The Darling Buds Of May 5: Climb The Greasy Pole

Dreaming big runs in the family.

This enormously popular British comedy/ drama series made a star of Catherine Zeta-Jones (Traffic) who, in her first TV series, got more newspaper coverage than the Royal Family!

Set during the ever-sunny 1950s, this is the story of the indestructible Larkin family, headed by Sidney "Pop" Larkin (David Jason), a dreamer and schemer who has managed to avoid paying taxes throughout his working life.

The clan leads an idyllic (if flamboyant) life in the English countryside, coloured by the flirtatious ways of beautiful daughter Mariette (Zeta-Jones).Pop Larkin's never-ending supply of ill-fated entrepreneurial adventures and the fierce of each family member to one another through good times and bad.

Based on the popular books by H.E. Bates and filmed in gorgeous locales around Kent, this series is a touching and often hilarious tribute to family life.

Climb The Greasy Pole - A seat on the rural District Council suddenly becomes vacant when councilor Sam Popham is taken ill.There seems to be only one candidate in the running for office, Captain Robert Battersby, who is more interested in golf than politics and has been forced into the limelight by his pushy wife, Freda.

Christmas Is Coming - Christmas at Home Farm finds Ma in the kitchen making masses of mince pies and Mariette expecting another addition tot eh family.As Pop is out delivering Christmas trees, a mysterious fugitive from justice that is about to threaten the Larkin's idyllic family Christmas.

Le Grand Weekend - This hour-long special starts off on a high note with Ma winning an all-expenses-paid trip to Paris for two.Suitcases packed, she heads off to the airport with Pop in tow only to be prevented from taking off by the 'great' British weather.Undeterred, pop arranges a last-minute trip for the winners.So off they go to the dog tracks and due to Pop's expertise at spotting a safe bet, they make enough money to spend the weekend in a swish Berkshire hotel which is just "perfick".