The family talks about their dreams and what they hope to achieve in the future. Over breakfast discussions develop about working and what the individual members of the Boswell family do. None appear to have any sort of regular income except Adrian who is in real estate.
Billy buys a ring for Julie, but later learns that opals are bad luck and is told to get rid of it.
Freddie's mistress has left him, so he decides to pay the Boswells a visit - and is met with very different reactions.
A photographer suggests Aveline should pose topless and wishes he hadn't. Jack makes an unsuccessful entry into the art world.
Freddie's sea-faring brother has died and the Boswells decide to arrange a burial at sea.
Billy finds out that he is to become a father, Joey learns of his dad's gambling debt, Adrian is made redundant, Aveline's nude pictures are published and Jack buries a stolen candlestick in his Grandma's grave.
Adrian has found a girlfriend, Carmen. Jack gets hijacked by a couple of punks who need a lift to Manchester.
Julie goes into labor earlier than expected and Joey has to come to Billy's rescue.
Jack and Adrian witness a burglary, then find themselves pursued by the perpetrators.
Things are looking up for Billy when he starts making money on his sandwich round. Unfortunately, his sudden realization that money can come out of a hole in the wall, is spoilt when it is stolen out of his hand.
Billy is distraught when Julie takes the baby and heads to London to stay with friends, and Freddie Boswell comes home to stay.
The household is in uproar when the Boswells' dog needs an operation. Aveline returns from London after her modelling job.
Aveline has been mugged and the Boswell boys make a mass protest at the police station. Billy, meanwhile, has to break the news to his mother that his baby is to be christened in a Protestant church!
Joey suspects that he's found his dog that went missing some years back, and Grandad proves to be as shrewd in negotiation as any of them.
Freddie loses a valuable ring at a party. Jack, who found it and tried to pawn it, is filled with remorse. Meanwhile, Adrian has gone through a personality change and insists on being called Jimmy!
Lilo Lill pays a visit to the Boswell home and indulges in an all out war with Nellie on the doorstep. Roxy has returned into Joey's life and Adrian buys an enormous statue.
Aveline is taken to hospital and the family gather to comfort her. Joey finds out that Roxy is married.
Joey is forced to confront Roxy's husband, with unusual results, and Aveline decides to give up her modelling career.
Freddie has been arrested for running off with his dust cart after getting the sack, and Grandad has been taken to hospital after wandering off on his own.
News of Freddie's impending court case has spread and Nellie has to face up to the neighbors once again.
The family attend Freddie's court case in order to provide moral support. Billy, however, has other plans as he is marrying Julie in secret. Meanwhile, Grandad has a visit from his nephew Eddie who is home from America and, much to Grandad and Nellie's horror, is gay!
Adrian and Eddie are abducted by Yizzel and his mate because of a gambling debt they claim is owed to them - Joey, as usual, has to sort the problem. Freddie is sleeping on the sofa, jobless and depressed and Jack is concerned about his health
After learning from the doctor that he doesn't have kidney trouble, Jack accidentally parks his van in the river! Nellie gives Freddie his marching orders after being unimpressed with his new job as a hot dog vendor!
Nellie, Aveline, Adrian and Jack have all started work on the same day. They all return home with a disastrous tale to tell. Freddie is involved in an accident when a lorry runs into the hut he is sharing with Lilo Lill. Joey has a confrontation with Roxy's husband.
Freddie has a broken leg and under Nellie's feet again. Roxy has been thrown out by her husband and Joey is caught in the crossfire. When he hears she has a child, and another one on the way, he wrestles with conflicting emotions.
Jack has left home to go to America for a while and Nellie is missing him greatly. Cousin Shifty is coming out of prison and heading for the Boswell home, and Aveline is engaged to a protestant vicar who none of the family have met.
Aveline brings Oswald home and he finds a family in chaos when they all show him their true colours. Adrian is accepted as a male model after a less than impressive interview and Shifty is back to his old ways.
Freddie's visit to the doctor has left him unsure of his future, but only Joey notices that his father is suffering from a serious heart complaint. Celia Higgins arrives in the street but finds getting access to her new home a challenge thanks to the Boswell's fleet of battered vehicles.
Yizzel's mate involves Shifty in an insurance job on his car but forgets that he didn't have an MOT certificate. Meanwhile, Shifty's romance with Martina continues and Celia starts to bond with Nellie.
