Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | Return Of The Kidi | 20030808 | 20111007/08 (BBC7) 20121031 (BBC7) 20121101 (BBC7) 20140627 (BBC7) 20140628 (BBC7) 20180117 (BBC7) 20180118 (BBC7) 20180120 (BBC7) 20230313 (BBC7) 20230314 (BBC7) | Stella is a middle aged woman having a crisis - her grown up children refuse to leave home. And worse, her husband doesn't mind! Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a rather topsy turvy household. Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. Stella's hopes are raised as Rick and girlfriend Xanthe decide to move out. But with lots of jobs to be done in the garden, are there some benefits to having lots of people at home after all? Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2003. Middle-aged Stella battles to get her grown-up children to leave home. |
| 01 | 02 | Rick's Quarrel | 20030815 | 20111014/15 (BBC7) 20121107 (BBC7) 20121108 (BBC7) 20140704 (BBC7) 20140705 (BBC7) 20180124 (BBC7) 20180125 (BBC7) 20230320 (BBC7) 20230321 (BBC7) | Stella is a middle aged woman having a crisis - her grown up children refuse to leave home. And worse, her husband doesn't mind! Forgetful drummer son Rick has a quarrel, Xanthe becomes house proud and Alison has man trouble. Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a rather topsy turvy household. Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2003. A domestic dispute boosts Stella's battle to get her grown-up children to leave home. |
| 01 | 03 | Pregnancy | 20030822 | 20111021/22 (BBC7) 20121114 (BBC7) 20121115 (BBC7) 20140711 (BBC7) 20140712 (BBC7) 20180131 (BBC7) 20180201 (BBC7) 20230327 (BBC7) 20230328 (BBC7) | A baby scare sparks family chaos. Who is expecting? And where will the youngster sleep? Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a rather topsy turvy household. Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Customer - Andrew Westfield Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2003. A pregnancy scare sparks Bartholomew family chaos. Who is expecting? |
| 01 | 04 | Car Boot | 20030829 | 20111028/29 (BBC7) 20121121 (BBC7) 20121122 (BBC7) 20140718 (BBC7) 20140719 (BBC7) 20180207 (BBC7) 20180208 (BBC7) 20230403 (BBC7) 20230404 (BBC7) | Stella is a middle aged woman having a crisis - her grown up children refuse to leave home. And worse, her husband doesn't mind! Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a rather topsy turvy household. Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. Stella tries to dejunk the house. Everything useless must go, including her grown-up kids. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Driving instructor.........Andrew Westfield Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2003. |
| 01 | 05 | The Older Man | 20030905 | 20111104/05 (BBC7) 20121128 (BBC7) 20121129 (BBC7) 20140725 (BBC7) 20140726 (BBC7) 20180214 (BBC7) 20180215 (BBC7) 20230410 (BBC7) 20230411 (BBC7) | Alison has a new boyfriend. Patrick is delighted but will the others take to her new man as well? Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a rather topsy turvy household. Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. Stella tries to dejunk the house. Everything useless must go, including her grown-up kids. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Ken.........Andrew Westfield Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2003. Patrick is delighted with Alison's new boyfriend, but what about the rest of the family? |
| 01 | 06 | New House | 20030912 | 20111111/12 (BBC7) 20121205 (BBC7) 20121206 (BBC7) 20140801 (BBC7) 20140802 (BBC7) 20180221 (BBC7) 20180222 (BBC7) 20230417 (BBC7) 20230418 (BBC7) | Patrick and Stella finally find the house of their dreams - a perfect cottage with a garden in the country - but the children aren't budging. Will their plans be scuppered at the eleventh hour? Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a topsy-turvy household. Stella is a middle-aged and having a crisis - her grown up children refuse to leave home. What's worse, husband Patrick doesn't mind. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Digger - Andrew Westfield French Teacher - Aileen Gonsalves Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2003. Patrick and Stella find their dream house, but will the children scupper their move? |
| 02 | 01 | New Ways To Comb Old Gravel | 20041101 | 20111118/19 (BBC7) 20130725 (BBC7) 20130726 (BBC7) 20150113 (BBC7) 20150114 (BBC7) 20180328 (BBC7) 20180329 (BBC7) 20231113 (BBC7) 20231114 (BBC7) | Alison returns from Spain to find that Egg's taken her room and Xanthe has shrunk her favourite jeans in the wash. Dad Patrick disappears off to work, leaving mum Stella to sort out the chaos - as she continues dreaming of a life in the country without her grown-up children. Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. The return of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a topsy-turvy household. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2004. Stella continues to dream of a life in the country, without her grown-up children. Stella continues to dream of a life in the country, without her grown-up children. Stars Duncan Preston. From November 2004. |
