In an extended 78-minute special episode, "Casa Bevron" is burned down. Ron, Mike and Jacqui are quick to blame Jimmy, and the evidence appears to support this view. Lindsey and David, however, are convinced that he is innocent this time.
It is Christmas Eve on the Close, but Jimmy plans to get away from it all, Georgia has an urgent appointment to arrange, and Julia is unwilling to allow anyone to stay at the Farn-Hams'.......unless she is well paid.
Jackie receives Christmas presents that she could never have anticipated from Ron.......and from Jimmy. The Simpsons reflect on a year of great change - not much of it for the better.
Just as Elaine and her family are about to arrive for Boxing Day lunch, Mick accidentally spills something on the carpet. Jimmy and Jackie reflect on the past, but can they patch up their differences?
It is party time at the Dixons', but will Ron's scouse be better received that David's haggis? The Simpsons are expecting visitors, but Georgia is out having an abortion. Jimmy plans a quiet night in, but there are a few gate-crashers. The year ends with a proposal of marriage - but from whom?
Max and Susannah return home and discover they have squatters. Lindsey tries to persuade Jimmy not to leave. It is time for Georgia and Nat's dinner-for-two at "Grants", and Mike finds that Ollie was impressed with "his" rewrites.
Georgia doesn't approve of Nat's ideas on how to prevent another pregnancy. Ron tries to convince Jackie to move in with him again. Mick and Elaine have a disagreement, and Susannah discovers that Max has offered Julia and Jack discount for their engagement party.
Mike receives some good news, but his celebrations may be premature. It's Jack and Julia's engagement party, but will they both be present? Mick tries to make amends for upsetting Elaine, and Ron goes with Jackie to see Little Jimmy.
Jack tries to justify the shattering revelation he has for Terry. Jackie is not pleased when she finds out who has bought number 10 from Jimmy. At the salon, Georgia finds someone who isn't prepared to condemn her. Lindsey is peeved when Mike continues to take the credit for her work at a book launch.
Mick plans a romantic candle-lit meal with Elaine, Ron plans a few days away with Jackie, and Terry tries to find a long-lost relative. But not much turns out the way they wanted it to.
Bel confronts Georgia about what Nat has told them about the pregnancy scare, and finds out that things were even worse than she thought. David's collection for Ron doesn't meet with much enthusiasm. Tinhead asks Leo to fix him up with a date with Tanya.
Ron's faith in human nature is restored when some furniture arrives, but then he finds out that he has to pay for it. Despite Jacqui and Julia's objections, Peter insists on doing Georgia's hair at the salon. Terry seeks advice on his predicament from someone else who has experienced the same thing.
Lindsey and Jackie go to visit Jimmy in London, Mick finds that yet again he is unable to be alone with Elaine, and Leo makes extensive preparations for his first real date.
Against Terry's advice, Jack sets a date for his wedding to Julia. About to sign the contract, Jacqui begins measuring up at number ten. Mike is disgusted when Nat offers to show Rachel his portfolio.
There is an unexpected arrival at the pizza parlour. Terry asks Georgia for ideas on the decoration of the new development, and Sinbad for further moral support. Mick presses for the expulsion of Tinhead.
Jacqui, Katie and Rachel plan a girls' night out, but Mick and Sinbad invite themselves along. Elaine finds a more effective way than Mick of convincing Mr Thornton to her point of view. After he refuses to co-operate with the solicitor, Jimmy and Jackie have a heart-to-heart.
David tries to convince Ron that he will have to accept Jackie's decision. Mick advises Sinbad to arrange a lads' night out, but where will they end up? Jimmy wants to do social work with the probation service, but Paul makes him realise that it could be more difficult than he thinks.
Max is much less keen that Susannah to spend an evening with the Simpsons. When no-one will write a reference for Jimmy, he attempts to produce one himself. Jacqui tries to convince Mike to make amends with Lindsey, and Terry's mother visits him unexpectedly, revealing that Jack has been returning all the letters she has been writing.
Ron throws a house-warming party, but Ollie might not be able to convince Bel to come out of the kitchen. Sinbad and David are both concerned about Rachel's relationship with Nat, but can they do anything about it?
Despite other people's objections, Rachel continues to see Nat. On his first day at the youth club, Jimmy discovers Tinhead selling illicit ale. Ron gets a new car, so that he can grow old disgracefully.
Mick turns up just in time to help Elaine move Gladys in with her and Tanya. Ron interviews applicants for the "Trading Post" job with significant input from David - but who will be selected?
PC Coban investigates the disappearance of alcoholic lemonade from Terry's, but will Jimmy help with his enquiries? The publicity for the salon does not go quite as well as hoped. Ron delegates the task of notifying the successful applicant to David, but.......
Although Sinbad is convinced that she is doing the wrong thing again, Rachel gets a job at Terry's bar. Elaine finds that Cassie is not exactly impressed by her plans. Sinbad and Terry are both asked to fulfil the same role, and Ollie insists that Nat begins to sort out at least one of his problems.
Rachel and Ollie try to persuade Peter not to report Nat to the police. Pushed to the limit, Terry brings matters to a head by introducing Mary to Julia and forcing Jack to tell the whole truth.......
Ollie takes Nat for counselling, and finds that he is expected to answer a few questions too. The new bar on the parade is opened, but with a JC instead of an MC.
