List of 2point4 children episodes

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This page is a list of episodes for the British television programme 2point4 children.

The show originally aired from 1991 to 1999 on BBC 1 over 56 episodes, 5 of which are Christmas specials. It was written and created by Andrew Marshall, however in the later series, at least three episodes were written by alternative writers: Paul Alexander, Simon Braithwaite and Paul Smith. The show was originally directed and produced by Richard Boden, but the later series were directed by Nick Wood and produced by Andrew Marshall.

Actress Claire Woodgate originally played Jenny, this was in the first two series, however series three onwards the role was occupied by Claire Buckfield. Patricia Brake played character Tina for only the second episode of series one, until she was replaced by Sandra Dickenson, who reoccurred as Tina post-series one. Most of the main characters, excluding Jenny and including: Bill, Ben, David and Rona, were in all 57 episodes, however Jenny was not in some of the later episodes because, plot wise, she went to university. To compensate for the character’s departure, the Porters foster a boy named Declan played by Alex Kew, who stars in the final series. Ben’s sharp-tongued female plumbing assistant Christine reoccurred series two onwards, however was also a mouthy meat counter assistant in a supermarket, in series one episode three.

A VHS release was made of the first three episodes of series one in 1996. Eureka Video began releasing the series on DVD, however insufficient sales meant only the first three series were released; no other plans have been made to release the remainder.

Contents

[edit] Series 1: 1991

# Title Original airdate
1 "Leader of the Pack"  3 September 1991
Bill is fed up with her motherly role and the strains that come with it. She has to see Jenny’s headmaster who explains Jenny has been bunking of school; it is later revealed this is because she has been meeting a boy. Meanwhile, on his way home from work, Ben stops off at a pub and Bill sets out to meet him until she is later offered a lift from a mysterious biker. 
2 "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning"  10 September 1991
Jenny is unhappy with her new trainers, and to give Bill a break Ben has arranged for the family to have Sunday lunch with his snobbish sister Tina, much to the disliking of Bill, who ends up in a blazing row with her. Tina is outraged when realising David has brought a live rat into her house and hits him; Bill drags David out of the house and drives home in Ben's van, panicking when realising she can't actually drive. 
3 "When the Going Gets Tough the Tough go Shopping"  17 September 1991
Ben is concerned with a tax rebate he has received and Bill demands to know about it; she is also later accused of shop lifting when out collecting food for Ben's disastrous BBQ, the family have to suffer. 
4 "Love and Marriage"  24 September 1991
Bill and Ben go bowling and Jenny splits with her boyfriend; Rona talks to the tearful teen and reminisces about previous weddings. 
5 "Dirty Bowling"  1 October 1991
Bill and Ben go bowling and Jenny splits with her boyfriend; Rona talks to the tearful teen and reminisces about previous weddings. 
6 "Young at Heart"  8 October 1991
A new manager of the bakery sexually harasses Rona, causing Bill and Rona to resign. Bill visits David's poor friend in a rundown area, and after David spending time at a girl's house, Bill is horrified with news the girl’s mother brings to her, and believes it's time Ben has a "talk" to David about sex. 

[edit] Series 2: 1992

# Title Original airdate
7 "I'm Going Slightly Mad"  8 September 1992
Now unemployed, Bill is feeling bored and useless, spending her time at home; however she finally finds a new job in catering with Rona. 
8 "Bedtime For Bonzo"  22 September 1992
The Porters look after their neighbours' dog, but unfortunately for Bill it is suffering from flatulence. Ben’s under the weather after catching flu, and after Bill gives the dog the wrong tablets, it ends up dead. 
9 "Hormones"  29 September 1992
Bill fears she might be pregnant, but so does Jenny. Bill and Ben also go to David’s parents’ evening, however on the way, Ben gets into a competitive race,which later results in a further challenge between the two drivers. 
10 "One Night In Bangkok"  6 October 1992
Ben’s long-lost father comes to visit, whose girlfriend is given a night to remember with Bill, Rona and Tina at a strip club. However Ben is finding it difficult to forgive his father for walking out on him. 
11 "The Skeleton In The Cupboard"  13 October 1992
An eerie episode giving the impression Bill is being watched by a ghost, something that seems trivial to her when discovering “the Biker” has died in a road collision. 
12 "Bird On a wire"  20 October 1992
It's Rona’s wedding day, but events don’t go to plan when she ends up stuck on a light fitting in her wedding dress. When Bill arrives at Rona's, she gets her head stuck in the cat flap. Meanwhile Jenny finds David unconscious in his room, he is rushed to hospital in an ambulance. 
13 "Thank Your Lucky Stars"  27 October 1992
The Porters nervously wait in hospital for news on David, and Rona decides not to go through with her wedding 

[edit] 1992 Christmas special

Title Original airdate
"Misery"  22 December 1992
The Porter family spend Christmas in hell at Bill’s mother’s house. 

