Barbara Nice

Pilot

Barbara is preparing as her husband Ken retires and is determined to ensure he doesn't drop dead now he has finished working life. At the market, she encounters new arrival to the country, Spaniard "Tonio", who has ended up in Stockport rather than his intended destination of Stockwell and has resorted to busking to find money for a hostel. However, his lacklustre fundraising has Barbara feeling sorry for him and taking him home, much to Ken's dismay. Tonio soon gets to meet Barbara's friend Mary resulting in a rowdy evening. Tonio looks to stay in the north with Ken soon becoming keen on him sticking around while Barbara hopes to see him on his way. Feeling sorry for him, she attempts to get him a place in the hostel where she volunteers, though he manages to get rejected leading Barbara to return home with him. Eventually managing to persuade him to consider returning home to Barcelona to rekindle his relationship with a former girlfriend, Barbara, Ken, and Mary come to believe they have been scammed by him.

Series One

1. The Scare

Ken is being badgered by Barbara about his health, aided by her use of an online death calculator which predicts his death in the next six months. Having him visit the doctor for a Senior Health Check, Ken finds that he is in good health while Barbara discovers that she has high blood pressure as the result of her own exam. She also takes to worrying more when the hospital moves her appointment forward, while Mary proves to be little help with his own health reports. Barbara and Ken take to traveling to the hospital on the bus, Barbara suggests Ken marry Mary should she die before he does while also wishing to be serenaded by him as he did when they first met. Eventually getting to the doctor, Barbara discovers that the only thing that can help her is rest, while Ken ends up bearing the brunt of the blame for her hypertension, resulting in her giving up on the idea of relaxation. Ken however makes a discovery about Barbara's tablets which have some side effects which may be relevant.

2. Drawdown

Barbara discovers the idea of drawing down on Ken's pension while at the hairdressers and returns home with big ideas about what to spend the money on while they still can. However, Ken is keen to play it safe and ensure they have enough to last, leaving Barbara irritated at being left out of the decision making, and causing an argument between the two. Attempting to charge Ken for decades of housework in their marriage, she takes to going on strike and refusing any further service to her husband though finds the going difficult herself when she can't bear the thought of missing a bin collection. As the pair battle with each other, Ken decides to purchase a motor home to settle their differences. However, his upbeat attitude has Barbara worried as Ken reveals his plan of following Manchester City around the country while he also reveals he has rented out their house to a student. Barbara however decides on hitchhiking her way home deciding that life on the road is not for her.

3. The Trial

Returning from morning pilates, Barbara is feeling in the mood though finds that Ken struggles to muster up the same energy on a Tuesday morning. Taking instead to enjoying a morning shopping with Mary, she is caught needing the toilet on the way home though discovers that the public toilets have been locked by the council. Breaking in to the public restroom, Barbara receives a visit from police officer Oggy, who she has known for 25 years, advising her she was caught on camera. Launching a protest outside the toilets, Barbara requires the toilet again and is soon arrested for trespass when she climbs over the locked gate. With Ken keen to have her plead guilty to get it over with, Barbara takes to tackling the charges head on without a solicitor. With her case hinging on Mary pretending and failing to remember to be called Debbie Debenhams, she goes on to be found guilty though manages to get community service in maintaining the reopened toilets.

4. The Fib

Ken is at war with their internet service provider after they raise his bill by one pound a month, which poses problems for Barbara as she attempts to purchase fake designer glasses in preparation for her school reunion. At the reunion, she has to listen to former schoolfriend Patricia who can't help but brag about her expansive house while also putting down Barbara's lack of grandchildren and Ken's retirement. Fed up of the conversation, she takes to lying about a grandson who can play the ukelele and requires Mary to help her out. Despite the lie which comes back to haunt her when she is invited to attend a party with one year old 'Miles', she refuses to give in and admit defeat. Instead she takes a donkey to the party which proves a hit with the kids though angers Patricia as the two get into an argument about the state of their families, resulting in a physical altercation. The fight however doesn't stop them from agreeing to reunite again the following week for a spa day while Barbara gets the idea of a new business venture.