Series 5

Nell and Isobel have been practising hypnotism on Derek and ruin a proposed contract with a client because every time the word 'egg' is mentioned, Derek behaves like a chicken. Simon is angry but they hypnotise him into letting Samantha watch an old home movie of him with her mother.

Samantha confesses that every time she thinks of the death of her cat Fluffy from several years ago, she's unable to stop crying. This comes in useful when Derek calls with a woman he's only just met but for whom he plans to leave Muriel. Samantha's tears shame the couple into seeing sense.

Simon suggests to Derek that they take on another ad man. Samantha wants them to employ Mr Gilman, father of her friend Tina, who is depressed because her father has recently lost his job with Christmas quickly approaching. Several candidates are interviewed, mostly unsuitable but Mr Gilman doesm't turn up, the job ultimately going to a Mr Dunbar, who is not who they think.

Derek moves into the office due to spiders at home. Samantha rows with Simon after he chides her for coming in late and she moves in with Nell though, when Nell has a visitor, she also moves to the office. Simon, pursued by widowed Mrs White, decides to lie low at the office.

A woman called Lyn takes the office next door to Eyecatchers and Derek is predictably smitten. The Harraps also have new neighbours and, after a shaky start, Samantha becomes good friends with the son, the similarly aged Hugo. Derek is jealous as Lyn keeps telling him how great Simon is and asks Simon to stay away from her whilst on holiday, unaware of Lyn's connection to Simon.

Simon's relationship with Lyn is progressing very well and she stays the night with him. They even consider marriage. Simon is, however, perturbed to find that Samantha and Hugo have locked themselves in her room and he suspects them of being intimate.