As Jane's 40th birthday approaches the tension is building in the Hughes household. Nineteen-year-old Emily is frequently out partying and her nocturnal lifestyle threatens to overshadow the happy family celebration.
Two of the Hughes children have been keeping secrets from their mum and dad and it's only a matter of time before the cat is out of the bag and both girls are in trouble.
Simon and Jane go out for the evening and leave Emily in charge. When 14-year-old Tom won't go to bed on time, a fight breaks out between brother and sister.
It's Valentine's Day, and feeling unsupported in his attempts to discipline the children, Simon starts to lash out at everyone - not an ideal preparation for a romantic evening.
The portrait of family life continues with mum Jane and dad Simon locked in a battle of wills with headstrong daughter Emily.
Dad Simon is reluctantly cast in the role of peacemaker as a row between Jane and Emily over 'borrowed' clothes quickly escalates.
Fourteen-year-old Tom flexes his adolescent muscles and locks horns with his dad over getting his ear pierced.
The series concludes with the wedding of eldest Hughes daughter Jessica to her fiancé Pat.
Family rebel Emily is under fire from her parents, Simon and Jane, about the state of her messy bedroom.
Fourteen-year-old Tom asks his parents to reconsider his 9.30pm bedtime. He takes matters into his own hands, secretly playing computer games when he should be sleeping.
Parents Jane and Simon go out for the evening, leaving big sister Emily to supervise Tom. A major row erupts when Tom refuses to go to bed.
Charlotte struggles with the demands of her coursework and decides she wants to leave school. Her parents fail to take her feelings seriously so she stops going to school.
Charlotte's father discovers that she has been skipping school and an almighty row blows up between the parents. Charlotte then talks about how unhappy she has been feeling.
Emily, who only works a few hours a week in a clothes shop, is fed up with being broke. She hatches a new career plan, but her father is not at all happy with her new venture.
Tom is unhappy at school and his opposition to authority is starting to get him into trouble with his teachers.
Emily and her mum Jane are finding it hard to get along. Emily's hectic social life is leaving her less and less time with the family and Jane is feeling rejected.
Emily is caught borrowing mum Jane's clothes without asking permission, leading to an emotional confrontation where some home truths are laid bare
Charlotte is about to turn 17 and sees driving as her route to independence, but before she can take her driving test both mum and dad must give her the benefit of their experience
Tom secretly gets his ear pierced without his parents' knowledge, but when dad Simon finds out he's not impressed and the two go head to head in a battle of wills
Emily's behaviour - ignoring house rules and skipping work - is pushing her parents to the limit and they're debating whether the time has come for her to leave home
Simon and Jane get annoyed with the constant battle to get their kids to help around the house and a heated family meeting ensues