Series 9, Episode 6 (17th February 2020)

## Plot

Karen reads a novel, *Thane of Glamis*, that she's had submitted to Marsden House, branding it dull and boring. Jenny receives a date for her first mammogram since her cancer treatment.

Adam continues with the repairs on the camper van, enlisting the help of David and Pete. Karen admits to Jenny that she's hopeful it'll be repaired soon as she's desperate for a holiday, sick of the stresses of running her own business. Jenny is worried about her upcoming mammogram. Matthew is still down about Olivia. David receives a call from Robyn, asking if he found her earring on his bedside table after their night together.

Olivia invites Toby home for dinner, devastating Matt. Over a pub lunch, Matt admits to Adam that he doesn't want to live at Karen's house anymore. Jenny decides to build a bucket list with Pete but neither of them can think of what they want to add to it. Now Patrick has moved out, Adam suggests he and Matt move back into their own house. Pete helps Young Adam plan his upcoming tour with his band. Chloe is concerned when she finds Jenny's bucket list, assuming her cancer has returned.

Karen calls Benjamin Stevens and proposes he makes an offer to buy the publishing firm. Adam tells Pete that Matthew seems happier now they've moved out. Karen breaks the news that she's sold Marsden House to Benjamin. David is surprised when Karen recalls an earlier meeting with Robyn at a cafe, where she expressed her interest in him.

Adam reveals the completed camper van to Karen, having taken it to a garage. He suggests they take an extended holiday, passing through Barcelona to see Josh and Ramona. Karen's elated. Jenny nervously waits for her hospital appointment, remembering happier times with her mum.

Karen is invited for lunch by a representative from Ibson Media, following interest from owner Maxine Ibson. Karen recognises Maxine sat on a neighbouring table, and the representative calls her over. Maxine offers a bemused Karen a lucrative job offer.

Adam's furious that Karen hasn't told him about the job offer, and even more so when he tells her the company office is in London. Karen tells him that she's turned down the offer. Robyn confesses that she purposely left the earring on David's bedside table so that they'd have reason to see each other again.

A nervous Adam asks Matthew's permission to ask for Karen's hand in marriage. He confesses that Karen is the closest thing he's ever had to a mum. Jenny is over the moon to get good results from the hospital. Pete throws their bucket list away, telling her that she's his bucket list.

Young Adam is devastated when he can't insure the tour van because he is under 21. Jenny suggests Pete drives the van. At Matt's eighteenth birthday/Adam and Karen's leaving party, Maxine calls Karen to propose she heads straight to London now. Adam asks for David's permission to propose to Karen, and he wishes them both well.

Karen finds Matt alone on the Merchant's Bridge, knowing that he isn't happy with the changes in his life. Adam starts a speech, ready to propose to Karen, but she pulls him off stage. David takes over and accidentally proposes to Robyn, with fireworks and music sounding. Robyn laughs off the proposal but realises it's what she wants.

Adam and Karen have stern words about their future. Karen can't decide between her family and her career. She calls Maxine and tells her she'll arrive in London to start the job on Monday. Karen can't believe that Adam was going to propose, rejecting it saying that she's forever his.

Adam and Matthew set off for pastures new travelling in the camper van, having made peace with everyone. On the road to Portmeirion, where Rachel's ashes were scattered,*"Female of the Species" by Space* begins to play on the radio. Adam tells Matt that this was his and Rachel's song.

## Cast

### Regular cast

* Adam Williams - James Nesbitt
* David Marsden - Robert Bathurst
* Karen Marsden - Hermione Norris
* Pete Gifford - John Thomson
* Jenny Gifford - Fay Ripley
* Matthew Williams - Ceallach Spellman
* Ellie Marsden - Sylvie Briggs
* Barbara Blyth - Marji Campi
* Olivia Marsden - Daisy Edgar-Jones
* Chloe Gifford - Madeleine Edmondson
* Adam Gifford - Jack Harper
* Robyn - Lucy Robinson

### Guest cast

* Maxine Ibson - Frances Barber
* Toby - Jamel Dwyer
* Rochelle - Liz Hume-Dawson
* Tim - Sanee Raval
* Benjamin Stevens - Paul Ritter *(Voice only)*

