Fred McNaughton

A father leaves his grown-up family to move in with his lover in the south, alienating himself from his four children.

Albert Steptoe and his son Harold are rag-and-bone men, complete with horse and cart to tour the neighbourhood. They also live together at the junk yard. Harold, who likes the bright lights in the West End of London, meets a stripper, marries her and takes her home. Albert is furious and tries every trick he knows to drive the new bride from his household.

Everyone thinks Jeannie MacTaggart is a ghost when she arrives back in town after a visit to Glasgow. Her visiting twin who died during a visit and they thought it was her. So she goes about proving who she is and restoring her name.

Joe Newman, a naturalised Briton, is telephoned by his German father, whom he believed long dead, at the same time as a funeral is taking place in Bavaria - with his father's name on the coffin. His investigation in Bavaria reveals startling facts and the obstruction he meets makes him suspect foul play.

When Scotland Yard finds themselves up against a brick wall in tracking down a vicious gang of thieves and bank robbers, they call in Layton, a loner from MI5 to work his way into the gang and help bring them down.

Two boxers miss their punches - until they don't.