Curmudgeonly GP Martin Ellingham's plans to resume his career as a consultant in London are put on hold with the birth of the baby he fathered with his now estranged partner, Louisa Glasson. At the surgery, new GP Dr Diana Dibbs is excited to begin work, but Martin begins to have serious doubts about her competency after she misdiagnoses a patient and dishes out prescriptions for totally inappropriate drugs. Aunt Joan dies of a heart attack while driving.