Desmond's - Episode Guide

Today is no ordinary day in the Ambrose household. A beautiful stranger, a 'male order man' and a handsome French teacher are all destined to enter their lives...

When a smooth-talking businessman makes an offer for the business, Desmond considers selling up and retiring in luxury to Guyana.

The plans of Michael, Desmond's eldest son, for expanding the business don't go down too well, as Desmond begins to feel somewhat redundant.

Shirley is feeling overworked and overweight, but her lively big sister Susu is coming all the way from Jamaica to see her and Desmond hopes that this might cheer her up.

There's disappointment at Desmond's barber shop when Porkpie can't bring himself to join in the birthday celebrations for Shirley.

Gloria is excited by the prospect of her date with an up-and-coming politician, but Desmond and Shirley get some sad news about their old friend Sweetsticks.

When Desmond is taken ill, everyone at the barber shop wonders how long he's got left and thinks about what he meant to them.

It's a noisy Wednesday at Desmond's with a lot of police activity in the street outside. When Beverley arrives hotfoot with some news, the reason becomes clear.

The second of a two-part story, the dramatic siege continues at Desmond's: 12 hostages, two dangerous youths and a gun make for some hair-raising comedy.

Love and gossip are in the air at Desmond's. Sean is all wrapped up in a young computer buff called Veronica - and everyone else is all wrapped up in talking about it.

With Shirley and the kids away from the barber shop for the weekend, Desmond reckons that he is off the leash, until a generous gesture leaves him holding the baby.

Five years ago, Desmond's eldest son Michael made a pact with his university pals to meet up on a certain date and compare progress. Now, the occasion is looming and Michael is getting nervous.

Matthew is in a panic because his sister is arriving from Africa.

Desmond and Porkpie succumb to nostalgia over the music they used to make.

Shirley is down in the dumps, but Desmond is too preoccupied with a dominoes contest to take any notice.

Porkpie mounts a protest against the Channel Tunnel rail link and Gloria steels herself for her exam results.

When Beverley gets mugged, Shirley decides that it's time for self-defence lessons at the barber shop.

Auntie Susu pays a surprise visit from Jamaica, but the biggest surprise is what she's brought with her.

The last episode of the series coincides with Desmond and Shirley's wedding anniversary, and Michael is bringing a girlfriend home.

Hairdresser April Buchanan gives Shirley a part-time job and makes Desmond an offer he can't refuse.

An anonymous letter to Desmond starts a detective-style mystery. Who sent it and why?

A TV crew comes to make a documentary about the barbershop. Meanwhile Porkpie dreams of fame - and vegetables.

Sean is behaving badly at school. When his diary falls into the wrong hands, the reason why becomes clear.

Porkpie is earning a little pin money helping out at the barbershop. The first customer he meets turns out to be his daughter Denise, who hasn't seen her dad for 20 years.

Gloria and Louise have a great new idea - they are going to start a men's beauty business. Shirley is dubious, but Desmond agrees.

While Desmond and Shirley get ready for a plush evening out at the Hilton, Gloria plans to take advantage of her parents' absence to help Louise carry out a pregnancy test.

It's a testing time for Michael and Patricia when she decides to take a holiday without him. And Desmond is encouraged to take his driving test again, with disastrous consequences.

Desmond catches Shirley looking at house brochures. She assures him she was just allowing herself a little daydream. But he insists they're not moving until they retire to Guyana.

When kids smash a window in the barbershop, Desmond is furious at first, but, realising that they have nowhere to play, sets out to get the council to renovate the playground.

The barbershop's finances are a bit shaky, so Michael offers to lend a hand. His efficiency causes a few problems, which are solved by a good old-fashioned story-telling session.

Desmond's having trouble sleeping and is advised to take up exercise. He's scornful at first, but his tracksuited contemporary Bert shames him into fitness by beating him easily in a race for the bus.

Desmond and Shirley think it's time Michael appreciated his roots and Sean engages Matthew to tell them about theirs.

A reluctant Sean and Desmond are bamboozled into cooking for the Sunday School outing.

Things go horribly wrong when Lee tries to make a video for You've Been Framed.

Lee wonders who his parents are. Meanwhile, Michael takes Spanish lessons from Mandy.

Lee goes to Liverpool to find his mother, unaware that she's already come to London to look for him.

Desmond meets a ghost from his past and thinks it's the end of his marriage.

Shirley invites problem-child Daisy for the weekend and she drives everyone up the wall.

Can Desmond outbid his old rival Baldwin Martin in the immortality stakes?

Porkpie is bitten by the lovebug when an old flame from the West Indies turns up at the shop.

In a desperate bid to improve his social standing, Michael falls for glamorous nightclub owner Rochelle Jackson.

Gloria falls head-over-heels in love with an artist. Never one to miss an opportunity, Desmond falls heavily in lust with art.

Matthew's forceful sister Florence arrives from Africa to fetch him home. For good. Matthew is less than thrilled.

Michael is put in charge of redundancies at the bank and Sean gets things going at the barbershop.

It could be wedding bells for Michael, unless Beverly has her way.

Matthew needs a bill-topper for his charity concert. Step forward Desmond, Shirley and a twinkle-toed Porkpie.

Porkpie gets himself a job and Lee enters Michael for a hair competition.

It's Sean's first day at university - but is he ready to exchange freedom for books?

Porkpie invites everyone to see him in action on the school crossing.

Desmond goes into partnership with Lee on a sure-fire money-spinning venture. Meanwhile, Beverley needs money to pay for a wedding.

Gloria's 20th birthday arrives and she's never felt so low. It's time to take the bull by the horns and change her life.

Matthew is in love and wants to get married. Again.

Desmond is struck down with flu and Shirley is away teaching for the week, so Tony takes control of the shop.

Sean is organising a university dance and books Spider as his star Ragga DJ. And that's where the trouble starts...

Mandy disapproves of Michael's new girlfriend - and she's not the only one.

The vicar asks Shirley to preach a sermon. Desmond doesn't think this is possibly the greatest idea in the world.

Lee decides to go into the motorbike courier business, but after a routine health check, his health hangs in the balance.

Desmond's daughter is growing up too fast, while his eldest son is hardly growing up at all.

Desmond hires a new assistant, Ricky, but no one else can understand why he's chosen him.

Desmond gets a shock when he reads a page or two from Porkpie's diary.

On a miserable English day Desmond wonders what might have happened if he had never come to this 'godforsaken country'.

Sean invents a video game that seems destined to put his father out of business.

Beverley is distraught when she finds some love letters written by Cuthbert.

Desmond hires an architect to plan the retirement house he's always dreamt of - but then he tries to keep it secret from Shirley.

Desmond is away at a conference. but his speech has gone Awol. When it can't be found, there's only one answer: the barbershop gang will write a replacement.

A funky American preacher arrives at the barbershop to sue Desmond for a cut he had two years ago and the months of mental distress he had to suffer afterwards.

Porkpie's old flame Hyacinth turns up - and just happens to answer the phone when his absent fiancee Susu calls from Jamaica.

Lee falls in love. She's beautiful, talented, an aromatherapist - and that's not all...

A huge wedding takes place in Peckham, which means big business for the shop. But Desmond is away and Shirley is forced to call in his hated rival, Irving Poole.

Desmond has ordered a neon sign for the shop and Lee has got it for him at a bargain price. But then he offers to install it, too...

Shirley is planning a traditional Guyanese Christmas but the family have other plans. Lee decides that the barber shop needs a Christmas grotto, complete with elves and santas.