Bel returns to find that things have not really improved in her absence. Susannah wonders whether she, or particularly Max, should take steps to avoid further pregnancy. Mick thinks Gladys should consider going private to have her hip operation done sooner. Jimmy asks Sinbad if he would like to be a lodger at number 10.
Elaine refuses to sacrifice her principles. Cassie and Bel cannot agree on what should be stocked in the "Trading Post". Lindsey arranges to have her tattoo removed, and Jimmy gives Tinhead a chance to prove himself - but will he be up to the challenge?
Bel tries to prove to Cassie that exotic cheeses will be popular with the "Trading Post" customers. When Max and Susannah dine at "Bar Brookie", Jacqui has to order their food from elsewhere. Mick and Elaine go shopping for expensive engagement rings, leaving Gladys alone.......
Mike shaves off his beard, and thinks he has found another source of income. Gladys must decide whether to go private for her operation. Rachel and Christian have an unexpected rush to cope with at "Bar Brookie", and Jackie thinks that she may be starting the menopause - but does Julia have the answer?
David and Max resolve their past differences, and go to watch Matthew try out for the hockey team. Tinhead tried to sell knock-off gear at Sinbad's shop. Jack's secret is worrying Julia. Mick has to move Elaine, Tanya and Gladys in much sooner than he expected.
Sinbad is still looking for accomodation, and he might not be the only one. Jacqui receives a fax from Terry, but is it good news? Worrying about her forthcoming operation, Gladys asks Mick to witness her will - and another witness turns up just in time too.
Max tries to put the case against him having a vasectomy to Susannah, but it seems to be based mainly on total cowardice. Jimmy tries to butter up Sinbad, while Jackie is keen to obtain a proper rent book. Ollie reacts angrily to Bel's latest accusations.
Ron decides to get rid of Bel's new innovations, but asks for David's support when he tells her. Sinbad and Jimmy confront Tinhead about the brick through the window. Katie gets a full makeover before she goes out with Christian again, but he may have another girl in mind. A complication prevents Gladys's operation from going ahead.
Bel forces Ron to find another assistant for the day, so Mike steps in. Gladys receives the results of her tests. Max is given a choice about his vasectomy operation: Tuesday or Thursday. Jimmy asks Sinbad to pay Jackie rent and keep his secret.
Bel's work-to-rule continues to infuriate Ron. Max has a convenient dose of flu on the day he is due to have his vasectomy, so Susannah enlists Julia's help to make sure he doesn't go anywhere. Some of the residents have a bit of luck on the horses, but there's also an unfortunate loss.......
Sinbad has to make a few phony phone calls to help Jimmy try to find the missing body. Ron jumps to some wrong conclusions, Danny goes to see Ollie, and Mick celebrates his birthday at Gladys's hospital bed. Jack cooks for Julia, but finds that he has moved his belongings into the wrong room.
Danny tries to reconcile his parents. David stands in for Jackie at the petrol station, and Sinbad does his best to help Jimmy make sure that the right coffin is buried.
Jimmy visits the graveyard to make an apology. Ron is concerned to hear that there are plans to expand and modernise the garage. Julia finds Jack's cuttings about Henry Fraser, but can't bring herself to throw them away. Knowing that she has not much longer to live, Gladys asks Mick to bring forward his wedding to Elaine.
There is emotional turmoil for the Simpsons as they all attend a final family therapy session in a last attempt to reach the root of their problems.
Jackie tells Lindsey that she is going to go to art classes, and have a baby. Jimmy becomes angry when he finds out that Ron knew about the baby first. David decides to bid for the petrol station franchise. Nat and Georgia decide that they will have to get away from everyone, and Julia reveals Jack's secret.
Julia tries to presuade Jack to go to the authorities and confess what he has done. Jackie tries to convince Jimmy that the baby is his. Mick and Sinbad have difficulty in finding something to order that "Bar Brookie" have in stock.
Matthew saves the day at the hockey semi-final, Danny spots some anomalies in Bel's business plan, Jimmy earns some legitimate money for once, and JC resolves to remove Nat and Georgia from their flat.
JC's unique style of justice leads to David becoming the proud owner of a Monet painting. Elaine has her hen party. Julia insists that Jack must go to the police, but finds that he has done something quite different. Jimmy gives another talk to young offenders, and an interview to a reporter.......
Ollie returns home early after reading a surprising newspaper article, and finds some unwelcome lodgers. Susannah helps to prepare Max for his operation, and to console Julia. Cassie thinks Bel's new layout for the "Trading Post" is an April Fool, JC throws another spanner in the works for Nat and Georgia, and on Mick's stag night, Ron causes a fire at "Bar Brookie".
Danny does some accounting work for Sinbad, and tries to persuade him to sell Bel a chiller unit. Jacqui insists that Ron cleans up after his circus act in her bar. Max makes a confession to David, and on his wedding day to Elaine, Gladys has a disturbing revelation for Mick.
Jimmy takes drastic action to make sure everyone knows he is going to be a father. Mick makes some enquiries about one of the wedding telegrams he has received. Bel opens her new delicatessen, and Elaine is appalled to learn of Gladys's decision. Nat and Georgia find somewhere else to live, and Susannah foretells the future.