Life Of Riley: Series 1 - Episode guide

Caroline Quentin returns to BBC One in a new six-part sitcom, Life Of Riley. Neil Dudgeon co-stars as Maddy's husband, Jim.

Caroline Quentin plays Maddy, who has just remarried and is about to find out what happens when two families collide. Suddenly, she is the head of a modern-day extended family, with children, stepchildren, step-siblings and half-siblings, and a few ex-partners and in-laws thrown in for good measure.

Maddy is like Roseanne but thinner, like Seinfeld but with dirtier trainers and like Victor Meldrew – but she does believe it. In Life Of Riley, Maddy discovers that parenting has never been so complicated and she is outwitted at every turn by people a quarter of her age.


Episode 1: In the Family Way
Thursday 8th January 2009

In tonight’s opening episode, Maddy finds a pregnancy test and is convinced it belongs to one of her stepchildren. But she’s in for a big surprise when she finds out who the real owner is...


Episode 2: New Beginnings
Thursday 15th January 2009

Maddy finds herself in the immediate aftermath of the family move. The cat’s gone missing, half their possessions have vanished and a crate is doubling as the baby’s cot. Maddy and Jim struggle to get used to their new house, their new neighbours – and each other’s children.


Episode 3: The Ex Factor
Thursday 22nd January 2009

Maddy's husband, Jim, decides that her ex-husband, Robbie, is his new best friend. While Jim and Robbie bond by putting up shelves, Maddy's stepson, Danny, decides to come out of the closet.


Episode 4: Beating The Bully
Thursday 29th January 2009

Maddy's stepdaughter Katy becomes a vegetarian, but her animal rights stance only leads to animal wrongs. Meanwhile, Danny gets an unconventional job.


Episode 5: The Little White Lie
Thursday 5th February 2009

Maddy's son Ted does not want to go for a sleep-over at his friend's house, and so Maddy finds herself embroiled in a series of increasingly ridiculous lies in order to help him get out of it.


Episode 6: The Worst Best Man
Thursday 12th February 2009

Jim is asked to act as Maddy's ex-husband's best man and turns out to be terrible at it. Meanwhile, Maddy reads a bedtime story to her neighbour's son – with nightmarish results.