The Meldrews make an effort to get on with their pleasant new neighbours Derek (Tim Brooke-Taylor) and Betty McVitie (Marian McLoughlin) and the two couples go on holiday together. Victor buys a haunted caravan and accidentally kidnaps the mother of an Indian millionaire.

A man (Ray Winstone) whom the Meldrews find living in their shed turns out to be a drug dealer. Victor takes a gardening job working for Patrick's new boss, Fenella Fortune (Rula Lenska) and dealing with very effective herbicide. Mr Swainey's mother claims that she is being abducted by aliens every night.

When Cousin Ursula dies, Victor and Margaret must clear out her country house; before they go, a witch predicts an untimely end for Victor.

Patrick and Pippa prepare to move far away from the Meldrews, then Patrick gets stuck with Victor while trying to escape his secretary's jealous boyfriend (Phil Daniels). When the boyfriend finally catches up with them, Victor manages to rescue Patrick by charging at the man, knocking both of them out of the window.

Margaret tries to organise an unlikely love affair after Victor takes to the road.

Victor's latest culinary adventures bring chaos to the Meldrew household.

Victor and Margaret visit a solicitor to discuss a separation. An eventful wait then brings more misery.

The Meldrews decide to step up security on their home. But when the new locks jam Victor is confronted with a problem: how to break out of the house in time forthe European Cup game at Wembley. Meanwhile, red-headed Millicent Miles , widow from the local greengrocer's, arrives on the scene with designs on Victor that are more animal than vegetable.

After Mrs Warboys's flat is flooded, she becomes something of a fixture in the Meldrew house - rather like woodworm. Fortunately, Victor and Margaret manage to get away for an evening. They return to find chaos, but Victor, recent graduate of a course in stress relief, is the picture of serenity.

The Meldrews set out for a routine visit to a garden centre little imagining the good luck that fate has in store for them. But their fortune is short-lived: a phone call is about to turn their world upside down.