Outnumbered

- Season 5

(2014)

Karen has started secondary school but is not settling in as she feels academically inferior, plus she is worried that her missing hamster may be trapped under the floor-boards. Ben on the other hand is over-joyed as he has landed the lead in his school play, a musical version of 'Spartacus' whilst Jake is in disgrace for getting a tattoo which looks like a spider. Sue sends emails to the parents of Karen's school-mates , which does not help but Pete comforts his daughter with a heart to heart.

Karen indulges her competitive instincts, Ben delves into the mysteries of human psychology and Jake appoints himself as a parenting expert. Meanwhile, Mum falls victim to a dysfunctional printer and Dad is hounded by a vigilant Daily Mail reader.

Pete's 21 year old god daughter Stacey from Australia is staying and sets Ben's pulse racing as she walks around the house in only a towel. Pete thinks it time for Ben to have a chat about the facts of life - from Jake but Jake is more interested in persuading his parents to let girlfriend Alex stay over. Everybody except Pete is delighted when Sue agrees to mind a friend's baby - nicknamed the Werewolf - overnight, prompting Karen to ask awkward questions about child-birth and again raise the topic of her lost hamster. Ultimately Jake regrets his decision when other ...

Pete and Ben go on a bonding trip, camping in the woods, while Sue and Stacy don't exactly see eye-to-eye over the empowerment of women.

Sue is trying to organize a conference so it falls to Pete to let Karen in after school but he has to go to buy a central heating pump so rings Jake to come home. Jake has lost his Oyster card and has no cash so this requires a call to Ben, only for Pete to find himself speaking to a Chinese tourist who has found Ben's lost phone. Karen is delayed as the headmistress keeps her back to upbraid her for rubbishing the school rules. Nonetheless she still manages to get in ahead of Pete whilst Ben ends up asking the Chinaman and his wife round for tea.

Grandad is very ill, bringing Angela back from America, with toy boy Tommy, whom she met at Sunday school. Sue is immediately rattled when Angela makes plans for their father as well as claiming that he recognized her when he failed to recognize Sue. After Tommy and Stacey decide to tour Europe Angela returns to the States and the family goes to see Ben in his school musical, 'Spartacus'. Ben is surprisingly nervous but a pep talk from Karen gives him the confidence to put on a good show. Sue and Pete also learn that, thanks to Jake, Angela has been persuaded to write...

The Brockman family are on a special mission at Christmas time.