Daughter Lorraine and son-in-law Raymond are sent to a marriage counselor to talk over their troubles. Arthur decides to contribute his own advice, and the counselor is more confused than ever.
Tracy brings home an actress friend, Abigail, who inspires Arthur to take up acting as well—as an amateur, of course.
The amount of traffic in and out of the Crabtree house puts enormous strain on Arthur and the only bathroom in the house.
Neighbor Vera is issued a court summons over her collection of noisy animals, and decides to defend her own case.
Son Paul and live-in girlfriend Louise think they should get married, but their decision is not made any easier by all the unsolicited advice they get from family and friends.
New characters arrive at the Crabtree household: Raymond's traffic warden friend, Elsie; Nigel's girlfriend's Polish aunt Eva; and Raymond's charming ladies' man brother, George.
Aunt Eva does not seem to be keeping up the housework she has agreed to do in exchange for the Crabtrees' hospitality, while Raymond's and his brother's behavior alarms everyone in the household.
Suspicions and misunderstandings abound when Arthur gets an attractive new secretary, Miss Celia Davenport, at the office, but her stay is only temporary.
The Crabtrees see the name of their great uncle Herbert in a newspaper announcement seeking beneficiaries for some money, and they begin a mad search to find him in hopes of some benefit for themselves.
Beryl is away, and Arthur becomes ill, and is nursed by Vera. Meanwhile, Vera's husband Trevor goes away on business and is nearly compromised by an over-enthusiastic female colleague.
The Crabtrees think they have achieved star status when they are chosen for the subject of a video project on family life made by local students... until they see what those candid cameras have captured.
Arthur decides that buying another small house will provide peace and quiet for Beryl and him. Then he decides that letting the children live there and pay rent is an even better idea. Then the real estate agent makes the real decision for everyone.
Arthur and Beryl each arrange a surprise for the other to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, while the children plan another surprise, all adding up to conflict and confusion.