David Earl

When a mysterious technological blackout plunges Ireland into anarchy and chaos, a group of failed, washed-up clowns are forced to traverse the country for one last shot at their dreams.

An endearing outlier, Brian lives alone in a Welsh valley, inventing oddball contraptions that seldom work. After finding a discarded mannequin head, Brian gets an idea. Three days, a washing machine, and sundry spare parts later, he’s invented Charles, an artificially intelligent robot who learns English from a dictionary and proves a charming, cheeky companion. Before long, however, Charles also develops autonomy. Intrigued by the wider world — or whatever lies beyond the cottage where Brian has hidden him away — Charles craves adventure.

A lonely farmer and his droll yet excitable robot companion.

Pregnant again, Hannah is back with Tom, now working on the bins, and they are shortly to marry, with Derek giving the bride away. Derek himself spends the night in the home's caravan with girlfriend Tracey though it is unclear whether they did anything except sleep. Days before the wedding Hannah gets so annoyed with Kev that she throws him out and he is next discovered in hospital, suffering from alcohol poisoning. However, at Derek's request, she lets him back in on condition he gives up the drink and allows him to give her away at the wedding instead of Derek. Despite a bizarre speech from Kev the day goes well and some months later Hannah gives Derek her new-born baby to hold.

In 1970s England, three blue-collar friends spend their days joking, drinking, fighting and chasing girls. Freddie wants to leave their working-class world but cool, charismatic Bruce and lovable loser Snork are happy with life the way it is. When Freddie gets a new job as a door-to-door salesman and bumps into his old school sweetheart Julie, the gang are forced to make choices that will change their lives for ever.