Irene Ruddock (Imelda Staunton) dashes off letters with her trusty fountain pen, complaining about the failures of others. But when the police come by, it’s Irene who is in trouble.
Michael is only 15, but you wouldn’t know. Gwen (Sarah Lancashire) thought there would be something that gave you immunity, that you couldn’t fall for your own child.
Muriel’s son Giles appears with papers for her to sign. It turns out Muriel (Harriet Walter) is quite a rich widow. But soon there’s a liquidity problem, and Giles could be to blame.
Actor Lesley (Jodie Comer) prides herself on her professionalism, even if it’s for a walk-on role. She is thrilled to land the role of Travis, who spends the film bikini-clad on a yacht.
Wilfred (Lucian Msamati) is a parks attendant. After he befriends a young girl, it becomes clear why nobody can trace his records.
Graham (Martin Freeman) is his mam’s number one. But when they bump into semi-retired Mr Turnbull, Graham discovers she had a life pre-Dad and fully intends to have another.
Marjory (Rochenda Sandall) hates husband Stuart’s dog, Tina. He takes her out late, comes in at midnight, clothes in the wash, naked to bed and then starts carrying on. Then the police arrive.
Susan (Lesley Manville) is not cut out to be the vicar’s wife. When she meets Mr. Ramesh in his shop, she discovers what else life can offer.
Rosemary (Tamsin Greig) recalls the morning she was accosted by Mrs McCorquodale, who had shot her husband. A friendship began, until Rosemary had to look again at her own marriage.
Celia (Kristin Scott Thomas) runs an antiques shop. But after she buys a lovely old frame containing the smudgy drawing of a finger, she discovers she’s less of an expert than she thought.
Miss Fozzard (Maxine Peake) has a new chiropodist, Mr. Dunderdale, though technically he’s retired. Their weekly appointments soon raise the tricky question of who is treating whom.
Lorna (Monica Dolan) visits the spot where Clifford’s motorbike crashed, hoping for some closure. But one day she finds someone else has left some flowers on the shrine.
