Arthur and Beryl's plans to go away for a well-earned break are thwarted by unexpected family crises. An ailing Nigel returns suddenly to the nest; Lorraine and Raymond are again experiencing marital problems; then daughter Tracy and son Paul turn up for a romantic assignation, each thinking the house will be empty.

Beryl is desperately missing her noisy brood, who have all left home. So Arthur decides to cheer her up by inviting them all to a surprise dinner. On the night, when all the children have assembled, Beryl phones to say she is spending the evening with a friend. Arthur goes to get her, and returns to find an empty house and all the food gone.

Arthur and Beryl each arrange a surprise for the other to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, while the children plan another surprise, all adding up to conflict and confusion.

Beryl decides she wants to go out to work, and persuades Arthur to let her apply for a job in his office. But complications set in when Beryl's rival turns out to be the boss's mistress.

Arthur and Beryl try to keep the peace as daughter Lorraine and son-in-Iaw Raymond find new friends, romance and jealousies. Raymond is trying his luck with fellow traffic-warden Elsie, and Lorraine has met an accountant, Anthony Black. But the real problems arise when all four meet in the Crabtree house.

Arthur and Beryl are concerned about Trevor's loneliness in Vera's absence. They give a dinner-party for him and invite a widow to make up the foursome. When she cannot come, Trevor asks if he may bring a friend who works in the local florist shop, but his companion turns out to be something of an embarrassment.

Arthur returns home from work to find that Beryl has decided to cook Trevor a wonderful steak meal, and give him the only remaining piece of Arthur's favorite apple pie. Raymond calls round to find Edward Hackett, the local estate agent, is dating Lorraine. Even though they are temporarily separated, Raymond warns Hackett to keep away. When this goes unheeded, the consequences have repercussions which affect Beryl, Arthur and Trevor.

Eldest daughter Lorraine is having a trial separation from husband Raymond, who is trying to find alternative accommodation assisted by Fellow traffic-warden Elsie. Youngest son Nigel, home for the weekend, borrows Arthur's car, but it runs out of gas and, before the garage can pick it up, it is stolen. Meanwhile, neighbor Trevor is missing his wife Vera, who is away with her sister in Wales, and seeks a drink in the greenhouse with Arthur.

Arthur decides that buying another small house will provide peace and quiet for Beryl and him. Then he decides that letting the children live there and pay rent is an even better idea. Then the real estate agent makes the real decision for everyone.

The Crabtrees think they have achieved star status when they are chosen for the subject of a video project on family life made by local students... until they see what those candid cameras have captured.

Beryl is away, and Arthur becomes ill, and is nursed by Vera. Meanwhile, Vera's husband Trevor goes away on business and is nearly compromised by an over-enthusiastic female colleague.

Arthur and Beryl look forward to a new and peaceful life as the last of their four children leaves home. But they don't even get to taste the first course of their first romantic dinner alone in the house: Paul loses his job, Tracy has a fight with her boyfriend, Nigel changes his mind about school, and they all end up back home again.

Arthur has been keeping very odd hours, and is seen in the company of an attractive woman on several occasions. Is it business or pleasure? Could he be having an affair? Trevor and Vera have their own theories, as do all his own family, who keep him under heavy surveillance.

Arthur is upset at the late-night activities of his offspring and, at Trevor's suggestion, attempts to impose a curfew. Those returning home after the curfew will be locked out. As one might expect, the whole plan backfires when Arthur tries desperately to keep one step ahead of his family.

Arthur must face the fact of grandfatherhood as Louise, Paul's girlfriend, is expecting a baby. Next-door neighbor Vera is expecting a happy event also, but, Arthur wonders, is there really cause for celebration?

Arthur becomes depressed when he learns that he may lose his job. But when his family starts to speculate on the size of his severance pay, suddenly a whole new world of possibilities opens up. Even Vera has ideas on how to spend his money.

Arthur's despair mounts as his oldest daughter Lorraine leaves her husband and returns home. He frantically attempts marriage counseling as his house begins to overcrowd. Beryl, however, does not help things with her overly sympathetic approach.

Neighbor Trevor also suffers from "noisy lodgers", but of a different breed: his wife Vera collects stray animals of all kinds. Trevor and Arthur decide to get away from it all and take a vacation, but only end up in trouble.

The kids decide that Beryl needs a change of lifestyle and plan an exciting new career for her. Arthur decides he has the best answers and sets her up to be a receptionist in a hair salon but, as usual, his plans are soon in a tangle.

Tracy has gone off with a new boyfriend, so Arthur decides to try to find new accommodations for Paul and Nigel as well. Trevor helps him find a perfect room for the boys, but the move stirs up family trouble, and it's Arthur and Trevor who end up out in the cold.

Arthur finally gets his wish as the last of his brood leaves home for good. Loraine and her husband are off to live with his mother; Tracy has moved in with a girlfriend; Paul and Nigel grab their backpacks and take off for the open road. Arthur and Beryl return home from a second honeymoon to a "welcome home" party...with a few added surprises.

Loraine leaves home, while her husband Raymond arrives...for good.