Series 1 · Episode 1
The Prodigal Returns
First broadcast 22 April 2007 · 8.55 million viewers
DirectorRobin SheppardWriterAlan WhitingOriginal order1 of 18Editorial statusOwner reviewed
Fan-reviewedAll 18 episodes watched · editorial review updated 5 September 2026How this guide is researched
The case and opening problem
Probate and inheritance: Peter mediates between two brothers after their mother’s death while Sidney challenges a proposed road.
Themes
Credited guest cast checked so far
- Lynsey de Paul — Sheila Larsen
Reveal the complete plot summary — spoilers
Plot summary
Still troubled by the disappearance of his half-brother Simon, Peter Kingdom tries to bring order to other people’s lives. He mediates a dispute between two brothers over their late mother’s estate while Sidney Snell challenges plans for a new road. Peter’s unsettled half-sister Beatrice then arrives after leaving rehabilitation—and Simon’s supposedly abandoned telephone unexpectedly rings.
What this episode changes
Establishes Simon’s disappearance, Beatrice’s return from rehabilitation and the telephone call that proves the mystery is not settled.
Why this episode matters
The premiere establishes the programme’s defining contrast: Peter can settle other families’ inheritance disputes while his own family refuses to stay settled.
Scene log status
The story and credited names above are reviewed. Exact timestamps, music cues and scene-by-scene filming locations remain to be checked directly against a legitimate copy of the episode.