Rev.

- Season 1

(2010)

Vicar Adam Smallbone and his solicitor wife Alex have been at his new urban parish of St. Saviours for a month but the congregation is tiny and,when part of a church window is broken, Adam learns that the insurance will not cover it and he must raise funds himself. Suddenly the church is full of families,anxious to give donations and presents,if the vicar will have a say in admitting their children to the local church school,highly-rated by OFSTED.These include the local M.P. Patrick Yam. The headmistress Ellie will play along but this means delaying the wedding of a ...

The archdeacon visits the church on a Sunday when there are only five people present. Adam prays for a miracle,which seems to come in the form of Darren, a charismatic evangelist who brings his three figure congregation from St. James,which is being renovated - along with white sofas, fruit smoothies and a rapper. Darren goes down a storm and contributes ten grand to St. Saviors' funds but Adam believes he is just a showman and refuses to let him preach again in his church. Colin inadvertently saves the day by getting over-excited about one of Darren's lady helpers.

Thieves steal the lead from the church roof so,to raise cash,Adam allows a Muslim children's group to use the hall.He is impressed by their piety compared to the rude kids he goes to address at the church primary school and this inspires him to oppose a strip club being opened opposite the church. He visits an existing club to know his enemy but,after the inevitable embarrassment,learns the new club will not be opening after all. Colin is almost arrested whilst trying to stop the real lead thieves and makes his escape in a burkah.

Adam is envious when a vicar he once knew,Roland Wise,becomes a mainstay on radio's 'Thought For the Day' and a frequent contributor to the press. So,to raise his own profile,he secures an interview on television but nerves cause him to say,"We're all gay in the church," which is not well-received. He asks Roland for help but is amazed when his colleague admits to why he has become a media darling and finds that Roland is just as insecure as himself.

Feeling shunned in the pub,Adam is pleased to meet Leon,who wants to get married to Debs in his church. They become drinking buddies and go jogging together. Adam invites Leon and Debs to dinner and discovers that,fifteen years earlier,as students,Leon and Alex had sex on a bus. Adam is concerned that Leon is still flirting with Alex and wonders whether to conduct the ceremony but Debs calls it off when she finds out that Leon is trying to get back with an unimpressed Alex - who only has eyes for her husband.

Following a poor review of his last sermon on Godslot.com,Adam considers packing it in and stays at home watching TV whilst a bogus vicar roams the city,obtaining freebies and harassing the Bishop of London. After making a fool of himself at a vicars and tarts party organized by Ellie,he gets drunk and is almost arrested - but discovers redemption and the identity of the impostor.