Hot Metal - Episode Guide

Russell Spam arrives to take over as editor of the Daily Crucible - which means "promotion" for the previous incumbent, Harry Stringer, to Executive Managing Editor with a new office ... in the lift! So begins the Crucible's slide in to the murky world of tabloid journalism with the first headline - 'Royals in Porno Storm'!

Ace reporter Greg Kettle has uncovered a man proclaiming to be Nikita Krushchev in Switzerland and the Crucible is about to unveil 'Sex Secrets of the Soviets'. Meanwhile, Twiggy Rathbone is being pressured on matters of humanitarian importance by the Prime Minister.

In an effort to keep abreast of their rivals, Russell Spam decides to spice up Page Three - and freak out Harry Stringer in the process! Meanwhile, cub reporter Bill Tytla uncovers the first clues to an international scandal that would put Spam's vivid imagination to shame.

Priests are striking in support of Father Teasdale up and down the country. Meanwhile, Tytla refuses to heed his editor's warning to stay away from the 'non-story' of Kruschev's death.

The newspaper buys sextuplets for a bizarre giveaway; Harry, of course, is not amused. Rathbone informs him of how he'll be easily able to get rid of Russell, and Tytla is following an increasingly murky path in search of truth.

When Tytla and Kettle track down the missing nurse and a mysterious batch of correspondence, the whole sordid truth about Kubelsky's death is revealed. But will anyone believe it? And with Harry in prison, who will stand up for the Crucible?

With new Executive Managing Editor Dicky Lipton in place, Russell announces his latest exclusive: a 500-word column each week from God. After all, who else is more qualified to comment on the state of civilisation and society?

Maggie uncovers a potentially massive story entirely by chance. Meanwhile, Lipton's insistence on releasing a woman encaged by the paper as part of a 'health and beauty' stunt leads to her swift death, and Twiggy sues his own publication for libel.

Dicky sends Greg to South America to get him out of the way, but he soon stumbles onto an equine saga; Russell sends Maggie off to hunt down the suspected murderer judge - alone.

When Lipton decides it's time to stop featuring topless women on Page 3, girls from across Fleet Street form a union and go on strike. In the New Forest, Twiggy opens a new theme park, and Kettle is busy collecting samples from the EastEnders cast

Much against his own protestations, Lipton is sent to Japan: when he hears that the paper has bought and is planning to give away the bones of Elvis, he rushes back home. Still hunting for Justice Hitchcock, Maggie finds that the clues are slwoly beginning to fall into place.

A Royal Commission into the press is set to publish a particularly damning conclusion, and Rathbone is eager to stifle the report. Maggie's uncovered the truth behind the deaths at Justice Hitchcock's home, and it's even more shocking than anyone could have imagined.

Ratty's moved into the satellite television business, and Stringer's back with the company as one of his executives. Unfortunately for Harry, it looks like he's set to clash with his boss's porn broadcasts, and plans for an 11th Century church.