| 02 | 02 | Go With The Flow | 20041108 | 20111125/26 (BBC7) 20130801 (BBC7) 20130802 (BBC7) 20150120 (BBC7) 20150121 (BBC7) 20180404 (BBC7) 20180405 (BBC7) 20231120 (BBC7) 20231121 (BBC7) | When Patrick makes a chart to show where all the children are at any one time, it dawns on Stella that one of them isn't always where her little arrow says she is. Series 2 of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about topsy-turvy family life. Stars Duncan Preston as Patrick, Penny Downie as Stella, Claudie Blakley as Alison, Bruce MacKinnon as Rick, Catherine Shepherd as Xanthe, Daniela Denby-Ashe as Egg and Rosie Armstrong as Mrs Fox. Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2004. Stella keeps tabs on her work-shy kids, thanks to Patrick's chart. Patrick makes a chart to show where all the children are at any one time. This makes Stella realise that one of them isn't always where her little arrow says she is... Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a topsy-turvy household. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Mrs Fox - Rosie Armstrong Stella keeps tabs on her work-shy kids, thanks to Patrick's chart. Stars Penny Downie and Duncan Preston. From November 2004. |
| 02 | 03 | Brideshead Unvisited | 20041115 | 20111202/03 (BBC7) 20130808 (BBC7) 20130809 (BBC7) 20150127 (BBC7) 20150128 (BBC7) 20180411 (BBC7) 20180412 (BBC7) 20231127 (BBC7) 20231128 (BBC7) | Rick's ex-girlfriend is getting married and the whole family is invited. Stella's doubts about an occasion involving the entire Bartholomew clan prove to be justified... Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a topsy-turvy household. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Photographer - Terence Frisch . Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2004. Patrick makes the family attend a wedding, but will Stella's doubts prove justified? Patrick makes the family attend a wedding, but will Stella's doubts prove justified? Stars Duncan Preston. From November 2004. Rick's ex-girlfriend is getting married and the whole family is invited. Stella's doubts about an occasion involving the entire Bartholomew clan prove to be justified... Series 2 of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about topsy-turvy family life. Stars Duncan Preston as Patrick, Penny Downie as Stella, Claudie Blakley as Alison, Bruce MacKinnon as Rick, Catherine Shepherd as Xanthe, Daniela Denby-Ashe as Egg and Terence Frisch as the photographer. |
| 02 | 04 | Space Perception | 20041122 | 20111209/10 (BBC7) 20130815 (BBC7) 20130816 (BBC7) 20150203 (BBC7) 20150204 (BBC7) 20180418 (BBC7) 20180419 (BBC7) 20231204 (BBC7) 20231205 (BBC7) | Desperate to sell up and move to the country, Stella tries burying the hatchet with the neighbours. Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a topsy-turvy household. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Fitness Instructor - Roise Armstrong Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2004. Desperate to move house, Stella tries burying the hatchet with the neighbours. Desperate to move house, Stella tries burying the hatchet with the neighbours. Stars Penny Downie. From November 2004. Series 2 of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about topsy-turvy family life. Stars Duncan Preston as Patrick, Penny Downie as Stella, Claudie Blakley as Alison, Bruce MacKinnon as Rick, Catherine Shepherd as Xanthe, Daniela Denby-Ashe as Egg and Roise Armstrong as the Fitness Instructor. |
| 02 | 05 | The Birds And The Bees | 20041129 | 20111216/17 (BBC7) 20130822 (BBC7) 20130823 (BBC7) 20150210 (BBC7) 20150211 (BBC7) 20180425 (BBC7) 20180426 (BBC7) 20231211 (BBC7) 20231212 (BBC7) | If Stella can't move to the country, then the country must move to Stella. Series 2 of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about topsy-turvy family life. Stars Duncan Preston as Patrick, Penny Downie as Stella, Claudie Blakley as Alison, Bruce MacKinnon as Rick, Catherine Shepherd as Xanthe and Daniela Denby-Ashe as Egg. Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2004. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe If Stella can't move to the country, then the country must move to Stella. Stars Duncan Preston. From November 2004. Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a topsy-turvy household. |
| 02 | 06 | All Over Bar The Wrapping Paper | 20041206 | 20111223/24 (BBC7) 20130829 (BBC7) 20130830 (BBC7) 20150217 (BBC7) 20150218 (BBC7) 20180502 (BBC7) 20180503 (BBC7) 20231218 (BBC7) 20231219 (BBC7) | Stella's determined to get away - but a moveable feast is on the family Christmas menu. Series 2 of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about topsy-turvy family life. Stars Duncan Preston as Patrick, Penny Downie as Stella, Claudie Blakley as Alison, Bruce MacKinnon as Rick, Catherine Shepherd as Xanthe, Daniela Denby-Ashe as Egg and Terence Frisch as the Man in Garden Centre. Producer: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2004. Stella is determined to get away, but a moveable feast is on the family Christmas menu. Stella is determined to get away, but a moveable feast is on the family Christmas menu. Stars Penny Downie. From December 2004. Plans for Christmas go awry as Stella is determined to get away - but a moveable feast is on the family menu. Starring Duncan Preston and Penny Downie. Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about a topsy-turvy household. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Penny Downie Alison - Claudie Blakely Rick - Bruce McKinnon Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Man in Garden Centre.......Terence Frisch |
