The first episode introduced viewers to the Cunningham family: father Gordon and mother Annie, 15-year-old daughter Kimberley, and sons Chris and Brian.

Also featured were "recovering" drug addict Marvin, his girlfriend Dayna (on early release from prison with an electronic tag) and his dog Bullet.

In the second episode, Gordon tries to get a job; Marvin's cousin moves in next door provoking a violent confrontation with Dayna; Kay gets arrested for assaulting a neighbour; Kimberley takes part in a dancing competition; and the Cree family make a first appearance.

Kay loses patience with her young tenants and throws them out, and Bullet the dog ends up being rehomed after a dispute over a vet's bill resulting from an accident when he runs away.

At the end of the second programme, the following announcement was read out over the title sequence: "For legal reasons not connected with anyone who has appeared in the series to date, transmission of the final two episodes of The Scheme will now be subject to a delay.