While Lady Marjorie is preparing for her trip to America, a bored and restless James takes an interest in Richard's comely secretary, Miss Forrest. When Miss Forrest volunteers to work on a Saturday afternoon and James invites her to luncheon in the upstairs dining room in the absence of his parents, Hudson is thunderstruck. Despite Hudson's protestations, James demands Hudson serve his father's best claret to this "hired typist". Hudson is outraged and resigns in a fit of pique, but cool heads prevail and all is settled before Lady Marjorie leaves on her fateful journey. (John Iodice)

Writer: Alfred Shaughnessy
Designer: John Clements
Director: Bill Bain
Regular cast: James Bellamy, Hudson, Rose, Richard Bellamy, Hazel Forrest, Mrs Bridges, Edward, Ruby, Roberts
Guest cast: Rachel Gurney (Lady Marjorie Bellamy)

As newspaper accounts report the sinking of the Titanic, Richard awaits word from the White Star Line of his beloved wife. He continues his work on Lord Southwold's biography to divert him, with the very capable Miss Forrest at his side, when a telegram arrives with the news: "Lady Marjorie Bellamy and Maude Roberts unaccounted for – presumed drowned." James turns to Hazel Forrest for comfort, and the servants are devastated at the news. As Hudson, Mrs Bridges and Rose lovingly recall Her Ladyship, one rainy night a knock at the servants'-hall door sheds conclusive light on the events of the ill-fated voyage. (John Iodice)

Writer: Rosemary Anne Sisson
Designer: John Clements
Director: Christopher Hodson
Regular cast: Mrs Bridges, Rose, Hudson, Hazel Forrest, Richard Bellamy, James Bellamy, Sir Geoffrey Dillon, Edward, Mrs Forrest, Mr Forrest, Roberts, Ruby
Guest cast: Arthur Brough (Stallinbrass)

James leaves for a country weekend at Sommerby, ancestral home of his friend, "Bunny", the recently inherited Marquis, Lord Newbury. Hudson accompanies James as valet. Among the assembled guests is Lady Diana Russell, a childhood friend of James who is still sweet on him. The problem is that Bunny has his sights set on Diana and expects to propose marriage before the weekend is done. When everything goes awry at a mismanaged luncheon, Hudson puts everything right, proves his mettle and is told that the job of butler is his for the asking. Hudson is captivated at the thought of working in one of England's great houses. Ultimately, James rebuffs Diana's advances and back at Eton Place, Hudson's sense of implacable loyalty and devotion to the Bellamy household trumps the idea of leaving for greener and grander pastures. (John Iodice)

Writer: Rosemary Anne Sisson
Designer: John Clements
Director: Bill Bain
Regular cast: James Bellamy, Richard Bellamy, Hudson, Mrs Bridges, Hazel Forrest, Major Cochrane-Danby, Mrs Cochrane-Danby, Lady Diana Russell, Lord Charles Gilmour, Bunny Newbury, Breeze, Henry, Cecile
Guest cast: Clive Morton (Makepiece), Annette Wollett (Celia Grey), Christopher Benjamin (Max Weinberg), Jane Baxter (The Dowager Lady Newbury), Patricia Lawrence (Mrs Kenton), Tricia Scott (Betsy) [Uncredited: Joss Hanbury (Bunny's loader)]

It's six months since Lady Marjorie's death and a widowed Lady Prudence visits Eaton Place regularly – she's on a mission to gently prod Richard into marriage. Meanwhile, James has been seeing Hazel secretly, fallen deeply in love with her and tenderly proposes marriage to her. She immediately quits her post with Richard, who is baffled at her sudden departure. When Richard confronts James, he tells all and Richard is stunned. Even more astonishing is her refusal of James' offer. In the end, Hazel's father visits Eaton Place and informs James of Hazel's sad past. This makes James more resolute in his ardour and finally Hazel tearfully accepts him. (John Iodice)

Writer: Alfred Shaughnessy
Designer: John Clements
Director: Derek Bennett
Regular cast: Hazel Forrest, Hudson, Rose, Lady Prudence Fairfax, Richard Bellamy, James Bellamy, Mrs Bridges, Ruby, Mrs Forrest, Mr Forrest
Guest cast: none