Billy and Adrian both leave home and Nellie decides to teach them a lesson by delivering their belongings to them personally. They both realise that the grass is not so green on the other side and return home, while Shifty appears to be heading in the opposite direction.
Nellie advises the family against fussing over their dad, but she knows that she's wasting her breath. Shifty attempts to move in with Martina but finds it impossible to leave Grandad on his own. Meanwhile, Adrian's joy at publication of his poems is short-lived when he is nearly arrested.
Joey gives Freddie an ultimatum - Lilo Lill or his mum. Linda McCartney opens an Animal Rescue Centre and, while getting her autograph, Billy invites her round for tea if she's ever "passing". She does - and an unwitting Nellie tells her all her troubles.
Adrian buys gifts for the family when his poems are published but, when he purchases some dodgy video machines he gets both himself and Billy in trouble with the police. As if her two sons being in trouble were not enough, Nellie is furious when Shifty is also arrested for driving a stolen vehicle.
Nellie has a chance encounter with a man in the park and finds it difficult to put him out of her mind. Aveline has split up with Oswald, and Joey confronts Roxy about an anonymous letter sent to his mother.
The family seems to have enough problems without Nellie worrying about her friendship with Derek. Joey tries to help out Roxy by giving her money, and Adrian gives Billy a fruitless lesson in tact and diplomacy.
Billy is on the edge of a nervous breakdown as an injured pigeon triggers an outpouring of emotion, while Nellie and Adrian suffer some embarrassing moments.
Freddie has a turn for the worse and returns to the family, but a battle over who should look after him breaks out when Lilo Lill turns up. Aveline's wedding is now finally confirmed, and Joey misses another rendezvous with Roxy.
The preparations for Aveline's wedding are chaotic with arguments aplenty, but these things never run smoothly ... especially when Yizzel and his mate are in charge of the wedding cars.
The Boswell clan go on holiday to Rome. Their trip inspires some happy memories and new friendships and Nellie is especially happy to be in the Eternal City.
Adrian becomes a hero by accident and, despite warnings, starts to embellish his role in the proceedings. Billy is troubled by his forthcoming divorce, Joey gets a worrying letter from the Inland Revenue and Aveline has a check up after failing to become pregnant.
Joey visits the taxman to plead his case but his words fall on deaf ears, Aveline suggests to Oswald that he should have a sperm count and Billy attends court to get his divorce. But all troubles are briefly forgotten when the family go to the airport to meet Jack who has returned home from America.
Jack soon gets back into the swing of buying and selling but the piano he buys causes more trouble than it is worth. Joey tells his mother about his debt and the family agree to pull together to help him. Meanwhile, Aveline is making every effort to get pregnant and creating problems for Oswald.
When Adrian helps Jack to recover his stolen piano, they come into conflict with Yizzel and his mate - once again. Lilo Lill has taken a job in service to be near Freddie, whilst Freddie has sold his flat in order to pay Joey's debt.
Aveline is causing concern for everybody as she continues to believe in her phantom pregnancy. Adrian is concerned that Magdalena has not replied to his letter, Billy hears that Julie has a new lover and Jack goes for a job as a handyman at the 'big house'.
Mongy, the family dog, has been accused of biting a little girl and the police are called in to investigate. Billy changes his image in order to make Julie jealous, Jack gets a bumper wage packet thanks to his eccentric boss and Oswald is being pressurized to have a fertility test.
Aveline has good news about Oswald's sperm count, Adrian finally hears from Magdalena and Joey's loyalty to the family drives a bigger wedge between him and Roxy. Meanwhile, Shifty is in trouble with Yizzel and his mate over money, so he steals their car and heads for London - again!
Jack arrives home drunk and is whisked in to Grandad's house to avoid a confrontation with his mother ... and the vicar! Aveline decides to put her desire for a baby on hold while she returns to modelling and Nellie meets her admirer in the park.
Jack inherits Mrs. Cumberland's dog in her will but the animal is causing quite a stir in the Boswell household. When it disappears Jack becomes the beneficiary of a piece of good fortune - in the shape of Rachael. Billy decides he needs a new look and Freddie gets a new problem to deal with when Lilo Lill announces she has stopped taking the pill!
