In the 1950s, four children, Anne, described as a 'proper little housewife', the rather butch George who has an unhealthy relationship with her dog Timmy and their brothers Dick and Julian, whose relationship seems to be more than fraternal, go on a cycling holiday in Dorset where their flair for detection - plus their snobbery and xenophobia - gets a whole string of suspicious characters arrested.

1985:- England has been invaded by the Warsaw Pact countries and middle-class couple Hermine and Godfrey retreat to their rural hide-away but after witnessing a bunch of incompetent commandos kill each other, they get separated.

In the monochrome world of 1960, pretentious Alan, violent Kix and sex-mad Eleanor are part of a colony of beat poets, living a hedonistic, unreal existence in a large villa overlooking the sea. Dumped by his girlfriend Jeremy is anxious to be part of their circle until two girls from the outside world and a wild party open his eyes to what really matters.

A documentary crew films heavy metal band Bad News as they have trouble starting their van, pick up a schoolgirl groupie, and meet up with rock journalist Sally at a motorway service station where they argue about the cost of sausage and chips.

A motley band of suburbanites arrives at a summer school to simulate life in an Iron Age village. However the village is right in the middle of a modern university campus which somewhat detracts from its air of authenticity.