In the Long Run - Episode Guide

Walter receives a letter from his mother telling him his younger brother Valentine is coming from Sierra Leone to live with him. Valentine's imminent arrival causes a stir on the estate, especially with Walter's wife Agnes, who believes he may be a bad influence.

On his first night, Valentine is charged with looking after young Kobna. Walter asks Bagpipes to check in on them, but before long Valentine, Bagpipes, his wife Kirsty and the kids find themselves at the local pub where a little drunken rivalry between the men gets out of hand. Agnes is returning from her rounds when she sees the children sitting outside the pub, and realises her fears about Valentine have been confirmed.

As Valentine settles into London life, Agnes and Walter suggest he finds a trade instead of just taking occasional odd jobs. By way of encouragement, Walter arranges an interview for him at the car parts factory where he works.

Meanwhile, Bagpipes and Kirsty's anniversary is looming. It's a bit of a loaded time for both of them because of Kirsty's never-spoken-of affair that resulted in their three-year-old daughter, Melissa.

In order to avoid the celebratory night out Bagpipes jumps at the chance to help Valentine with a cash-in-hand electrical job. The men turn up at the flat only to realise it's a brothel. They get the work done but Agnes and Kirsty are shocked and angry when they spot Valentine and Bagpipes leaving the disreputable flat, leading Bagpipes to confront the true source of his conflict with Kirsty.

While Walter and his friends teach Valentine how to deal with the local police, Agnes and Kirsty make the terrible discovery that one of their elderly neighbours, Ernie Jenkins, has died alone in his flat undetected for a few days. Shocked by the failing of the local community in helping their elders, Agnes attempts to track down his family and friends so that he can be given a dignified send-off.

Meanwhile, Valentine dreams of reviving his footballing career by preparing for an open trial at Leyton Orient FC. Bagpipes offers to get him match fit but during a training session they both find themselves in trouble, when the police ‘stop and search' Valentine.

Walter's goddaughter Cynthia arrives at the Easmons' flat in a panic and begs Walter for help. Her engagement party is about to be ruined because her father, Uncle Akie, disapproves of the union and is refusing to take part in the traditional ceremony. Walter and Agnes agree to take on the role of ‘family elders' and are tasked with making sure everything goes smoothly. Valentine is to provide the music and Kobna jumps at the chance to assist with the DJing.

But the problem extends beyond Cynthia's side of the family. Fiancé Kevin's Glaswegian clan struggle with the West African traditions, and stereotypes and misconceptions on both sides threaten to derail the relationship before it's begun.

Valentine is excited by his relationship with Adelaide, a British-born woman of Sierra Leone heritage he met at the engagement party. Walter and Agnes can tell she is different from his usual conquests, but the relationship is cut short by Adelaide, who doesn't feel she and Valentine are a true match.

Bagpipes and Kirsty take a long-awaited romantic holiday… in a motorhome in Essex. Kirsty fixates on spicing up their sex life with role play and even some ‘al fresco' fun, but Bagpipes is less convinced and when the pair stumble on to a development site for new-build homes, he jumps at the chance for a viewing. They're both excited by the idea of a new start and put in an offer.

Meanwhile, Agnes is inspired to learn to drive. She starts taking lessons with Walter but quickly realises not even the strongest of marriages is road-rage proof. Exasperated, she convinces a heartbroken Valentine to take over as instructor, and uses it as a chance to offer some sage advice.

After having his heart broken, Valentine is back on his feet with a new delivery job and plans to move into his own place. Meanwhile redundancies at the factory are rumoured, and an anxious Walter and Bagpipes, along with their work colleagues, start to question how this will affect their lives. Bagpipes hides the truth from Kirsty and knows that it will probably mean an end to their shared dream of a new start in the country.

With the job threat in mind, Walter and Agnes have a moment of wishful thinking – Walter nostalgically imagines returning to Sierra Leone, which in reality Agnes has no real ambitions to do. Unfortunately, Kobna overhears their conversation and starts to worry. London is his home, so with best mate Dean, who is also unhappy about leaving for Essex, they decide to run away.

