Cameras follow some of the 5,000 residents in a north Essex community of Jaywick, showing the reality of life on the breadline. The first episode features cat-loving ex-con Fred, who struggles to survive the winter in his unheated caravan on the Brooklands estate. Meanwhile, landlords Barry and Suzy are faced with more than £5,000 worth of damages when one of their tenants does a moonlight flit.