[2] The plot revolves around two retired neighbours, Phil (Cleese) and Edith (Steadman), who live in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire (although filming is largely in and around Richmond, London).
Those plans are scuppered when Edith's 49-year-old son Roger (Watkins), moves back into his mother's house after walking out on his wife and their two teenage children.
Episode 1: Bubbly: 18 February Edith is a 69-year-old retired widow who lives on her own in a semi-detached house in middle-class Stoke Poges.
Edith's immature 49-year-old son Roger unexpectedly arrives with his bags, delighted in telling her that he has left his unpleasant wife Wendy after 19 unhappy years with her.
They do so briefly, but shortly after during a party Wendy cannot bear Roger's childishness and phones Phil to tell him that the reconciliation is off and that she does not want to see Mrs Gale again.
At night, a one-armed burglar, Bob Whitley, breaks into the house and plays (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction very loudly.
After talking to staff at the benefits office - during which he falsely claims that she is seriously disabled - they tell him that they need to meet Edith at the house.
Roger tells Sandra that Edith and Phil want their hair cut at her salon at the time when Felicity (Alexandra Roach) from the Benefits Agency will be visiting.
Episode 6: Old Flames: 25 March Phil encounters Mr Dugdale, then Bob - whilst walking along the street.
Edith, meanwhile, is heartened to find that her son Roger is earning some sort of a living even if it is only busking with her old flame Bob the Burglar, and performing a ventriloquist act with his stuffed toy crocodile Methuselah.
Sandra is becoming impatient with Roger's ex-wife Wendy's need for company and steers her to the local community centre where she suggests she may find something to keep her busy.
Queenie confesses to Edith that she cannot bear the thought of her going away, and when she hears that plans are currently stalled by the difficulty of selling Phil's house, she sees her chance to influence events.
Jack Dugdale, walking his St Bernard dog Bertie, stops for one of his usual chats with Phil and hears the latest on his plans for his and Edith's future.
Phil gives in to the general persuasion that he should hold an open day, and Queenie makes sure he will personally attend and persuades Roger that some entertainment would not go amiss.
When viewers arrive at Phil's house they find Roger busking off-puttingly on the doorstep and, as they treat themselves to Sandra's lavish hospitality, Queenie plants rumours about damp and evil spirits.
Edith and Phil turn up to find his house invaded by doubtfully gossiping freeloaders, the estate agent happily over-indulging on free wine, and Roger cavorting in a rabbit costume.
Episode 2: The Disappearance: 9 August Phil's house has been withdrawn from the market by his estate agent, who thinks he is insane, and he has not turned up for his regular morning meeting with Edith.
As she and Sandra hurry to Phil's house, Edith receives a phone call from her sister Joan inviting herself to stay.
Bob's estranged goth daughter Georgie arrives from Glasgow to see how he is, and Roger takes a shine to her.
Over a coffee immediately afterwards, Edith and Phil are outraged to find out that the characters in the book are thinly disguised portrayals of themselves and the family.
However, him being pleased at his application for carer being accepted turns to being horrified when he finds out that it is demanding Joan whom he will be caring for, at her house.
Episode 5: Damage Limitation: 30 August With her annoying sister Joan safely packed off home, Edith is thrilled when Phil announces that Jack Dugdale has made an offer on his house, which he has accepted.
When she arrives with her literary agent Terry, she tells Roger that due to her improved financial situation, she no longer needs alimony from him, which he is pleased with.
Episode 6: Doing A Bunk: 6 September Removal men are busy at Phil's house after its sale to Jack Dugdale.
The wedding continues despite the interruption, after which the newlywed couple travel by motorhome to Portugal, where a Portuguese-speaking woman recognises them as characters in The Lemming Family.