Nearest and Dearest

1. S01E01It Comes to Us AllAugust 15, 1968—The sun is setting on twelve tons of pickled onions. A dynasty is dying – and who's left?
2. S01E02Lead Me to the AltarAugust 22, 1968—A little late love for Nellie – but was it worth keeping the home fires burning?
3. S01E03The Danger ListAugust 29, 1968—If you go a funny colour, lie low; it's all in the mind. They can cure anything these days.
4. S01E04Take a LetterSeptember 5, 1968—
5. S01E05You Make Me Feel So YoungSeptember 12, 1968—The elixir of youth – an old wives' tale or a racing certainty? Well, if it worked for Stan!
6. S01E06The Wrong Side of the SheetsSeptember 19, 1968—An accident of birth – but does it really matter what you are? It happens in the best families.

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01A Breach of the PeaceJuly 8, 1969—Nellie arrives at the front door to meet two constables accusing her of shoplifting.
2. S02E02Wish You Were HereJuly 15, 1969—Nellie and Eli are off to the seaside on holiday, but it isn't long before familiar faces start appearing.
3. S02E03The Demon DrinkJuly 22, 1969—When Eli's drunken antics prevent Nellie admission to the Women's Town Guild, she becomes determined to stop him from drinking.
4. S02E04All You Wish YourselfJuly 29, 1969—When Eli realizes that he's forgotten Nellie's birthday, he manages to plan an evening at The Starlight Club.
5. S02E05Now Is the HourAugust 5, 1969—With the business not doing so well, Nellie decides that cuts are needed: first the horse, then Stan.

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

1. S03E01What Seems to Be the Trouble?October 9, 1969—Nellie takes Eli to the doctor, who is far more interested in Nellie's behaviour than in Eli's cough.
2. S03E02The Birds and the BeesOctober 16, 1969—Nellie and Eli agree to look after their teenage nephew Nigel, who Nellie believes it's time he learns the goings-on of the birds and the be
3. S03E03Get Up Them StairsOctober 23, 1969—When Lily discovers that she and Walter aren't legally married, Nellie takes it upon herself to put matters right.
4. S03E04The Power Behind the ThroneOctober 30, 1969—Eli installs an executive toilet in the factory and faces industrial action as a result.
5. S03E05Getting to Know YouNovember 6, 1969—Eli plans an away weekend and Nellie wants to decorate the cellar, but an error strands the siblings together.
6. S03E06Two Pennies to Rub TogetherNovember 13, 1969—With growing competition, the factory faces closure, leaving Eli and Nellie penniless, starving, and staffless.
7. S03E07The Ghost of Picklers PastDecember 26, 1969—Boxing Day in the Pledge house: Lily and Walter join Nellie and Eli in a seance.

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

1. S04E01A Price on Your HeadMay 14, 1970—Eli isn't pleased to learn that Nellie has taken out an insurance policy on him in case of accident or death, so he takes one out on her, an
2. S04E02A Young Man's FancyMay 21, 1970—Eli has brought a new fur coat for his fiancée Marlene. Nellie takes an instant dislike to her and determines to prove that she is no good.
3. S04E03When You've Got to GoMay 28, 1970—Nellie's had enough. She's reached the end of her tether and can no longer skivvy for her brother so she's decided to move out.
4. S04E04When Love Walks InJune 4, 1970—Eli is trying to sell the business to Leonard Longbottom, but he also needs to convince Nellie to sell. Then Leonard falls for Nellie.
5. S04E05An Open-and-Shut CaseJune 11, 1970—With the workers off sick, it falls on Nellie, Eli, Lily, and Walter to keep the pickle production line going.

Season 4 ranked & reviewed

1. S05E01Make Yourself at HomeDecember 17, 1970—When Walter and Lily's house suffers damage, Nellie and Eli must put them up.
2. S05E02Compliments of the SeasonDecember 24, 1970—Mother Nature scuppers Nellie's plans for a surprise Christmas lunch at a nice hotel for Eli and herself.
3. S05E03Barefaced in the ParkJanuary 14, 1971—A prowler has been tormenting ladies in a local park. When Walter is arrested and questioned, Nellie wants to prove his innocence.
4. S05E04A Man and a WomanJanuary 21, 1971—Nellie isn't happy when the new coal man, Snatcher Snelling, becomes rather taken with a newly-styled Lily.
5. S05E05Bottoms UpJanuary 28, 1971—Despite having no bartending experience, Nellie takes over running the Spread Eagle Pub for a friend.
6. S05E06X Marks the SpotFebruary 11, 1971—Eli is struggling to cope with his role at the pickling factory, so he sends for a manager. The Labour Exchange sends Major Lovelace.
7. S05E07Something in the NightFebruary 18, 1971—A burglar has been operating in the local area; his latest victims are Lily and Walter. Keen to protect her valuables, Nellie hides her trea
8. S05E08Lucky for SomeFebruary 25, 1971—Desperate for funds, Nellie and Eli install Stan as a company director; their motive: to share in his recent windfall.

Season 5 ranked & reviewed

1. S06E01For Better, for WorseJune 1, 1972—The problems of Pledge's Purer Pickles must take second place; for each of its co-owners are hearing wedding bells. But when the Pledge's en
2. S06E02A Place in the SunJune 8, 1972—Fourteen days' holiday in sunny Spain for 10p all in! It sounds too good to be true. And it is!
3. S06E03The Female of the SpeciesJune 15, 1972—A tiff in a launderette, under Nellie's gentle touch, bids fair to becoming a national crisis.
4. S06E04Worker's PlaytimeJune 29, 1972—The Pledges consult an industrial efficiency expert in a bid to improve production. When the workers strike, it is left to Nellie and Eli to
5. S06E05The Right SpiritJuly 6, 1972—Annoyed with Eli for treating the home like a boarding house, Nellie kicks him out. The alternative living arrangements suit neither party.
6. S06E06A Question of TasteJuly 13, 1972—Can dandelion leaves picked at the time of the full moon really win for Pledge's Purer Pickles the coveted Golden Gherkin? Nellie's wonder i
7. S06E07A Pair of BloomersJuly 20, 1972—The long arm of the law reaches out for Eli from the distant past; but, with Nellie in court, all is set for the Law to get its knuckles rap
8. S06E08Episode 8—

Season 6 ranked & reviewed

1. S07E01CindernellieDecember 21, 1972—Eli gives the Christmas club money to a promoter who promises a share of the profits from the Christmas play he's producing. He promptly spe
2. S07E02Good Time GirlDecember 28, 1972—When local lothario Harry Hampton demands Eli repay a loan, Eli invites him to stay with him and Nellie in lieu of payment. This leads to Ne
3. S07E03The French DisconnectionJanuary 11, 1973—After a visit from a French restauranteur, the Pledges travel to Paris to introduce their pickles to the European market.
4. S07E04Get Out of ThatJanuary 18, 1973—The Pledges and the Tattersalls visit a health farm but when the diet proves inadequate, the call goes out to the pickers to bring them food
5. S07E05The One That Got AwayJanuary 24, 1973—Ex-POW Siegfried, who was taken in by The Pledge Household, returns and vows to help Nellie and Eli.
6. S07E06The VisitJanuary 31, 1973—Pledge's Pickles is all set for a Royal visit, and Nellie goes to great pains to get The Factory and staff ready.
7. S07E07Far from the Madding PongFebruary 7, 1973—Nellie is keen to buy a second home in the middle of nowhere, Eli is more keen on his Spanish holiday, and tries to put her off.

Season 7 ranked & reviewed