Derek

Episode 1/6, Wednesday 30th January, 10pm, Channel 4

Meet Derek Noakes (Ricky Gervais) a tender, innocent man whose love for his job and the people he cares for shines through. He's 49 years old and loves animals, Rolf Harris, Jesus, ‘Deal or No Deal', ‘Million Pound Drop' and ‘Britain's Got Talent' - but his main hobby is autograph hunting.  He works in a retirement home with his mate and landlord, Dougie (Karl Pilkington in his very first acting role). Derek cares deeply for old people because they're kind and funny and tell him stories about the olden days. Hannah (Kerry Godliman) is a care worker at the home and is Derek's best friend. She's smart, witty and hardworking, but unlucky in love, and like Derek, always puts other people first.

In this week's episode, the retirement home's future comes under threat after a visit from the local council reveals the latest budget cuts are going to have a negative impact on funding. As a result, the councillors decide to conduct an inspection to see whether there are any necessary changes that can be made, such as ‘streamlining' the number of employees, in order to keep the home open despite the current economic climate.

During the home's assessment, Hannah tries her best to ensure that everything is running smoothly by taking the councillors on a guided tour. Unfortunately however, things don't go exactly to plan when Derek's slightly odd friend, Kev, pops up naked in one of the resident's beds after claiming to have taken a ‘quick nap'. Hannah also introduces the councillors to Derek, Dougie and the other employees so that they can gain a better understanding of everyone's roles and responsibilities. But after meeting Derek and Dougie they're not entirely convinced - particularly as Derek's taken to keeping tadpoles in the sink to stop them from being eaten by fish and Dougie has no real training or qualifications.

Worried there won't be enough funding to keep their jobs, Hannah suggests that Derek and Dougie organise a petition by collecting signatures from the locals on Hampstead High Street.  Accompanied by Kev however their efforts aren't particularly successful as Derek's desperation and Kev's sleazy chat up lines scare the public away, leaving the trio feeling down and disheartened.

Finally, to provide respite from the worries surrounding retirement home's future, the residents are visited by some of the animals from the local pet rescue centre - which is much to Derek's delight as he thinks animals are ‘the best thing in the world'.

Throughout, Hannah's hard work and dedication toward the retirement home is evident. She's determined not to let the residents be rehomed and when the councillors reveal that their future is uncertain Dougie has no trouble telling them where to go!