There's much excitement in Aidensfield as Lord Ashfordly returns with a new wife in tow and throws a spectacular Christmas party to celebrate his marriage, and the villagers are pleasantly surprised when they discover how glamorous and charming she is. However, all is not well for the newly-weds as a series of violent hijackings leaves them shaken. Merton assigns Mike to act as a personal bodyguard for his Lordship's new lady, but the intrepid officer's suspicions are soon aroused by the blushing bride's decidedly odd behaviour. Meanwhile, Vernon's Christmas tree delivery service suffers a blow when David crashes the van, and the pair inadvertently jeopardise the future of Bernie's garage when Joyce Jowett requires their funeral service for her sister.

As the villagers mourn the passing of Tricia, a grief-stricken Mike loses his temper with an underage drinker in the pub, but it's the bobby who gets assaulted. The incident leads to the uncovering of a blackmail plot when the hooligan walks free from all charges thanks to his secret relationship with a local magistrate. Meanwhile, Vernon is delighted when an old flame pays him a visit asking him to help sell a priceless engagement ring, but his joy is short lived when her menacing husband turns out to be hot on her heels, bringing chaos in his wake. Elsewhere, Jenny is surprised by the rapid changeover at the surgery when Tricia's replacement, the elderly James Alway, turns up a day early.