[edit] Series 3: 1993

# Title Original airdate
15 "The Secret Diary Of David Porter"  7 September 1993
Cleaning David’s room, Bill finds his diary and reads it showing the previous mishaps at the Porters’. These include David cutting up a brain with a bread knife, and Rona’s gay brother getting close and personal with Ben. Meanwhile Bill visits an unhinged relative who refuses to leave her flat. 
16 "When the Children are Asleep"  14 September 1993
Whilst David and Jenny are asleep, Bill and Ben see two men smuggling goods into a car, leading them to believe the pair are thieves. Bill and Ben trespass in their neighbours’ home only leading to themselves looking like thieves. 
17 "Badger's Bend"  21 September 1993
Ben becomes addicted to a computer game, trying to relieve the stress of his decline in customers, while Rona visits an old Catholic school. 
18 "Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown"  28 September 1993
Ben gets locked out of his house and Jenny helps her mum and Rona in a catering event. Unfortunately, the day is stressful for the women and added to their troubles is the murderous Tina. 
19 "Beam Me Up, Scotty"  5 October 1993
Ben’s feud with a rival heating repairman is brought to an end when the man supposedly dies; a Star Trek funeral is prepared. An inspector visits Bill's house to see if her kitchen is fit for a catering business, and it seems a curse has descended on Bill. 
20 "Whoopee We're All Going To Die"  12 October 1993
The Porters go on holiday to Florida, however later go to Miami to escape a hurricane named Bill that seems to be following them. Meanwhile Rona tries seducing another boyfriend. 

[edit] 1993 Christmas special

Title Original airdate
"Babes In The Wood"  20 December 1993
On their way to a hotel, the Porters get lost in the middle of nowhere and have to spend the night in an eerie old house. The night takes a darker turn when they go missing one by one. 

[edit] Series 4: 1994

# Title Original airdate
22 "The Parent Trap"  5 September 1994
Bill promises Jenny that she won't do anything embarrassing when meeting her boyfriend's parents, but some frozen cockroaches and an inflatable Pope intervene. 
23 "Family Plot"  12 September 1994
In order to enjoy an evening without the television, the radio and the stereo, Bill disposes of the fuse wire, only leading to chaos. 
24 "Fortuosity"  19 September 1994
Bill receives a chain letter threatening dire bad luck if not continued. Against Ben's wishes she tears it up, and unlikely events begin occurring. When another four copies of the letter arrive, suspicion falls upon Rona causing an argument. Meanwhile Ben is about to jump out of an aeroplane on his first parachute jump. 
25 "Curiosity Killed the Cat"  26 September 1994
Bill is sick in bed and worried about what's going on outside her bedroom. Ben is looking after the Grimeses' cat during their latest holiday, and it’s imperative nothing happens to it. Meanwhile Rona is up to something according to Bill's telescope. 
26 "Frenzy"  3 October 1994
Bill's new kitchen is finally finished, but she is too busy working in it to deal with Jenny's problems with a well-developed rival at the school show. Rona's baby making attempts have now become so strange that Tony is planning to leave. Bill and Rona discover two cobras in Rona's living room; somewhat trivial when Bill realises her house is on fire. 
27 "You Only Live Twice"  10 October 1994
The Porters' house is on fire, and after the fire brigade leave, a tearful Bill looks at the damage to her home. However Bette arrives with a skip to clean up the mess, and there's a sudden enthusiasm to clean up the wreckage. Meanwhile Rona has suggested to Tony that he stays whether or not they have a baby. 

[edit] 1994 Christmas special

Title Original airdate
"Relax-ay-voo"  26 December 1994
When David is e-mailed by an anonymous person asking for Bill, suspicions seep into the household. Bill realises the e-mailer knows her name and that anything she asks for immediately happens. 

[edit] Series 5: 1995

# Title Original airdate
29 "Greed"  2 October 1995
To Bill’s dislike Ben has bought a lottery ticket and the prospect of winning millions causes arguments in the Porter household. However Bill is thrown into panic when she believes Ben’s lottery ticket has been destroyed in the washing machine. 
30 "We'd Like To Know A Little Bit About You For Our Files"  9 October 1995
David’s acting oddly sneaking out the house and Bill is determined to find out what he's up to. 
31 "The Deep"  16 October 1995
While the Grimeses are on holiday, Bill is unknowingly looking after their pets. When finding out she rushes round to their house to find a pond of dead fish. Already in deep trouble with the neighbours after previously killing their dog, Bill and Ben go in search for replacements. 
32 "Mayday"  23 October 1995
Ben and David attempt to fix the wall they have destroyed while Jenny prepares for her boyfriend and German grandma’s visit to the Porter household. However, when Bill’s anti-German mother also arrives, Jenny suspects the day will not be a smooth one. 
33 "Seven Dials"  30 October 1995
David prepares for his school drama performance and Ben and Bill are determined to see their son on stage, however the pairs’ day takes a surreal turn when Ben wakes up in an eerie town and Bill and Rona stumble across a mysterious warehouse. 
34 "The Truth Is Out There"  6 November 1995
The Porters gather in Rona’s to test out a ghost-tracking device, to see if Rona’s deceased mother has risen from the grave, an event that leads to Rona making a shocking discovery. 

[edit] 1995 Christmas special

Title Original airdate
"Porky's"  24 December 1995
As always the festive occasion does not go to plan for the Porter family, and this year Ben returns with a live pig for Christmas dinner. Christmas Eve gets no easier for the Porters when the pig gives birth. 

