Fat Friends Episode Guide

Episode Guide

Fat Friends: Season 4

• Season 4 Episode 6: Icing on the Cake

  Lauren's wedding day arrives, but the prospect of tying the knot fills her with anxiety - especially as her parents aren't being quite as supportive as she might have hoped. Last in series of Kay Mellor's bittersweet drama, starring Gaynor Faye, Eleanor Bron, Jonathan Wrather, Alison Steadman and Lynda Baron

• Season 4 Episode 5: Healthy Options

  Carol convinces her friends to take part in a photo shoot, as part of her plan to set up a modelling agency for larger women. After checking in to a health spa, she also resolves to take her relationship with Max to the next level - and ends up enjoying a steamy session with him in the sauna. Unfortunately her dreams of romance are soon dashed, and as events conspire against her, she's forced to turn to her friends for help - but finds winning their trust no easy matter. Kay Mellor's bittersweet drama, starring David Harewood, Janet Dibley, Alison Steadman, Lynda Baron and Lisa Riley

• Season 4 Episode 4: Get Out of the Kitchen

  Jamie's happiness at his seemingly idyllic personal and professional life takes a nasty knock when his so-called friends make a series of extremely unkind remarks about his girlfriend - leaving him agonising over whether to treat their comments with the contempt they deserve or take them seriously. Kay Mellor's bittersweet drama, starring James Corden, Alison Steadman, Lynda Baron and Lisa Riley

• Season 4 Episode 3: Angel's Delight

  Although Rebecca and Sean's relationship is going from strength to strength, their happiness only makes Norma feel old and alone. Determined to find love, she tries her hand at speed dating - and can't believe her luck when she meets the man of her dreams. Not even losing her job can dent her joy - but there's an even crueller twist of fate in store for her. Drama, starring Lynda Baron, Tony Monroe and Lisa Riley

• Season 4 Episode 2: Second Helpings

  Still shaken by the row with her mother, Kelly throws herself with renewed vigour into her weight-loss programme, determined not to make the same mistakes in bringing up her own child. Kevin isn't sure what to make of his wife's obsession - particularly in light of her drunken fling with his gay brother - but his spirits are lifted when Mercedes starts working at the chip shop. Kay Mellor's bittersweet drama, starring Ruth Jones, Jonathan Ryland and Janine Mellor

• Season 4 Episode 1: Enough to Go Around

  Kay Mellor's bittersweet drama is back for a fourth series, catching up with the friends as they come back from a holiday on the Costa del Sol - their prize for being hailed Slimmers of the Year on daytime TV. Betty's return is fraught with conflict as she tries to juggle her home life with seeing Simon, the son she gave up for adoption many years earlier. Meanwhile, Kelly is wilting under a range of pressures, including raising baby Cody, helping Kevin run Big and Battered and selling their home. Starring Alison Steadman, Barrie Rutter, Ian Kershaw and Ruth Jones

Fat Friends: Season 3

• Season 3 Episode 6: Food of Love

  Carol and the friends prepare to make a second appearance on TV talk show Trisha, where they hope their slimming achievements will receive the credit they deserve. Meanwhile, Jamie wins acclaim as junior chef at a high-class restaurant, but still feels there's a void at the centre of his life, and searches for a female companion to fill it. Trawling the Internet in search of companionship, he soon finds a girlfriend in the form of beautiful Clare Hart : but discovers that online love is fraught with pitfalls. Christine Tremarco and Trisha Goddard guest in the last of the series, alongside regulars James Corden, Lisa Riley and Alison Steadman

• Season 3 Episode 4: Bacon, Bagels and the Bishop

  Lauren feels buoyant and upbeat as she contemplates the prospect of getting married, but it isn't long before dark clouds appear on the horizon. Not only does her agent seem suspiciously preoccupied with a younger actress, but it gradually becomes apparent that Paul, who is exceptionally ambitious for a man of the cloth, may have an ulterior motive for his proposal. Drama, starring Gaynor Faye

• Season 3 Episode 3: Food for Thought

  Carol is reunited with her estranged sister, providing Max with a welcome opportunity to play the role of manly confidant and raising hopes among members of the weight-watching group that she is learning to be more forgiving : of herself as well as others. Drama, starring Janet Dibley, Ruth Jones and David Harewood

