Episode list

Recently widowed 'Lucia' Lucas is bored with her life in the Cotswold village of Riseholme and considers a move to the seaside town of Tilling with her fey male friend Georgie. On arrival in Tilling they meet Elizabeth Mapp,the Queen Bee of Tilling society and assorted other townsfolk,including the masculine artist 'Quaint' Irene,Godiva,alias Diva,who becomes a friend to Lucia,a Vicar from Birmingham who nonetheless speaks with a Scots accent and Benjy,the Major. However before she can settle in Tilling Lucia has to make a quick visit back to Riseholme to take over the village fete from Daisy Quantock,whose competence she doubts as organizer. Furthermore,in taking over the running,Lucia can usurp Daisy by taking the plum role in the pageant of Elizabeth I.

Lucia is renting 'Mallards' from Mapp whilst she finds a place of her own and instantly angers Mapp when she and Georgie inform Mapp that her priceless Blumenfeld piano is little more than a hurdy-gurdy and banished from the drawing room. Mapp does manage to beat Lucia on one count as Lucia is paying Mapp's gardener to tend the grounds of Mallards but he neglects her flower beds to nurture Mapp's vegetables,which she sells in the town. However Lucia has the last word when,inspired by the success of the Riseholme pageant and encouraged by vicar Bartlett,she throws a charity garden party,which is a huge success and commended by all - except Mapp.

Lucia and Georgie submits entries for the local art exhibition,which Mapp,a member of the judging committee,rejects,returning them to their owners. However Lucia hangs them in pride of place at her house,so that the other judges, Mr and Mrs Wyse,are suitably impressed and insist on their submission. Needless to say they are highly commended but Mapp sees a chance for revenge on learning that the Wyses' relation,Italian Countess Faraglione,is coming to visit. Lucia and Georgie have claimed to be linguists but Mapp sees this as the chance to catch them out. Lucia feigns illness whilst Georgie goes to another town. Fortunately he meets a mother and daughter who speak fluent Italian and dictate a letter that Lucia can have presented in faultless Italian to the countess,apologizing for her indisposition.

Lucia sells her house in Riseholme and,after making Georgie her sole beneficiary in her will,she buys Grebe,a house a little outside the town on the marshes. Now a leading hostess in Tilling her 'lobster a la Riseholme' recipe is to die for and a jealous Mapp sneaks into her house to steal it. Unfortunately there is a heavy rain-storm and the river bursts its banks,flooding the house. The two women climb onto a table for safety but,as the townsfolk watch,they are swept out to sea.

Some months have passed and the Tilling residents assume that Mapp and Lucia are dead. Major Benjy,Mapp's heir,moves into her house from where he holds social events. Georgie erects a headstone with Lucia's name in large letters - and Mapp's in tiny ones,but still believes there is hope of Lucia being alive and retains her staff. Then the two women return,having been picked up by an Italian trawler. They both plan to give accounts of their ordeal - with differing perspectives,naturally. Lucia books the town hall for her lecture A Modern Odyssey. Surprisingly Mapp does not oppose her but instead accepts when Major Benjy asks her to marry him.