1. Last of a Schoolboy
1976-01-01
60m
July 1872. It is Edwin Clayhanger's last day at school. Everyone expects that he will enter his father's printing business, but Edwin has very different ideas about his future.
2. The Architect
1976-01-08
60m
Edwin becomes a hero - he wins his fathers admiration, but is no nearer to the realisation of his own ambitions to become an architect.
3. HIlda
1976-01-15
60m
Edwin has written to his father reminding him that he wants to train as an architect. Darius is curious, while Edwin realises that a summons from his aunt means the battle has come to a head...
4. The Five Towns Chronicle and Turnhill Guardian
1976-01-22
60m
While Edwin continues to work as an assistant at his father's printing works, eyebrows are raised when Hilda Lessways becomes the first woman in the Five Towns to learn shorthand - in order to work for George Cannon.
5. Sin and Romance
1976-01-29
60m
Hilda receives a telegram from London informing her that her mother is ill. Instead of leaving at once, she continues to work on the first edition of Cannon's newspaper.
6. Escape to Bleakridge
1976-02-05
60m
Hilda's feeling of responsibility for her mother's death has led her to a nervous breakdown. While still recovering in Miss Gailey's boarding house, she hears that Cannon is insisting on visiting her.
7. Centenary
1976-02-12
60m
Edwin spends an evening with the Orgreaves. He takes an instant dislike to Hilda, but when he leaves to take another look at the new Clayhanger house, she secretly follows him...
8. Taking a Share
1976-02-19
60m
After their day together at the Sunday School Centenary celebrations, Hilda and Edwin have become fascinated with each other. Edwin is both excited and unnerved at the prospect of their becoming neighbours.
9. Brighton
1976-02-26
60m
Miss Gailey tells Hilda that Cannon has taken a boarding house in Brighton, and expects them all to go and live there.
10. Marriage
1976-03-04
60m
Hilda has accepted George's proposal, but she's nervous of breaking the news to Miss Gailey, who is now a semi-permanent invalid.
11. Love
1976-03-11
60m
Hilda's secret marriage to George has ended disastrously with the discovery that it was bigamous. Deserted by him, she returns to Bursley to stay with the Orgreaves. On the night of her arrival, there is a visitor — Edwin.
12. Punishment
1976-03-18
60m
Hilda and Edwin declare their love for each other. But when she's forced to return to Brighton, Hilda has still not found the courage to tell Edwin about her past.
13. Laid Aside
1976-03-25
60m
Edwin knows nothing of the role that Mr Shushions played in Darius's life, and is puzzled when Darius returns from his funeral in a state of shock. But subsequent events force new responsibilities on Edwin...
14. The Glorious Jubilee
1976-04-01
60m
Edwin has been told that his father had no more than two years to live. More than one of those years has now passed - and Edwin has assumed complete control of the family business.
15. The Chain Is Broken
1976-04-08
60m
Close to death, Darius lets it be known that Edwin will inherit the whole of his business. As one chapter closes in Edwin's life, another opens as he meets Hilda's son.