Alfred, the footman who went abroad to work for a German baron, appears at the back door of 165 Eaton Place. Rose discovers him and he tells her that, after a broken engagement, he returned to England and has no place to stay. Rose conceals him from Hudson, but the staff soon catch on and Hudson notifies Richard. His timing is impeccable, because a detective has come to ask Richard about his former employee. Alfred senses that the walls are closing in on him and grabs Edward, whom he holds at knifepoint, while resisting arrest for the murder of a Lithuanian gentleman. (John Iodice)

Writer: Jeremy Paul
Designer: Roger Hall
Director: Bill Bain
Regular cast: Rose, Edward, Mrs Bridges, Richard Bellamy, Hudson, Sir Geoffrey Dillon, Ruby
Guest cast: George Innes (Alfred), Leon Sinden (Det. Inspector Bowles), Bernard Barnsley (Police Sergeant)

Countess Lili de Ternay, notorious for pursuing older, wealthy men, and her sly brother, Kurt, arrive in London, seeking to exploit an English gentleman of means. With a copy of Burke's Peerage in tow, they manage an invitation to dinner at Eaton Place. Lili assures Hazel that Richard is an old friend and begins to make overtures towards him; however, James and Hazel see through her ruse. Kurt discovers that Richard is broke – the Southwold inheritance having gone to James and Elizabeth – and sets his sights on a very rich Greenwich family. Richard and Lili think it best to stop meeting – a poignant parting of the ways as they have grown quite fond of each other. Meanwhile, starting work downstairs is eccentric new maid, Gwyneth. Though quite capable and pleasant, the servants become suspicious of her when Richard notices that a few objects have gone missing from his room. Hazel feels compassion for the lonely girl, who admits to being the culprit – having taken a fancy towards her master – and promises to return all of the belongings. Imbued with the wanderlust, Gwyneth leaves without giving notice, telling Rose that it's time for her to move on for she is "desirous of change". (John Iodice)

Writer: Fay Weldon
Designer: Roger Hall
Director: Lionel Harris
Regular cast: Rose, Hudson, Mrs Bridges, Hazel Bellamy, James Bellamy, Richard Bellamy, Edward, Ruby
Guest cast: Angela Browne (Contesse Lili de Ternay), Sandor Eles (Kurt Schnabel), Janet Lees Price (Gwyneth Davies)

This episode had a working title of A Polished Surface.

Richard Bellamy is given an insider's stock tip from a former acquaintance. In return, Richard's is asked that he not disclose how he came about this information and Richard gives his word of honour. His investment is tripled within a month and a cloud of suspicion wreaks havoc on Richard's political career and the Bellamy household. All of this can be settled if Richard divulges the man's identity, but Richard is duty bound to his pledge. Hazel figures out a way to clear Richard's name, his source is revealed and Richard is livid with his new daughter-in-law. (John Iodice)

Writer: Anthony Skene
Designer: John Clements
Director: Christopher Hodson
Regular cast: Mrs Bridges, Hudson, Richard Bellamy, Hazel Bellamy, James Bellamy, Sir Geoffrey Dillon, Edward, Ruby
Guest cast: John Horsley (Jack Challen), Edward Palmer (Bunting), Peter Cellier (Henry Pritchett MP), Kenneth Watson (Arthur Naws), Anthony Sharp (Johnson Munby MP), Geoffrey Lumsden (Sir William Trevanion KC MP), John Gabriel (Reuben Chantry MP), Alastair Hunter (Sir Percy Devenish MP)

James and Hazel spend a weekend at Sommerby Park, home of Lord and Lady Newbury. There are other members of the upper crust assembled and the plan is to humiliate Hazel. Hazel is persuaded by the others to defy James' proscription against her joining in a hunt, but she is nearly killed when her horse bolts. James is livid with his wife's behaviour. Meanwhile, in an adjacent bedroom, an older, married gentleman attempts to seduce her. Hazel has had more than her fill of these antics and abruptly "bolts" back to London, leaving James behind, and returns to the safe haven of Eaton Place. (John Iodice)

