Moja rodzinka

When the local council insists that Ben has a disability problem, they start giving him local cheques in the mail but they do not know that the cheques belong to another Ben Harper. Instead, Ben decides to spend the money on buying Susan expensive shoes and starts to become disabled by fooling a court woman, Rosemary, who nominates him for an award. Meanwhile, Janey and Kenzo give up Janey’s teddy and Kenzo’s thumb sucking for a bet. Ben soon begins to sink deeper and deeper into his lie, he begins to realise that the truth must come out, but in no way can he predict how the truth is eventually revealed.

Michael is becoming more and more out of control until he comes home drunk one night and blurts out his deepest secret, telling Ben that he’s gay. Susan is annoyed that Michael didn’t come out to her and for once a supportive Ben outshines Susan’s caring nature, but the tables turn when Michael’s boyfriend’s father goes to the dentist for a check-up. Meanwhile, Janey takes care of an annoying elderly patient, which eventually leads to him dying and leaving Janey his flat, and Michael’s boyfriend Scott moves into the Harper residence.

Susan has enlisted the help of older neighbour Martin – whose wife died a few years ago – to do odd jobs around the house. Ben’s pleased, and starts getting Martin to do even more jobs. Ben and Susan find themselves at the mercy of a cross-dressing-lunatic... all because Susan receives expensive valentine’s gifts that she presumes are from Ben, but aren’t, so he goes round to confront Martin, and is shocked to discover his neighbour has made a shrine to Susan. Meanwhile, Janey gets hooked on high-sugar energy drinks, and finds herself in Liverpool.

Ben and Susan are enjoying the peace and quiet of having the house all to themselves, but this is soon ruined by an Australian Backpacker called Craig, who turns up at the Harper’s doorstep. Susan immediately invites him into the house, and he starts doing the jobs that Ben’s always put off, much to Ben’s annoyance, who just wants the house to himself and Susan. Things soon take a rather sinister twist for Ben when he realises that Craig may be his son, after a night of "fun" with his Mother. Janey soon takes a liking to the new guest and the pair of them go on a date, much to Ben’s dismay, Susan then discovers the truth and it transpires that his brief fling happened when he and Susan were dating.

When Michael returns home from a gay bar drunk, he realises he’s forgotten his phone, but Susan insists that he can’t go back there in his state – he might get stabbed – so she sends Ben instead. However, he soon grabs the attention of Rupert, who’s a little bit too attracted to him, and Ben finds himself getting sent flowers and receiving visits to his house and dental surgery. Only Susan seems to have the power to stop Ben’s apparent stalker, and the truth certainly hurts.

Susan’s going away for the weekend, but is concerned that Ben will just lie on the sofa eating junk food, watching TV and drinking beer. He’s adamant that he will do no such thing, and that he will eat the fruit, vegetables and other food that she’s left for him. Later on, he’s alone in the house, when the police turn up and ask him to be a part of an identity parade. He’s very happy to do so, and shows off his moves… but his mood soon drops when he’s formally arrested for a mugging! And ends up in a cell with fellow inmates Carl and Terry. On returning home, Ben is enjoying some tranquility… until two familiar faces turn up on his doorstep and his weekend soon turns to anything but the fun and relaxing time he set out to have, especially when Verity, Carl’s wife, turns up.

Janey is due to work, but needs someone to cover for her, because she needs to look after Kenzo and she also wants to keep her job. She asks Michael, who can’t because he’s too pre-occupied with his split from Scott, then Roger comes round, who’s still depressed about Abi. Just wanting some peace, Ben enquires about whether this old man – Harry – has Sky, and when he finds out that he does, he insists that he covers for her. He’s quite capable of looking after an old man. Reluctantly, Janey hands over the keys, and his address, but tells Ben that the one thing he mustn’t do is let Harry out of his sight.

It’s Susan’s Godparents anniversary, and Ben doesn’t want to go. Susan’s determined to make him, but he point blank refuses… which sparks one of many, many arguments. After their old one collapses, they go to get a new bed, which they argue over, until they find separate beds, which turns into separate rooms, which eventually turns into separate houses. Susan stays at her house, while Ben seeks solace in Roger, who’s expecting a woman around. And while Susan is enjoying herself with lots of happy company, Ben is ruining Roger’s evening with a woman. The following night, it’s Susan’s turn to find accommodation elsewhere, and she ends up in Michael and Scott’s flat, where, as usual, she tries to take control of things. Ben then intrudes on Roger the following evening… mainly because he’s hungry, but Michael and Janey come around, begging him to apologise to Susan... they can’t stand having their separate parents in each others’ flats. Will they get back together, or will everyones’ lives be ruined by their split?

Kenzo, Janey and Mark return from the Zoo after a wonderful time, and then soon after Mark leaves, Australian backpacker Craig turns up to take Janey out. Mark turns up at Ben’s dental surgery to ask for his blessing in marrying Janey and Ben is only too happy to oblige. Meanwhile another problem rises as Craig turns up at the Harper household to ask Susan for her blessing in allowing him to marry Janey. The whole situation culminates in a French restaurant, which Susan has booked, and both men try out their proposals to Janey, with little success, while Roger turns up with a Mexican band. Who will Janey choose? The Australian backpacker, the father of Kenzo and a wealthy businessman, or a Dentist?

Two stories are placed in to one hour long story for this Yuletide offering, which deals with one Christmas tale before tackling the family’s New Year’s celebrations. And for once, the season of goodwill really seems to be present in the Harper household, with Ben actually throwing himself into the spirit of the holidays. Meanwhile, Susan decides to throw a New Year’s Eve party, and hopes it will be better than their archenemy’s, Mr Casey. How can she trump him? By hiring Ainsley Harriot to do the catering...