Jack is smitten with Rachael, Adrian is meeting Magdalena at the airport, Billy is trying to impress Julie with his new look and Joey is away with Roxy. Mrs Boswell is happy for her sons but has a word of warning for them all ... meanwhile Aveline has become empowered and Lilo Lill has taken over the allotment!
Adrian announces that he is having a second book of poems published but his news is trumped by Aveline's announcement that she is in the "glossies". Their good news is overshadowed when Billy has to be rushed to hospital with a deep cut to his finger.
Aveline is finally pregnant but the timing is not to her liking now she has made the "glossies". Meanwhile, Grandad has been robbed, but his possessions are replaced when all the family rally round.
It's Ma Boswell's birthday and she waits by the phone for Derek to ring and make her day. A surprise visit from Roxy causes Joey problems but he is surprised by his mother's reaction when he finally admits the relationship to her.
Christmas for the Boswells brings its usual mix of hilarity, sadness and surprises. Nellie and Jack get to see some turkeys and the family have their Christmas presents stolen.
When Leonora arrives to take up residence in Billy's former home, Jack and Adrian are besotted but Billy is horrified as Julie neglected to tell him she was moving. Shifty returns full of apologies and gets a final chance from the family. To add to an eventful 24 hours, their pet dog Mongi has died and the family buries its ashes - then Aveline is rushed to hospital as she is about to give birth.
A double celebration for the Boswells when Aveline brings her baby home in style and Leonora offers Adrian a job as her chauffeur - even though it is Jack she is interested in. Lilo Lill returns to put another spanner in the Boswell works, just as Joey sets his dad up in business.
To everyone's amazement Shifty has got a job as a bus driver, while Jack and Leonora's relationship is growing ever stronger. Lilo Lill confides in Freddie that she is suffering an incurable illness and hasn't got long to live!
Shifty tries to convince Martina that he has changed but ends up taking his passengers on an unexpected trip. Adrian and Jack are both competing for Leonora's affections.
Billy's van has been broken in to and Joey's new shop has been vandalized - the culprits are unknown. Aveline has decided to leave Oswald and return home to her mother, with her baby. The sibling rivalry over Leonora comes to a head when Jack tells Adrian that he has slept with her.
Billy's constant complaint of being neglected forces him to make an important decision. Nellie makes plans to go away with Derek, Shifty pledges his love to Martina and Lilo Lill plans a candlelit supper for Freddie.
Nellie is away with her "friend" and finding the experience very uncomfortable; meanwhile, the family try to manage without her. Her absence becomes more acute when Grandad has a fall and breaks his leg!
Adrian has become successful and his new found wealth has gone to his head and the distribution of his unwanted goods is not altogether welcome. Grandad worries about his lost pigeon but a visit from the sister of an old acquaintance brings hope for the future for both he and Adrian.
Adrian's new relationship with Irene has already hit a snag, Nellie becomes more concerned about Grandad when he starts becoming forgetful and Aveline is given a reality check by her agent.
Grandad's visit to the doctor takes an unexpected turn when he makes a break for freedom in a taxi and heads for Wales. Jack is having doubts about moving in with Leonora, and Aveline shares a romantic lunch with Oswald.
While the rest of the Boswells are oblivious, Nellie discovers that it's the tiny things in life which can create the biggest dilemmas.
Joey’s past returns to haunt him. Billy finds himself in trouble with the law, and Freddie is notable by his absence.
Mrs Boswell reports Freddie's disappearance - as Jack and Leonora discover that somebody else is looking for him.
Mrs Boswell has her cards read to help find out where Freddie is. Meanwhile the rest of the family check out a country mansion.
Mrs Boswell has trouble with a neighbour, Billy has a new job and Aveline is offered the chance of a lifetime.
Mrs Boswell is rushed to hospital after a day out with her friend Derek. Meanwhile, Grandad receives a visit from Lilo Lill.
The Boswell family try to cope without Mum, who has some surprise visitors - her ‘fancy man’ Derek and Lilo Lill.
Mrs Boswell, newly released from hospital, meets the family at the Victorian mansion for their holiday. But things aren’t exactly relaxing.
Connie and Oswald join the holiday to see Billy and Aveline, and Joey’s protest about the game shooting on the estate wins him an admirer.
Adrian, who has been writing his memoirs, makes a decision that will change his life. Joey has reached the end of his tether.
Joey and Adrian return from Gretna Green with their respective wives, Leonora has a surprise for Jack and Grandad dreams of Edie Matheson.
