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28 October 2014

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A Wife Less Ordinary

The Harper Family

Episode: 11

First Aired 4th June 2004

Ben and Roger are in the surgery. Roger can't afford the rent increase on his property, so Ben suggests he move to a cheaper area. Michael is off to 'tag' a few bridges. Susan is suffering from boredom with her life: she needs to re-define herself as something other than wife and mother.

Ben suggests Susan swaps her life with Janey's and Susan thinks it's a wonderful idea. Sunday morning dawns, and there are no coffee and croissants. Susan has swapped with Janey. Janey arrives and wants the emergency money. It dawns on Ben that Janey isn't taking over Susan's role at all, and so he leaves for a hotel. When Ben arrives at the hotel he realises how expensive it would be, and decides to stay check in somewhere else - the surgery.

Janey lays down the rules at home for Michael and Abi: Janey will be Mother, Michael can be Kenzo and Abi the servant. Ben tries to make Susan think he is in a luxury hotel, but she knows he is actually in the surgery. Ben wants to call it off.

At home when the gas man arrives, Janey tells him her husband always deals with the utilities. This gives Janey the idea to make up a fantasy husband. Ben, having slept on his dental chair, is disturbed when his first patient and new receptionist turn up. His patient leaves, and he fires his receptionist.

Meanwhile, Janey's humiliation with her fantasy husband and their relationship is starting to weigh heavily on her. Ben sets up his lad's pad in the surgery. Susan can't find anyone to go out with her and cooks a meal for 6 by mistake! They are both as lonely as each other. They need a first date.

Ben discovers Roger is living upstairs, which is all the incentive he needs to go and see Susan. At home, Janey is hitting the bottle and cracking up. Ben and Susan re-visit the restaurant they first went to 27 years ago. Even the waiter is still there and he knows they are behaving just as they did on their first date. Michael rings them and says things are a bit weird at home. Ben and Susan reminisce about the first time they made love, only Susan's memories are not the same as Ben's.

They arrive home to Janey going through a fantasy divorce.

Other Cast Members:

Gas Salesman - Tony Westrope
Cleaner - Toby Sedgwick
Bella (dental ass) - Mabel Aitken
Jessica (patient) - Judith Jacobs
Gino (Maitre d') - Harry Landis
Hotel Receptionist - Andy Taylor

My Family Series Five

Episode One

Michael on the phone, and Ben

The Mummy Returns

Episode Two

Michael and Ben

You Don't Know Jack

Episode Three

Susan

What's Up, Docklands?

Episode Four

Roger and Ben

Luck Be a Lady Tonight

Episode Five

Janey Harper

First Past the Post

Episode Six

Ben in a coffin

My Will Be Done

Episode Seven

Abi Harper

My Fair Charlady

Episode Eight

Susan and Ben at the surgery

The Mouthtrap

Episode Nine

Ben and Susan in bed

While You Weren't Sleeping

Episode Ten

Ben and Roger hug

Dentist to the Stars

Episode Eleven

The Harper Family

A Wife Less Ordinary

Episode Twelve

Susan and Abi

The Book of Love

Episode Thirteen

Ben and Abi

Going Dental

2004 Christmas Special

Christmas Special

Glad Tidings We Bring



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