Years of Sally - 2023

 

Series 13 saw the end of the Suburbia "kids" phase of life for Lee and Lucy in "Not Going Out". But not before another exceptional series which culminated in Lee's 100th episode. Not for Sally, though, having not been in Series 1, nor "Jury" in Series 12. Her centenary will come with the first episode of Series 15. Both, though, are considerably ahead of Katy Wix, the next most frequent, with 41 episodes.

The series featured 7 episodes building up to the Christmas Special number 100. A classic Christmas farce with Lee Mack in his element.

Episode 1 included some detective work as suspicion is raised around the legitimacy of Anna's Italian lessons. In Episode 2 Lucy demonstrated her bedside manner, in hospital, as Lee awaited an operation. In the third episode Lee and Lucy smuggle Mollie out of school to head to a theme park only to be rumbled by the school's headmistress. Episode 4 focused on Lee trapped in a coffin on a stag party. Lucy's role, not for the first time, was featured on the screen of a mobile phone. In the fifth episode Geoffrey and Wendy treat Lucy to a trip on a steam train for her birthday. Chris MCausland guests on this episode. Episode 6 see's Lucy preparing a meal, for she and Lee, as an enabler to a deep and meaningful conversation about  their relationship. Lee is distracted by a beeping sound which he is unable to locate. In episode 7 Lucy is sucked into Lee's competitive behaviour supporting Benji in his Under 13 football team.

In the 2017 "Years" write up, I highlighted that there was a problem with Humphrey and Martha leaving Death in Paradise. That problem being the popularity, that had developed, around the relationship. Eventually it was decided that a "What happened next?" was required and "Beyond Paradise" was born. 7 years had passed. In that time the relationship had grown, in London, and moved to Martha's family home in Shipton Abbott in Devon to escape the chaos of the Capital. Martha set about starting up a business, the "Ten Mile Kitchen". So named as a restaurant where the food was sourced within the radius of ten miles from Shipton Abbott. Meanwhile Humphrey took over as DI for the town's small police "force". Aside from Humphrey's taxing "cases" the stories of the first series revolved around Martha and Humphrey's difficulties to conceive. All came to a head when a final bout of IVF failed and Martha decided that she could not live with the feeling that she was not enough for Humphrey. Both are devastated and Humphrey head's back to the Caribbean for some time out. But not without leaving a heartfelt answerphone message for Martha. She is moved enough to follow him to Guadeloupe (St Marie) and they are reunited in the season finale.

At the end of 2023 a Christmas Special, of Beyond Paradise, was broadcast. There was reference to the series that had gone before and, indeed, the seeds are sewn for the next stage of Martha and Humphrey's family planning when they take care, for a few hours, of a runaway boy. But the focus is a festive mystery, for Humphrey to solve, followed by a community coming together for Christmas.