After nearly five years away teaching in the Middle-East, Shelley flies back into the UK. He's shocked to find a new world of high rent, yuppies and wine bars but seems to have inadvertently parted company with his luggage.

Shelley is settling back into life in the UK and turns up for his first day for a new role at the local gym. After running into a vicar dressed as a chicken on the treadmill, his faith becomes severely tested.

After being mugged and having his wallet stolen, Shelley finds himself nursing his sore head in the local hospital ward. His brain doesn't appear to have sustained too much damage thankfully, although it seems the NHS may have further indignities to confound his pain.

It's Shelley's birthday but he's feeling a bit neglected, despite a solitary birthday card from Fran. During a visit to the local wine bar with Carol and Graham, a chance meeting gives him just the opportunity he needs to feel more in the 'party' mood.

When Shelley starts receiving hate-mail and threats, he starts to wonder whom he could have possibly upset and calls in the police. Meanwhile Carol thinks his time could be better spent repainting his flat, although her rates of hourly pay for services rendered seem to be criminal too.

When Graham becomes overwhelmed with stress at work, he finds some solace in the wisdom of Shelley.

Shelley starts a job training in telesales but is still struggling to pay the rent. Meanwhile, when an old friend drops by after years of living abroad, it seems that he will be even more financially stretched than ever.

Shelley's old friend Phil is now ensconced as his new lodger and is keen to assist in getting him a new job after getting him fired from his last one. Will a coaching session on interview techniques really help Shelley or will he just use his usual skills to remain unemployed?

Carol is convinced she's pregnant, and seeks Shelley's wisdom and advice as how to go forward. Graham also seems to be a changed man but how will the perception of parenthood change things.

When Shelley hears Carol and Graham's plans for early retirement he starts to realize he may have some serious thinking to do about his own financial future. After talking things over with Phil, he starts to see things more clearly.

Shelley'a flat is invaded by journalists from the Fleet Street gutter press, digging around for any dirt he has on a former university friend who is now an MP. Will Shelley sell his story and make a quick buck or does his unbreakable social conscience give him other ideas?

Shelley has spent a long and tiring day in his new job as a London tour guide, and is absolutely exhausted. The trouble is, when he gets back to his apartment, it seems that all and sundry are determined to stop him having some well-earned shut-eye.

Shelley's new weekend job working behind the bar of a quiet pub is going as well as can be expected, until he gets a visit from Jeremy a member of the religious cult, the Christian Soldiers. Will the brainwashed Jeremy have his head turned by Shelley's intellectual outpourings or could Shelley be in for a devil of a time.

Shelley finds a wallet stuffed full of money dropped on the pavement and no indication as to whom the owner might be. Could fortune be smiling on him or will he find to his cost that honesty is the best policy?

Shelley takes Phil to his first-ever soccer game, and attempts to educate him in the art of terrace etiquette. By chance, Carol and Graham are also in attendance but in the rather more salubrious surroundings of the club chairman's private box.

Shelley is working as a laborer on a new docklands development, but his team's work is hampered by a reluctant pop star staging a video shoot. Will Shelley be open to a bit of showbiz bribery and corruption?

Shelley and Phil are making a good effort to try and have a merry Christmas but their hopes are dashed when a devastated Graham reveals that Carol has left him for another man. Can they rescue Graham's festive season with some seasonal cheer for a Carol-less Christmas?

Shelley is left to contemplate the aging process - following slightly painful visits to his optician and dentist. But none of these are more painful than listening to Graham's depressing and lengthy outpourings over the his loss of beloved Carol!

Shelley's visit to a service station becomes an ordeal when he's caught up in the middle of a robbery by baseball bat-wielding blaggers. But he's in for an even worse time when he's left handcuffed to the garage's dim-witted shop assistant, with seemingly no help at hand.

Shelley is looking for new digs, and lands up at the home of Ted Bishop where a room is up for rent at a very reasonable cost. The only problem is that developers are closing in on the old man's house.

Ted's chances of beating the developers are helped when a TV company come to visit and interview him about his plight. Ted lays on his full poor-old-man act for cameras, but can't help noticing with his one good eye that the female reporter, Sue, just might make a good match for the love-starved Shelley.

Ted's 'old boys' stop by for a visit, and seem to have fun reminiscing about all their past indiscretions. Meanwhile, Shelley seeks some peaceful sanctuary at his new local pub, but finds it a great deal more 'peaceful' than even he'd imagined.

Ted can't help but notice that Shelley seems to be on a lucky streak. With luck like this, where can he go wrong. The betting shop somehow seems to be beckoning, but will Shelley's good run of form still continue?

Shelley's old friend Phil shows up and is in need of a best man for his latest wedding. Is Shelley first choice for best man?

Shelley is troubled by his recurring and disturbing dream of standing in a supermarket checkout line and seeks professional help. Following expert analysis, could it be that he finds he is more sane than his psychiatrist?