Hairdresser Julie hosts the first of a week of dinner parties in Co Durham, hoping to win over her guests with a no-nonsense menu she can prepare in advance. Joining her are tough-talking prison transport officer Tina, dreadlocked farm-dweller Stephen, superior IT manager David and glamorous beauty-school teacher Ashleigh. Alliances are quickly forged when David and Tina discover they both love a good gossip, before they turn their attention to Stephen when David compares him to a tramp. Julie overcooks her beef, but will her hosting make up for it and bag her the £1,000 prize?