| 03 | 01 | Love In A Cottage | 20060102 | 20120413/14 (BBC7) 20131003 (BBC7) 20131004 (BBC7) 20180620 (BBC7) 20180621 (BBC7) 20180623 (BBC7) 20240325 (BBC7) 20240326 (BBC7) | Daughter Alison has moved in with her boyfriend, making it one down and three to go for mum Stella. She and Patrick begin to seriously think about retiring and give country weekending a go. But what's going on while they're away? Series 3 of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about topsy-turvy family life. Stars Duncan Preston as Patrick, Pippa Haywood as Stella, Claudie Blakley as Alison, Bruce MacKinnon as Rick, Catherine Shepherd as Xanthe and Daniela Denby-Ashe as Egg, Director: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2006. Stella is planning her retirement, but will her grown-up children survive without her? Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Pippa Haywood Alison - Claudie Blakley Rick - Bruce MacKinnon Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Stella's planning her retirement, but will her grown-up children survive without her? Stars Pippa Haywood. From January 2006. |
| 03 | 02 | Willing It Away | 20060109 | 20120420/21 (BBC7) 20131010 (BBC7) 20131011 (BBC7) 20180627 (BBC7) 20180628 (BBC7) 20240401 (BBC7) 20240402 (BBC7) | Stella's luck goes from bad to worse. Not only has daughter Alison moved back in, but granny's come to stay indefinitely! Where will everyone sleep? Series 3 of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about topsy-turvy family life. Stars Duncan Preston as Patrick, Pippa Haywood as Stella, Claudie Blakley as Alison, Bruce MacKinnon as Rick, Catherine Shepherd as Xanthe, Daniela Denby-Ashe as Egg and Rita Davies as Mother. Director: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2006. Stella's luck goes from bad to worse, as daughter Alison and granny want to move in. Patrick - Duncan Preston Stella - Pippa Haywood Alison - Claudie Blakley Rick - Bruce MacKinnon Xanthe - Catherine Shepherd Egg - Daniela Denby-Ashe Rita Davies - Mother Stella's luck goes from bad to worse, as daughter Alison and granny want to move in. Stars Pippa Haywood. From January 2006. |
| 03 | 03 | Loophole | 20060116 | 20120427/28 (BBC7) 20131017 (BBC7) 20131018 (BBC7) 20180704 (BBC7) 20180705 (BBC7) | Patrick gets a TV presenting job on the Barbeque Channel - filming on location in the family home. As the flames get higher, Stella's precious garden is under threat! Series 3 of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about topsy-turvy family life. Stars Duncan Preston as Patrick, Pippa Haywood as Stella, Claudie Blakley as Alison, Bruce MacKinnon as Rick, Catherine Shepherd as Xanthe, Daniela Denby-Ashe as Egg and and Russell Bently as Fergus. Director: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2006. Patrick gets a TV presenting job, but filming at home puts Stella's garden at risk. |
| 03 | 04 | Keeping Mum | 20060123 | 20120504/05 (BBC7) 20131024 (BBC7) 20131025 (BBC7) 20180711 (BBC7) 20180712 (BBC7) | It's Stella's birthday - and it's a big one with a nought on the end! Surely the perfect time for a big family get-together? Series 3 of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about topsy-turvy family life. Stars Duncan Preston as Patrick, Pippa Haywood as Stella, Claudie Blakley as Alison, Bruce MacKinnon as Rick, Catherine Shepherd as Xanthe and Daniela Denby-Ashe as Egg. Director: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2006. Can Patrick and the rest of the family keep Stella's surprise party a secret? |
| 03 | 05 | Pressure Times Volume Is A Constant | 20060130 | 20120511/12 (BBC7) 20131031 (BBC7) 20131101 (BBC7) 20180718 (BBC7) 20180719 (BBC7) | Egg's boyfriend moves in. Rick moves out - and comes back. And the arrival of Alison's baby is only a couple of months away. Can Stella keep track of her wayward family? Series 3 of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about topsy-turvy family life. Stars Duncan Preston as Patrick, Pippa Haywood as Stella, Claudie Blakley as Alison, Bruce MacKinnon as Rick, Catherine Shepherd as Xanthe and Daniela Denby-Ashe as Egg. Director: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2006. With grown up children moving in and out, can Stella keep track of her wayward family? |
| 03 | 06 | Seeking Lost Gardens | 20060206 | 20120518/19 (BBC7) 20131107 (BBC7) 20131108 (BBC7) 20180725 (BBC7) 20180726 (BBC7) | It's open day at the Bartholomew residence - with Alison due to give birth at any minute. Who will arrive first - the garden visitors or the latest family addition? Series 3 of Lucy Clare and Ian Davidson's sitcom about topsy-turvy family life. Stars Duncan Preston as Patrick, Pippa Haywood as Stella, Claudie Blakley as Alison, Bruce MacKinnon as Rick, Catherine Shepherd as Xanthe and Daniela Denby-Ashe as Egg. Director: Elizabeth Freestone First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2006. Stella's plans for an open garden charity day are interrupted by an unexpected delivery. |