It's Valentine's Day, and romance is in the air. Except that there's very little romantic spirit on show amongst the Barker kids - Lucy's only sending a card to Wendy, Josh has been bitten by Cupid once too often to try that again - and Mel doesn't believe in romance full stop. Trouble is, once Brian gets into the idea of romance he starts wafting about the place spouting such infectious romantic nonsense that Josh gets caught up in it. Josh even makes the foolish mistake of taking Brian's advice on matters of the heart and sends a Valentine's card to Tania Thomas – but of course that's a relationship that Fate refuses to smile upon... Meanwhile Sophie enjoys discovering all things romantic, and begins an affair – with the dishwasher! While Mel, who wants nothing to do with romance, is pursued by both Frankie and Andy The Freak.