Walter has been elected union representative at the factory and is thrown into the deep end when he is forced to tackle a very slippery negotiation that tests his resolve. Much to Kirsty's horror, Melissa's biological father, Leon, has turned up on the Eastbridge estate and she is faced with the difficult task of telling Bagpipes, but luckily Agnes comes to her rescue. Meanwhile, Valentine has finally moved out of the Easmon's home, but bachelor life is not what he thought it would be.

Bagpipes feels threatened by Leon's arrival and rashly decides that to save his family he must run him out of town, but things do not go according to plan. Valentine wants to invest in a van for his delivery job but when he gets ripped off by the charming garage owner Don, it is Agnes and Kobna who make sure he gets his money's worth. The strike at the factory is difficult for everyone and Rajesh tries to ensure that his wife and father don't discover that he isn't working.

As the strike at the factory continues, money in the Easmon household is tight, so Agnes begins to work for the local council. But her first job in the UK as a working mum proves to be a bit of an eye opener. Valentine has a job delivering paper in Southend. Bagpipes joins him on the road trip as both men share their love of the UK until the bubble is burst. Kobna also contributes to the household income by getting a Saturday job at Don's garage and very soon he starts to behave much older than his years.

Walter is struggling to resolve the strike until he stumbles upon a secret weapon - Rajesh! A tense meeting leads to new and exciting possibilities for the Easmon's future. Despite Bagpipes protests, Kirsty tries to earn a little money at the local bookies and Leon starts to share in his responsibilities with Melissa. Meanwhile, Kobna's job gives him a new-found confidence and for the first time he falls in love - with Don's daughter Kerry. But is Kobna really ready to step into a man's shoes?

Agnes is introduced by a colleague to a Jamaican woman at work expecting that they will automatically get on like a house on fire... and why wouldn't they? Valentine overhears an insensitive nickname Don uses for Kobna at work and is forced to confront him. Leon is a welcome addition to the De La Croix family unit but Kirsty begins to question Leon about his plans for the future, which has a profound effect on Bagpipes in more ways than one.

Bagpipes, Kirsty and the Eastbridge community are preparing for Melissa's adoption party at the Milton Arms when Walter is disturbed to discover that Bagpipes is estranged from his parents. Taking matters into his own hands Walter insists the two men travel to Essex, resolve the long-held rift and bring Bagpipes' parents to join in the celebrations. As the party begins to warm up Kobna struggles to find a way of asking Kerry out - but Uncle Valy quickly comes to the rescue.

A big change is coming for Walter as his mother arrives in London, prompting Valentine to worry that Kobna is taking his place as the favourite one. A troubling event reminds Bagpipes of the fragility of life. leading to immediate changes in the De La Croix household.

Mama is concerned about Valentine's lifestyle, so tries to find him someone special to settle down with, while KIrsty spots an opportunity for her catering business.

Bagpipes and Walter plan to break Rajesh out of work. Meanwhile, Valentine bumps into Dawn and uses all his Easmon charm to try and woo her.

Valentine gets a DJ gig through Dawn's friend Andy. Meanwhile, Kobna buys a car and causes an accident that brings about a pact with the devil.

Valentine has some realisations about his relationship with Dawn. Meanwhile, Kirsty gets her first posh catering job and pulls in Agnes to help.

Valentine invites the Easmons to meet Dawn, but with Agnes distracted by the campaign and Kobna's secrets building up, it promises to be an interesting evening.

It's Christmas on the Eastbridge Estate and Walter hosts the annual Easmon yuletide party, with Bagpipes bringing a British smorgasbord of cuisine to the West African feast. Meanwhile, Kobna and Dean are trying to make some extra cash by going carol singing, while Valentine takes extra work on in order to buy something for his nephew, but the experience is not helping his Christmas spirit - until Rajesh steps in.