The Liverpool-based Boswell family are experts at exploiting the system to get by in life. Despite the fact that none of the Boswells are officially employed, they manage to live a fairly good life thanks to government handouts and various cash-in-hand jobs. Family life for the Boswells centres around their God-fearing Catholic mother, Nellie. With her husband having ... Read all
Genre: Comedy
Cast:Jean Boht , Nick Conway , Jonathon Morris , Kenneth Waller , Ronald Forfar , Victor McGuire , Giles Watling , Bryan Murray , Eileen Pollock , Hilary Crowson , Peter Howitt , Gilly Coman , Pamela Power , Graham Bickley , Melanie Hill , Peter Byrne , Deborah Grant , Joanna Phillips-Lane
Aveline is mugged and her brothers arrive at the police station mob-handed to demand action whilst Nellie is over-protective about her daughter's welfare. Nellie is less than pleased to learn that Julie wants the baby christened at a Protestant church but goes along with it. During the christening Adrian's phone rings and he learns that he has got a job - but it is chauffeuring for two villains.
Nellie tries to get everything sorted for Grandad's 75th birthday. Adrian and Carmen try to take advantage of Grandad's living room. Joey is on a mission.
All the Boswells are in an uproar as a bad day gets worse. Joey bumps into his old girlfriend 'Roxy' He is torn between wanting her and his loyalty to the family. Averline has a modeling contract go bad, and finally Lilo Lil wants to talk to Mrs Boswell about Freddie
Billy is concerned to learn that there is damp in Julie's house whilst Aveline is rushed to hospital with a temperature. The family rallies with Nellie bringing in home cooking to make up for the foul hospital food. Adrian is scared off by a predatory posh lady whom he approaches for gardening work but Jack is only too happy to take his place whilst Joey discovers that Roxy is married.
Jack brags to Adrian how he reached first base with the posh lady for whom he was doing the garden whilst Aveline decides to give up being a model after a bad day on the catwalk. Joey is blackmailed by the gangster Yizzel and his sidekick into fencing stolen goods or else they will inform on him to Roxy's husband but he turns the tables on them. After a row with Lilo Lil Nellie learns that Freddie has thrown in his job as a council cleaner and stolen his dust-cart.
Adrian's girlfriend Carmen complains to Jack that Adrian is a hopeless lover before coming onto him whilst Joey unsuccessfully tries to use Grandad to get the DHSS to pay the family electric bill. After that Grandad wanders off and is discovered in hospital but the family has another problem when they learn that Freddie has been arrested. He is bailed to Lilo Lil but after falling out with her ends up with the Boswells.
With Freddie now staying with his family and the news of his court appearance being made very public Nellie has to face up to the scornful comments of other women in the super-market, though she gives as good as she gets. Billy is planning to marry Julie but the date coincides with Freddie's court appearance so an alternative plan is required.
The family attend court to give moral support. Billy does something that will anger Nellie. Grandad has a visit from a family member he hasn't seen for years and Jack is torn between loyalty to his mother and father.
Adrian introduces Eddie to Yizzel and his equally unruly mate, which is a bad idea because they kidnap the cousins, claiming that they owe them a huge debt. As ever it is Joey who rides to the rescue and sorts things out. Jack meanwhile becomes obsessed with his health and believes that he is terminally ill.
Jack discovers that there is nothing wrong with his health and he is so delighted that it makes him careless and his van ends up in the river. It does however allow him to claim on the insurance. Nellie decrees that everybody must get a job though she is unimpressed by Freddie's efforts as a hot dog vendor and, after arguing with him in church, gives him his marching orders.
Aveline, Adrian, Jack and even Nellie start at their new jobs but in each case they tend to make an inauspicious start. Freddie is living with Lilo Lil in a hut but disaster strikes when it gets hit by a lorry and Freddie breaks his leg. Joey meanwhile makes efforts to get back with Roxy despite the looming presence of her husband.
Joey gets closer to Roxy, who has left home after rowing with her husband Stan. Joey is keen to get back with her but Nellie is not encouraging given that Roxy already has one child and another on the way. To add to Nellie's grievances Lilo Lil brings the homeless Freddie to stay as he has broken his leg. Jack considers emigrating to America at last.