[edit] Series 6: 1996

# Title Original airdate
36 "Dog-Day Afternoon"  7 November 1996
With nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon, Bill and Rona compete with Ben and David to solve Jenny's latest boyfriend problems. But the contest gets rather out of hand. 
37 "The Lady Vanishes"  14 November 1996
On a eerie Halloween evening, the Porters consider the implications of the disappearance of Mrs Crudal, their next door neighbour, and the delivery of a rather large box to the same address. 
38 "Vertigo"  21 November 1996
Bill's aunt Belle, now living in a tower block, is the unwitting cause of an argument between her daughter and Rona as to whether horoscopes are truthful. But only the outcome of a terrifying ordeal can prove if they are. 
39 "The Trouble With Harry"  28 November 1996
Bowing to Ben's long-time desire to have a family dog, Bill agrees against her better judgement to have an imaginary dog for a trial period. 
40 "The Man Who Knew Too Much"  5 December 1996
Ben's increasing dissatisfaction with imminent middle age results in him applying to join the exclusive plumber society - The Brotherhood of the Plunger. 
41 "The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe"  12 December 1996
While Ben's mid-life crisis increases, Bill is astonished to be left two items by a distant relation: a strange-looking wardrobe and a genuine fur coat. 
42 "And Now The Screaming Starts"  19 December 1996
Ben is still missing and Rona has discovered a baby under a bush near a hospital. Bill is caught between these two crises as she attempts to solve them. 

[edit] 1996 Christmas special

Title Original airdate
"Two Years Before The Mast"  26 December 1996
Tina has booked herself on a luxury cruise, but when Bill and company give Ben’s tactless sister a lift to the ship they end up crashing into the Captain and his crews’ cars. Later they board the ship and it shortly after sets sail. Bill, Ben, David and Rona have to disguise themselves to prevent the Captain from recognising them. 

[edit] Series 7: 1998

# Title Original airdate
44 "Perfect Day"  26 February 1998
Ben's returned home with a completely unsuitable replacement for the car that results in the entire family progressively not speaking to each other, causing trouble for Rona's hopes of adoption. 
45 "When Saturday Comes"  5 March 1998
Ben and David’s football team wins, but Ben believes it was for superstitious reasons, hence he insists the Porters act out exactly the same routine every Saturday when his team plays. 
46 "Malcolm X"  12 March 1998
An old flame of Bill’s blows back into her life, Malcolm, a wealthy women-charmer, who takes Bill away from her stressful motherly role. However Ben gets jealous, and travels to Scotland after the pair. 
47 "The Sweet Hereafter"  19 March 1998
Ben brings home a box of food products to test for market research, amongst the items is a sinister chocolate bar, the “Drool Bar”, that has profound effects on those who eat it. 
48 "When Did You Last See Your Father?"  26 March 1998
Bill’s mother takes her to a warehouse where her father was frozen. Unfortunately for Bill she has to take the old man in his freezer back with her, sending a chill through the Porter house, until he can be collected. 
49 "The Italian Job"  2 April 1998
David’s Italian exchange student is staying with the Porters, but Bill was not prepared for his demanding ways. However herself and Ben make more of an effort when discovering who the boy really is. 
50 "The Heart Has Its Reasons"  9 April 1998
Jenny is taken to University by her parents; arriving there Ben’s van gets broken into by children, one of which Bill and Ben begin to sympathise with when learning about him. This leads to the pair taking him into their home. 

[edit] Series 8: 1999

# Title Original airdate
51 "Fame"  16 November 1999
A film crew arrive at the Porters’ to film a fly on the wall documentary about family life, but Bill thinks it is not a good idea and is determined to get the rest of the family to think the same. 
52 "Enter The Dragon"  23 November 1999
Declan has arrived for a series of weekend stays, but unfortunately Bette has also come to stay in Jenny's vacant room. Her indulgence of Declan's behaviour causes a serious discipline problem. 
53 "Sticky Fingers"  30 November 1999
Jenny returns home to stay, but with a boy, not to Ben’s approval. Ben fears the pair will have sex under his roof, so contrives a scheme to make Jenny’s boyfriend too tired to do anything. Meanwhile Bill, Rona and Jenny get themselves into a sticky situation. 
54 "After The Fox"  7 December 1999
In order to make a winning bid on a catering job, Bill is persuaded against her better judgement to take a trip to France to get cheaper alcohol. Unfortunately, Rona has accidentally allowed a small dog to stowaway on the van, that isn't a dog. 
55 "Carry On Screaming"  14 December 1999
It's Halloween, and Social Services report that Declan is to be fostered permanently with the Porters, but the appearance of Ben's long lost Uncle Lon reveals a secret about his missing Mother's family. Ben is forced to come to a horrifying conclusion. 
56 "The Millennium Experience"  30 December 1999
As the Porters gather to see in the new century, Tina arrives and causes a power cut, causing them to spend the night in darkness reminiscing about all the many situations the family have found themselves in. Later it is believed there is an unexploded World War Two Bomb in the street. 

[edit] References

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