When Karl finds a pregnancy test in Natalie's drawer, he assumes that she is pregnant and sets about proving what a great father he can be, but his over-the-top efforts have the opposite effect, especially since the test is Trish's and not hers. Meanwhile, Angela brings her cat - which really is pregnant - into work.

Trish decides that she wants to have a baby via sperm donation and needs someone she knows rather than a random donor. Meanwhile, Natalie pretends she is deep in debt in order to avoid moving in with Karl, but her lie looks like it could backfire when Karl considers selling his swimmers to Trish to help her out!

Karl tries to prove to Natalie he can be more dynamic, but his tough-guy experiment backfires when a desperate jobseeker takes Trish hostage.

Relations between management and the workforce break down over health and safety and plans for the Christmas party. Goaded by Angela, Karl becomes ringleader and calls a strike.

Brownall tops the leader board for getting people off benefits at the monthly managers' meeting. Trish is more interested in Greg, a manager from the nearby Nechells Job Centre branch. Angela and Natalie go on tour attending a work conference in London with Angela giving a talk to fellow colleagues.

It is Brownall's 25th birthday and former boss of the centre Maggie Higgins is invited to lead the celebrations. Unfortunately, Maggie comes armed with some devastating information about Angela, who will stop at nothing to keep her quiet. Meanwhile, Trish's holiday romance Raul visits from Spain with marriage on his mind.