Starlings Episode Rating Graph

It has been two weeks since Terry had his heart attack and, acting distant and moody, everyone is understandably worried about him, especially Jan. The Starlings patriarch is soon jolted back to life, though, almost manically so, when Stephen sneaks by the house to drop off a book of poetry it leads to a confrontation... Away from the nest, things get serious between Grandad and Molly after she asks him to move in with her, while Reuben and Bell's run in the park leads to an awkward encounter with one of new episode Reuben's old friends. Plus, Loz owes Fergie when he asks him to spend some alone time with the increasingly obsessive Judith to better his chances of securing a permanent job at the school.

The Starlings are a normal brood getting on with life in Matlock, Derbyshire, tackling obstacles as and when they come, and they've got a fair few in this first episode. Terry and Jan have just moved Grandad into their already-crammed home - following an unspecified incident at the retirement home - to share with none-too-pleased teen Charlie, and now they're preparing for one more arrival. It's only small and due any minute as daughter Bell goes into labour via a birthing pool in the living room. Then there's Grandad's illegitimate son and, erm, interesting artist Loz, Jan's nephew and returning traveller Fergi out in the caravan and Bell's ex-boyfriend Reuben, who's determined to make things right and get Bell back. Throw in Terry's suspicious phone calls and oddball son Gravy losing one of his friends of the "four-legged and four-armed" variety, and it's fair to say that our weekly visits to the Starlings nest are going to be pretty eventful.