With Christmas around the corner, the villagers are in no mood for festivity when a salmonella epidemic grips Aidensfield and a hostage situation occurs involving the manager of a building society and her son, leaving both the police and the local hospital under increasing pressure. To make matters worse, Tricia finds evidence to suggest the epidemic originated at the Aidensfield Arms, setting off alarm bells for Blaketon and Gina. Meanwhile, Vernon expands Bernie's funeral empire by turning an isolated field into a pet cemetery, much to his brother's discomfort, and discovers there's a big demand for his new service.