When Rebecca goes into labour, it falls to Joe to help his sister. Alison makes a decision about Ben, Paul makes Mark an offer, and Maurice has a big question for Louise.

Following Joe’s diagnosis, Alison wants to protect her son and takes him out of school without telling Paul. He and Rebecca believe that Joe shouldn’t have to change to fit into the world.

Alison has to deal with a blast from her past after Maggie, a speech and language therapist, shows up to assess Joe.

Life for the Hughes family turns upside down as Joe starts at a specialist school in Manchester. Rebecca halts her plans with James, and Louise confides in a stunned Maurice.

Louise and Maurice are shaken when an unwelcome visitor arrives on the eve of Ralph’s wedding. Mark and Joe test Paul and Sarah’s liberalism when they strike out on their own.

Alison brokers a peace with Paul in time for the gastropub opening, but Joe goes missing.

Nicola makes a 'film' of Joe's behaviors. Maurice makes a shocking proposal.

When Joe says the A word for the first time, Paul and Alison know they must talk to him about his autism. Maurice is catapulted back into the life of Louise, and Eddie and Nicola have a secret to keep.

At Joe's birthday party, tensions rise when it's suggested he has communication problems.

Alison is hit hard when Joe's helper Maya looks set to be deported. As Paul and Eddie discover their wives both want different things, Maurice is left kicking himself for letting Louise go.

An "End of Year Show" at Joe's old school brings his family members together. Paul’s deepest feelings about his son’s autism emerge when Nicola makes a film of Joe’s behaviours. Eddie reaches D-Day with Holly, while Maurice makes a shocking proposal.

An impromptu attempt to win Joe some friends leads to a breakthrough moment for Alison, but how long can it last? Maurice and Louise come to blows over Joe, while Rebecca turns to Eddie for relationship advice.

Maurice and Louise clash. Paul makes an unexpected connection with Sophie. Eddie gears up for date night with his Manchester girlfriend, Holly.

Paul and Alison reconnect. Maurice has an existential crisis. Eddie teaches Joe to ride bikes.

Maurice and Eddie lock horns on a kids camping trip. Paul tries to forge a connection with Joe. Rebecca interrupts Alison’s date with Ben to confront her about motherhood.

Unsettled by a change in his life, Joe rejects his headphones. Maurice tries to solve all his family’s problems, Alison clashes with a stranger, and Rebecca has some big news.

Joe causes concern at school as he becomes fixated on his teacher, Heather. Paul helps Mark in his bid to join the army, and Rebecca sets the family straight about her pregnancy.

Alison brings the family together when she organises a sponsored walk for Joe. Paul gets a surprise from Sarah, and Maurice feels rejected by Ralph.