Fat Friends: Season 2

• Season 2 Episode 7: Hunger Pangs

  Betty Simpson's already stressful life takes another twist when her childhood sweetheart joins the slimming club, prompting the return of long-suppressed feelings and revelations about a dark secret from her past. Last in series of Kay Mellor's bittersweet drama, starring Alison Steadman, James Hazeldine, Gaynor Faye, Lynda Baron and Lisa Riley

• Season 2 Episode 6: In Full Bloom

  Despite being overweight, Rebecca Patterson is generally content with life : particularly as her job as a garden centre assistant manager allows her to work alongside the man she secretly adores. But the shy and retiring twentysomething's cosy world is shattered by the return of a figure from her past, who proceeds to subject her to cruel psychological tortures. Starring Lisa Riley, Lynda Baron and Sheridan Smith, with a guest appearance by TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin

• Season 2 Episode 5: Sticky Fingers

  Lonely teenager Jamie thinks his fortunes have changed when he makes the acquaintance of second-hand car dealer Craig. He spends his 17th-birthday money on flash clothes and a mobile phone in a desperate bid to fit in with Craig's crowd, but soon realises his new friend is a shady operator with a criminal past : can his policeman father help him cut his ties with the villain? James Corden and Lee Ingleby star

• Season 2 Episode 4: Sweet and Sour

  Alan's hopes of a reconciliation with his weight-obsessed wife are shattered as divorce papers land on his doormat, leading to a furious confrontation with her lover. Arriving at the bus depot, he is unceremoniously given the sack after failing an impromptu medical examination : and just when it looks like he's hit rock-bottom, his teenage daughter is taken seriously ill and collapses. Kay Mellor's drama, starring Richard Ridings

• Season 2 Episode 3: Forty and In-Fat-uated

  Alan takes newspaper features editor Val for a surprise 40th birthday meal with her fellow slimmers, but the celebrations are soured when she spots her male escort boyfriend Carl in the restaurant with female company : can she trust his assurances that he no longer sleeps with his clientele? Starring Kathryn Hunt and Jason Merrells

• Season 2 Episode 2: Peaches and Dreams

  Unemployed actress Lauren finds single life tough going after breaking up with boyfriend Gareth, and although her lingerie parties are a big hit with her friends, she still harbours dreams of finding the perfect man. It seems her prayers have been answered when dishy vicar Paul appears on the scene : but what will her Jewish parents think? Kay Mellor's bittersweet drama, starring Alison Steadman and Gaynor Faye, with a guest appearance by Eleanor Bron

Fat Friends: Season 1

• Season 1 Episode 6: When the Fat Lady Sings

  As the weeks of preparation near fruition and the big day approaches, Kelly still has to survive her hen night and crucially : fit into her wedding dress. With only one daughter left at home, Betty and Douglas can finally relax : or perhaps not. Light-hearted drama, starring Alison Steadman, Gaynor Faye and Ruth Jones

• Season 1 Episode 5: Face the Fat

  Val prepares to launch her new magazine, but the quest for something trendy to wear and a call to an escort agency for a partner to attend the bash produce further revelations about the slimming world : and herself. Drama, starring Kathryn Hunt and Alison Steadman

• Season 1 Episode 4: Growing Pains

  Jamie reaches the end of his tether : his mother has just turned 40 and is taking her bad mood out on him, and the humiliation of being constantly teased at school because of his size leads to tragedy. Kay Mellor's bittersweet drama, starring James Corden, Ger Ryan and Alison Steadman

• Season 1 Episode 3: Fat Free

  Lauren faces an identity crisis, caught in the crossfire between her mother, who thinks she's a walking skeleton, and a boyfriend who calls her Pudding and won't commit himself to anything. Bittersweet drama by Kay Mellor, starring Gaynor Faye and Alison Steadman

• Season 1 Episode 1: Love Me Slender

  Bittersweet drama by Band of Gold creator Kay Mellor, about the lives of a group of people who meet at a slimming club. In the first episode, Betty Simpson (Alison Steadman) has a crisis on her hands as the regional finals of Superslimmers 2000 approaches : and just to add to the tension, her big and bubbly daughter Kelly has bought a wedding dress that is two sizes too small with only six weeks to go until her big day. With Gaynor Faye and Ruth Jones