James Shelley is a strange man. Despite having qualifications coming out of his ears, he is allergic to employment and prefers to spend his time on the dole and lounging around in the pub. He runs into problems when he is kicked out of his home and forced to find a flat with his girlfriend Fran (Gina McKee). Matters do not improve when Fran discovers that she is pregnant and Shelley has to deal with getting a job and telling Fran's father.

For anybody sensible enough to have a copy of this series, check out episode 2, the DHSS scene where Shelley is being interviewed by one of the empty suits.

- Who was your last employer?
- The Fairy Queen. It's the name of a magazine!
- In what capacity were you employed?
- Poet.
- Is that a joke?
- Not when your name's Shelley, it isn't!
- And you've done no other work?
- Well, I did pack beans for a while.
- So what were you then?
- When?
- When you packed beans?
- I was a bean packer!

Another production with a strong cast including the wonderful Maggie Steed (who, just digressing for a moment, played the best character on TV ever - Rita in the fantastic Shine On Harvey Moon) as Mrs H, Shelley's landlady.