Ben would do anything to get out of Christmas at home. Michael and Alfie make the most of an empty house and Janey learns that it's tough being a mum.

With Ben away, Susan is invited to dinner by a wealthy art collector. Her mother, Grace, is gathering a collection of her own, and Roger is summoning up the courage to pop the question to Abi.

With Nick still away, Michael joining the army, and Janey getting her stuff out of the attic, Susan is feeling deserted. Then a stray dog appears and tries to become man's best friend. Unfortunately, the man he chooses is Ben.

Susan tries to fix Michael up with a new girlfriend called Suzanne, but the similarities do not end with the name. Ben starts a career as a property developer, but squatters may make him regret it.

When is pyramid selling not pyramid selling? When Ben says so, apparently.

Janey starts an affair with a dentist whose charm rapidly captivates the rest of the females in the Harper household, while Michael's latest scam eventually puts everyone at risk.

Ben starts a one-man anti-cycling campaign which causes chaos in the household and Susan compounds it with her fund-raising efforts.

Ben is unhappy with his lot, but is even less happy with Susan's book-writing house guest. Perhaps the Brotherhood of the Cockerel has the answer.

The Harpers' family Christmas looks like being even more fearsome than usual for Ben, as Susan is giving grandson Kenzo a third birthday party to remember - but one which Ben will prefer to forget.