He is also stressed about work; his recent line in women's summer fashion has not been selling well due to cold weather and he has been unable to pay the rent on the flat for the past three months.
In spite of the fact that the Trotters are facing the possibility of eviction, Del is still living the yuppy lifestyle, eating in curry houses and bistros, and drinking and buying rounds in wine bars and pubs, building further debts.
Having convinced Elsie Partridge, Del holds a "dummy run" séance with his friends (Trigger, Boycie, Rodney, Mike and Uncle Albert) in the hall above the Nag's Head.
Mike is concerned about "messing with the forces of darkness" due to the pub being built on the site of a public grave for victims of the Great Plague, but Del and Boycie believe it to be fear-mongering.
He also finds out that the "pukka séance" was a disaster after a mix-up because of Del's posters, which led a group of punk rockers to turn up thinking they were seeing an Iron Maiden-style band instead of Elsie Partridge (though as Rodney quips "Fortunately she remained in a trance throughout the riot!").