## Crew

* 1st Assistant Director - Mark Roberts
* 2nd Assistant Director - Jamie Hetherington
* 3rd Assistant Director - Charlotte Simpson
* Floor Runner - Georgina Newton
* Base Runner - Yasmin Dinning
* Location Manager - Ian Findlay
* Location Scout - Danny Newton
* Unit Manager - Ollie Guy
* Location Assistant - Paul Coverdale
* Production Co-ordinator - Ben Mansley
* Production Secretary - Abby Trotter
* Production Assistant - Megan Ttereve
* Production Accountant - William Marwood
* Assistant Accountant - Rebecca Scott
* Script Supervisor - Eileen Wood
* Casting Associate - Sheraz Ahmed
* Focus Puller - Kirsten De Maid
* Clapper Loader - Jonny Stillwell
* Camera Trainee - Rosie Rayner
* Digital Imaging Technician - Mike Parsons
* Grip - Phil Lake
* Grip Assistant - James Murphy
* Sound Recordist - Dave Sansom
* Boom Operator - Anthony Hurst
* 2nd Boom Operator - Amy Stokes
* Gaffer - William Tracey
* Best Boy - Ross Chapman
* Electrician - Joe McLean
* 2nd Unit Gaffer - Steve Beetson
* 2nd Unit Best Boy - Wesley Smith
* Art Director - Alan Sullivan
* Set Decorator - Sue Jackson-Potter
* Assistant Buyer - Joe Toms-Ashcroft
* Standby Art Director - Rebecca Clayden
* Graphic Designer - Steph Oppermann
* Art Department Assistant - Sophie Harwood
* Prop Master - Craig Thomas
* Dressing Props - Alan Crozier and Adam Forshaw
* Standby Props - Simon Lee and Warren Ormondroyd
* Storeman - Martin Haydock
* Standby Carpenter - Paul Henshaw
* Construction Manager - Colin Relph
* Unit Vehicles - Paul Walton
* Costume Supervisor - Amy Stokeld
* Costume Standbys - Pamela Stewart and Lizzie Roberts
* Costume Assistant - Abigail Hindley
* Make-Up Supervisor - Jenny Ward
* Make-Up Artists - Amanda Isaacs-Hurst and Nadine Al-Samarraie Walsh
* Post Production Supervisor - Dee Collier
* Post Production Co-ordinator - Jack Glossop
* Facility Post Producer - Alex Parrett
* Assistant Editor - Christopher CF Chow
* Assembly Editor - Eleanor Cotton
* Online Editor - Clyde Kellett
* Grade - Aidan Farrell
* Visual Effects - Declan Boyle
* Re-Recording Mixers - Nigel Heath and Brad Rees
* Sound Effects Editor - Adam Douglas Jones
* Dialogue Editor - Philip Moroz
* Foley Engineer - Ciaran Smith
* Foley Editor - Stuart Bagshaw
* Music Supervisor - Amy Ashworth
* Titles - MOMOCO
* Publicity - Ian Johnson and Rich Cain
* Picture Publicity - James Hilder
* Head of Legal and Business Affairs - James Grant
* Deputy Head of Legal and Business Affairs - Christina Angeloudes
* Finance Director - Lucy Mills
* Head of Production - Caroline Richards
* TV Production Supervisor - Benjamin Rosenberg
* Casting Directors - Beverley Keogh and David Martin
* Composer - Edmund Butt
* Costume Designer - Darren Finch
* Hair & Make-Up Designer - Janet Horsfield
* Production Designer - Hayden Matthews
* Script Editor - William McDonagh
* Director of Photography - David Marsh
* Editors - Calum Ross and Simon Reglar
* Line Producer - Helen Blyth
* Executive Producers - Kenton Allen, Mike Bullen, Matthew Justice and Kathryn O'Connor

## Places

* Karen's house - *Downstairs rooms, landing, front garden and Adam and Karen's bedroom*
* 30 Hays Street - *Downstairs rooms*
* Streets in Manchester City Centre
* Street in Didsbury
* The Woodstock, Didsbury
* Cafe
* Adam's house - *Road outside and kitchen*
* Hospital - *Corridor*
* Tre Ciccio, Altrincham
* Robyn's house - *Kitchen and living room*
* Barca Bar, Castlefield, Manchester
* Merchant's Bridge, Castlefield, Manchester
* Road en route to Portmeirion

## Fantasy sequences

* Adam imagines life with Karen in the completed camper van.
* Whilst drafting up a bucket list, Pete and Jenny's living room is transformed into several landscapes; the Himalayas, the Serengeti and the Amazon rainforest.

## Notes

* It was announced on the day this episode aired that the series would not return for a tenth series the following year, taking a break for the foreseeable future.

* The scenes at Barca Bar were recorded on 25th November 2019.
* The final scene of the episode mirrors that of Series 5, Episode 4 (16th March 2003) in that Adam and Matthew drive off for pastures new. The closing theme for this episode was *Female of the Species* by *Space*, which featured prominently in the original series.
* In continuity errors, Matthew Williams celebrates his eighteenth birthday (despite being born on screen in Series 4, Episode 8 (10th December 2001)), and Adam Gifford complains about being under the age of twenty one (despite being born on screen in Series 1, Episode 1 (15th November 1998)). It is possible that this series is set towards the end of 2019, although it wouldn't resolve Adam's age.

### Viewing Figures

* 3.3m viewers watched this episode on original broadcast.