug in the garden. As the long night wears on, tempers begin to fray. Meanwhile, Liz catches the eye of a handsome shepherd.

Kevin reluctantly agrees to host a last-minute Halloween party despite the fact that he's had no time to prepare. Meanwhile at the school gates the mums are all talking about a celebrity who has moved into the neighbourhood - Lee Mead from Holby.

As this is Julia's favourite programme she is determined to meet him and decides to take all the kids trick or treating hoping that they will find his house. Liz tags along as she has been stood up by a date and Anne is in attendance trying to make sure that the kids are safe. However by the time they reach Kevin's one of the kids is missing - Amanda's little boy Manus. Despite the fact that the happy teatime trick or treat atmosphere has now turned violent and terrifying Liz, Kevin and Julia must venture back out into the streets to search for him through terrifying hordes of teenage zombies and mutant nuns.

Julia finds that working from home is impossible due to all the tasks she has to do for her family. Meg tells her this is her 'mother's load' - all the things that no-one else will do but that need to be done to keep the home running. Julia removes herself to the cafe to work but even there finds that it is not that easy to get her work done. A possible solution presents itself when she shares a table with a fellow freelancer, but is Julia taking advantage of him?

Julia reluctantly agrees to help Amanda launch her new shop. But a careless online post threatens to destroy her good work. Meanwhile Liz resents gentrification and Kevin has written an unusual children's book.

As the school year begins, a new mum at the school gates attracts the attention of Julia, Liz and Kevin. Does high-flyer Meg really have it all? Meanwhile Julia agonises over a promotion and the gang have a night out.