Beth has cooked a vegetable curry for Ian and Gordon's anniversary, but there's no such thing as a quiet family meal with the neighbours inviting themselves over and hijacking the occasion.
Beth is ill in bed and in desperate need of some peace and rest. But the neighbours have decided that Eric isn't coping and they are all convinced that they know how to nurse Beth back to health.
Michelle and Alan welcome the neighbours for a Christmas get-together. But Christine is feeling vulnerable and Alan's attempt to de-stress Ian backfires, leaving their hosts struggling to keep the evening on track.
Alan's bullying brother, Michael, is getting married and Alan is the best man even though no-one seems to have much confidence in Alan's abilities to do anything other than order two puddings at the meal - let alone make a speech.
With Eric and Colin away on a golfing holiday and Alan off out to watch the footie, Michelle has invited Beth, Cathy and Christine over for a Girls' Night. As the drink and the jokes flow the ladies bond but things get tense as well.
Alan has bought a family-sized box of doughnuts when he was only supposed to fetch some milk. Michelle forces him to share them with the neighbours when the new health-conscious residents, Ash and Iqbal, turn up to introduce themselves.
Cathy and Colin are back from an Italian holiday and hosting a soiree at their house - arranged for the purpose of showing off how popular they are. They've invited Gail and Andy, the couple they met in Sorrento, to meet the neighbours.