The Green Green Grass

Marlene has become fed up with her husband's inattention, and fears that their relationship is nearing its end. She seeks the help of a local marriage guidance counsellor, which proves so successful that she ends up throwing Boycie out, but the parting gives them both time to consider their lives.

While searching through some ancient scrolls and paperwork left behind by the old squire, Boycie discovers a medieval recipe for a traditional local liquor, which comes accompanied by a royal charter allowing him to produce and sell it. With the help of his staff, he goes into full-scale production, attracting customers from far and wide, including two whom he had hoped he had seen the last of.

Marlene, bored with life on the farm, throws herself into any charity work she can find. As a by-product of her efforts, Boycie senses an opportunity to become 'Sir' Aubrey. Marlene, with the dedicated help of their staff, tries to use her charity contacts to help her husband achieve his dream. Unfortunately, life is very rarely that simple, particularly where Boycie and Marlene are concerned.

Tyler wants to borrow money to buy new equipment for his band, Puddle of Agony, but Boycie, who was brought up in the school of hard knocks, refuses to cough up. He challenges his son to stand on his own two feet and prove he is a businessman by raising the money himself. This proves difficult, as the local vicinity is gripped by fear of 'animal freedom' protestors. However, Tyler sees an opportunity that will satisfy everyone but his father.

Marlene is worried about Tyler being in a deep depression, and on what appears to be a starvation diet. He is withdrawn, and spends every hour painting gloomy pictures. Things become so bad that she calls for the help of her mother, Dora. And it is Dora who solves the mystery, and puts a smile back on her grandson's face.

Boycie and Marlene drive Tyler back to his old university where his band, Puddle of Agony, is about to perform its very first gig. The staff, left alone to look after the Grange, decide to help a couple of ghost-hunters who have arrived in the area seeking phantoms and ghouls. While Tyler's career seems to be slipping downhill, Bryan, Jed and Mrs Cakeworthy appear to be in seventh heaven.

Having decided to write his autobiography and leave it to the nation as a legacy for future generations, Boycie drifts back to old times and old friends and adventures in Peckham. He finds that the memories of the old days and of his new life on his Shropshire farm prove surprisingly enlightening, both for himself and Marlene.

The Antiques Roadshow comes to Ludlow, and Marlene, already in the middle of a house makeover, sees an opportunity to have her old bric-a-brac valued by experts. She is not alone, as Elgin, Bryan, Jed and Mrs Cakeworthy have exactly the same idea. Surprisingly, it is Boycie, with a little help from Tyler, who discovers the really valuable antique.

To celebrate their forthcoming 40th wedding anniversary, Marlene has arranged for her and Boycie to renew their marriage vows. But, whilst checking up on old friends and acquaintances for the guest list, she hears some devastating news - news that puts an entirely different complexion on the Boyces' relationship.