Series 1, Episode 1 (15th November 1998)

## Plot

Adam surprises Rachel at her office, serenading her with a mariachi band and a bunch of roses to celebrate a year since they first slept with each other. David telephones Karen from Frankfurt Airport to say he'll be late for Josh's second birthday.

Rachel has to leave Adam's flat early because of a meeting the next day. Karen's furious when David returns home and wakes Josh up with a large toy rabbit.

Jenny tells Rachel that Pete is exhausting her with his obsession with her pregnancy. Pete shows Adam his precise route plans to get to the hospital.

David is dismayed to learn that Josh hasn't developed as much as one of the other children at the local crèche, feeling that their Spanish nanny Ramona isn't doing her duties.

Pete shows Jenny the mobile phone he's bought so that he can be reached should she go into labour. After a cinema date, Adam and Rachel can't decide whose house to return to as neither have spare clothes. Pete shows his enthusiasm at the pre-natal class.

Jenny suggests Adam asks Rachel to move in with him. David blames Josh's language skills on Ramona's lack of English. Over a meal, Adam suggests that he and Rachel clone their wardrobes so that they can live between their two properties.

Josh's principal at the crèche suggests that his behaviour could be improved if he had siblings to keep him in check. Rachel tricks Adam into buying a whole new set of clothes so that he has no excuse not to stay at her house. Karen and David invite Jenny and Pete to their house to discuss what it's like to have a child. Things get heated between Karen and David when she refuses to have another child for Josh's benefit.

At the pub, Adam uses Pete's mobile to call Rachel and ask if they want to move in together, but the conversation turns sour when Rachel declines the offer. Jenny admits she's scared of the prospect of parenthood.

The next morning, Jenny goes into labour and calls Pete on his mobile. On his way into work on the tram, Adam realises he still has Pete's phone. Storming through Manchester, Adam calls Pete's office but his secretary says he isn't available and that his location isn't wrote in his diary. Adam jumps in a cab to the hospital and entrusts Rachel to find Pete. Karen remembers that he and David had gone golfing, and the pair drive across the golf course to them.

Rachel is pulled over for reckless driving, but the police officer offers to take Pete to the hospital on the back of his motorbike. Adam helps Jenny with her contractions, and Pete arrives just in time to see his son born. Pete and Jenny name their baby after Adam, and the police officer, Preston.

Adam is in awe at Jenny's bravery. David thinks Karen has grown at the idea of having another baby. Jenny and Pete are elated.

## Cast

### Regular cast

* Adam Williams - James Nesbitt
* Rachel Bradley - Helen Baxendale
* Pete Gifford - John Thomson
* Jenny Gifford - Fay Ripley
* David Marsden - Robert Bathurst
* Karen Marsden - Hermione Norris
* Ramona - Jacey Sallés
* Josh Marsden - Daniel and Liam O'Brien
* Baby Adam - Laurie Jenkins

### Guest cast

* Richard - Nicholas Fry
* Colleague - John Burton

* Person on phone - Mike Bullen
* Principal - Jane Cunliffe
* Antenatal midwife - Rosy Clayton
* Prospective dad - Stephen Swift
* Secretary - Zoe Henry
* Cabbie - Bernard Wriggly
* Motorcycle cop - Andrew Vincent
* Midwife - Jan Alphonse

## Crew

* Associate Producer - David Meddick
* 1st Assistant Director - Vincent Fahy
* 2nd Assistant Director - Simon Turner
* 3rd Assistant Director - Liz Reeve
* Production Runner - Elena Gabrilatsou
* Script Supervisor - Helen E. Moran
* Location Manager - Ian Galley
* Production Co-ordinator - Sue Calverley
* Production Secretary - Deborah Coombes
* Production Finance - Carol Hibbert
* Unit Publicist - Ian Johnson
* Unit Photographer - Neil Marland
* Graphic Designer - Christine Allen
* Focus Puller - Andrew McDonnell
* Clapper Loader - Chris Hutchinson
* Camera Grip - Ian Maghie
* Assistant Grip - Mike Fisher Jnr
* Steadicam Operators - Alf Tramontin and Vincent McGahon
* Lighting Gaffer - David Ratcliffe
* Electricians - Len Holt, Gordon Craig and Graham Heyes
* Art Director - Rod Gorwood
* Assistant Art Director - Rachel Pierce
* Production Buyer - Trevor Devoy
* Construction Manager - Nick Thompson
* Action Props - Geoff Nulty and Andy Ashworth
* Dressing Props - Roy Vivash and Alan Scholes
* Scenic Artist - Richard Brockless
* Carpenter - Ian Simpson
* Action Cars - Alan Eccleston and Cyril White
* Wardrobe Supervisor - Lynn Horrie
* Wardrobe Assistants - Roy Charters and Judith Wroe
* Sound Recordist - Nick Steer
* Boom Operator - Ben Brookes
* Dubbing Editors - John Senior and Elizabeth Price
* Dubbing Mixers - Andy Wyatt and John Whitworth
* Colourist - Neil Parker
* Assistant Editors - David Boyle and Chris Clarkson
* Make-up Supervisor - Janet Horsfield
* Make-up Assistant - Sharon Perks
* Costume Designer - Joey Attawia
* Casting Director - James Bain
* Casting Assistant - Michelle Smith
* Original Casting - Kate Rhodes James
* Head of Production - Susy Liddell
* Music by - Mark Russell
* Film Editor - Tim Waddell
* Director of Photography - Peter Middleton BSc
* Production Designer - Chris Truelove
* Executive Producer - Andy Harries

## Places

* Rachel's office - *Office and road outside*
* 30 Hays Street - *Kitchen, dining room, Pete andJenny's bedroom, spare bedroom*
* Frankfurt Airport
* David and Karen's house - *Downstairs rooms, Karen and David's bedroom Josh's nursery*
* Cafe
* Streets in Manchester City Centre
* Pub
* Crèche
* Outside Odeon Cinema, Oxford Street, Manchester
* Antenatal Class
* Adam's office - *Toilets*
* Restaurant
* Homeware store
* Pete's office
* Deansgate, Manchester
* King Street, Manchester
* The Woodstock, Didsbury
* St. Peter's Square, Manchester
* Metz cafe bar, Brazil Street, Manchester
* Golf course
* Albert Square, Manchester
* North Manchester General Hospital - *Corridors and Jenny's room*

## Fantasy sequences

* In the opening scene, Adam, Rachel, Pete, Jenny, Karen and David break the fourth wall and discuss their relationships. *(This is intended to be an introduction to the series and characters, given the pilot aired over a year before).*
* Rachel tells Karen that Adam proposed they moved in together, though the footage rewinds and he actually proposes they clone their wardrobes.

## Notes

* First appearances of Jacey Sallés as Ramona Ramirez and Laurie Jenkins as Adam Gifford.
* A message in the credits reads *"Granada Television would like to thank the Staff of North Manchester General Hospital, Ahrend Ltd and Gap UK"*.
* In a continuity error, the tram announcement says the next stop is Trafford Bar, though when Adam gets off the tram he's at St. Peter's Square. Later in the episode, Pete suggests that Old Trafford is near the hospital, though North Manchester General Hospital is actually in Crumpsall, five miles away.

### Repeats

* The episode has been repeated frequently on ITV and ITV3 since first transmission.