When Pat Hollingsworth decides she wants to start fostering she faces a hostile response from her family, particularly from husband Tom, who was looking forward to enjoying a peaceful middle age, pursuing his lifelong obsession with old Hollywood musicals.

Tom feels he's losing his grip now that the foster children are firmly in residence. "Smurf" is falling out with Simon, Kathy is eating everything except food, and baby Colin likes unravelling Tom's favourite cassette. Their dogs are giving Pat asthma, and the children all wet the bed every night.

Tom and Pat are both worried that their in-depth interview will reveal secrets from their past.

The arrival of adorable toddler Abigail causes heartache, and Mark's first love affair causes headaches.

The Hollingsworths hear some distressing news about Abigail's mother; Tom discovers that his real father is alive; and Pat finds she has an ally in her attractive boss Andy.

The Hollingsworths are fazed by the arrival of Mercedes, a sophisticated 11-year-old.

Pat never wanted to foster a teenager and when Tom agrees to take on 13-year-old Jason, her worst fears are confirmed.

Tom's enthusiasm for the school fun-run is not shared by Pat and the children.

Pat is worried about how much Andy is confiding in her. Jason's mother turns up saying she wants him back.

On their romantic weekend, Pat and Tom become close again.

The Hollingsworths have been fostering pre-adoptive babies one after the other for months and Tom's had enough of nappies and sleepless nights.

Pat promises little Adam will be the last one – but then Caroline comes up with a request she can't refuse.

Tom is appalled at the prospect of his mother-in-law becoming his boss, but George reassures him she'll only be a sleeping partner. But sleeping is the last activity Joan has in mind.

Shane turns the Hollingsworth's world upside down.

Will the Hollingsworths survive their newest foster child, the demure Felicity?

Tom wants to do is go on holiday but when Mark and Lisa refuse to go, so does Pat. Then silent little Trudy appears and Tom grabs the chance to get his own way.

Trudy and the Hollingsworths have arrived in beautiful rural France, ready to start their holiday at last.

At first, Pat and Tom think that Trudy having leukaemia is probably the hardest thing they've ever had to face. But then her mother is released from prison and things begin to get even worse.

Tom has had no sleep for days because JR and his feline friends have been holding all-night raves in the garden. So when Pat suggests adding a baby to the menagerie he puts his foot down – until she tells him that the baby was found tied to a radiator.

The family is just beginning to pick up the pieces again after Trudy's death. Tom has taken it particularly badly and starts behaving irrationally. At first Pat puts it down to their money worries – but then Tom tells her that he's bumped into an old flame from his schooldays.

Pat is feeling taken for granted and isn't pleased when George takes Tom off for a golfing weekend. To add to her troubles, Uncle Jack is coming back from Australia – and Joan is behaving like a teenager in love.