Fresh Fields

- Season 3

(1985)

Determined to give their bedroom a modern makeover, Hester brings in local builder and decorator Mr. Pringle, to William's dismay. Catching Hester wearing a mudpack gives Mr. Pringle such a fright that he falls downstairs and is indisposed. As Hester and William carry on with the redecorating, Emma rings to announce that they are now the grandparents of a boy named Guy.

William is hung over after a drunken but successful night out with prospective client, wine importer Mr Royce. Some nights later Hester organizes a buffet for a private party and drags along William to serve as barman. One of the guests is Mr Royce, who, since the Fields are pretending to be strangers, takes a shine to Hester and makes a play for her, ultimately following the Fields home.

Hester looks forward to babysitting Guy while Emma and Peter attend a function in London; meanwhile she delivers Meals on Wheels to one of Sonia's old ladies. She gets lost and causes a traffic jam, and policeman she collides with escorts her home, mistakenly believing that she's the expectant one. The next day when Guy is there, the policeman stops by to check on Hester and is amazed to see her holding such a large baby - for her supposed newborn.

William is not happy when Hester decides that they are overweight and puts them both on a starvation diet. He is even less happy when Hester persuades him to drive her to a car boot sale, sustaining a puncture on the way before they discover that the sale was the day before. Now thoroughly angry he decides to end the diet by sneaking into a burger bar, only to find that Hester has the same idea and is also there.

Hester is standing for chairperson of the residents' association and is not pleased to learn that the other candidate, Miss Henshaw, is a glamorous young woman whom William hopes to attract as a client. At Sonia's cheese and wine party Hester meets her rival, who may be younger and prettier but has a truly irritating laugh. Fortunately Hester has the last laugh when she wins the election.

Sonia tells Hester's fortune and two of her three predictions come true: that she will travel, as William has booked them a weekend in Paris; and that she'll come into money, since she wins £500 on her Premium Bonds. The third prophecy, that she will have a secret admirer, almost seems to come true when Sonia's husband forgets her birthday and Hester helps him out, leading to confusion in a dress shop.

Eager for their first Christmas with their grandson, Hester and William are disappointed when Emma says she and Peter have suddenly made other plans. Who will help them consume all that extra food and drink? Fortunately Sonia is happy to come bringing husband John, and Guy will join any party to be close to Nancy. William invites his secretary, and the Fields have one of their best celebrations ever.