Writer: John Hawkesworth
Designer: John Clements
Director: Cyril Coke
Regular cast: Hazel Bellamy, Richard Bellamy, Rose, James Bellamy, Major Cochrane-Danby, Edward, Mrs Cochrane-Danby, Diana Newbury, Breeze, Joseph, Cecile, Henry, Bunny Newbury, Lord Charles Gilmour
Guest cast: Kate Coleridge (Mrs Tewkesbury) [Uncredited: Irene Peters (Maid), Rachel Gibson (Double for Meg Wynn Owen), The Cottesmore Hunt]

With the newlyweds away, Richard welcomes his mother-in-law, Lady Southwold, and her ward, Miss Georgina Worsley, to Eaton Place for a quiet Christmas. The teenage Georgina befriends her contemporary, the new houseparlourmaid, Daisy Peel. Georgina is deeply moved by Daisy's sad recollections of her impoverished family in London's East End. With good intentions and a sense of adventure, Georgina enlists Daisy to raid the Bellamy pantry and bring Yuletide cheer to Daisy's family in Hoxton. Upon arrival, Georgina is shocked by the squalor she encounters and, back at Eaton Place, Richard and Lady Southwold are very worried that the pair have gone missing. Despite considerable scolding upon their safe return, Georgina and Daisy have the true meaning of Christmas in their heart. (John Iodice)

Writers: [Alfred Shaughnessy and] Deborah Mortimer^*
Designer: John Clements
Director: Christopher Hodson
Regular cast: Daisy, Hudson, Mrs Bridges, Richard Bellamy, Edward, Rose, Ruby, Georgina
Guest cast: Cathleen Nesbitt (Lady Southwold), Jennifer McEvoy (Mrs Peel), Dan Gillan (Bill)

^* This episode was largely rewritten by script editor Alfred Shaughnessy.

The very high-spirited Edward engages in footman gossip while enjoying a relaxing evening at The Crown and Anchor pub. Edward relates to his chums what he witnessed during his recent stay at Sommerby Park: that one Lord Charles Gilmour was romancing the very married Lady Tewkesbury. A private investigator overhears Edward's chatter and the young valet becomes embroiled in a scandalous divorce case Lord Tewkesbury is filing against his wife, citing Lord Charles Gilmour as her lover. Edward is the key witness. Loose lips create many problems and the double standard of the world of the upper class is not lost on Richard nor the servants. (John Iodice)

Writer: Jeremy Paul
Designer: John Clements
Director: Cyril Coke
Regular cast: Rose, Hudson, Sir Geoffrey Dillon, Richard Bellamy, Lady Prudence Fairfax, Edward, Lord Charles Gilmour, Daisy, Ruby, Joseph
Guest cast: Bernard Archard (Colonel Harry Tewkesbury), Walter Horsbrugh (Trumper), Thomas Heathcote (Clough), Robin Sachs (Robert), David Goodland (John), Frank Tregear (Dillon's Clerk)

On a crowded London bus, Rose has a chance encounter with an Australian sheep farmer, Gregory Wilmot. He woos Rose, who is very cautious and suspicious about his attention. After a week of outings, Rose is smitten by this captivating man. She invites Gregory to Eaton Place for tea to meet her "family". Mrs Bridges is charmed by Gregory, but Hudson is sceptical. Gregory proposes marriage to Rose in front of the staff and Rose accepts. Hudson is stunned that Rose would leave the comfortable, familiar world she has known for the Australian outback. After a tearful goodbye in the servants' hall and best wishes from Captain James and Hazel, Rose departs... but returns abruptly. Her reasons are dubious but Hazel comforts her. Resigned, Rose accepts her lot: she is destined to stay in service in the Bellamy household for the rest of her days. (John Iodice)

Writer: Jeremy Paul
Designer: Roger Hall
Director: Christopher Hodson
Regular cast: Mrs Bridges, Hudson, Rose, James Bellamy, Hazel Bellamy, Edward, Ruby
Guest cast: Keith Barron (Gregory Wilmot), Mitzi McKenzie (Teashop Assistant), Robin Ford (Shipping Clerk), Julia Sutton (Dorothy Mathews^*), Robert McBain (Hamish Mathews^*), Joyce Windsor (Mother) [Uncredited: Derek Chafer (Tram Conductor), Diana Chapman (Teashop Waitress), Colin Barrie (Son), Laurence Archer (Second Shipping Clerk), Jill Goldstone, Barbara Bermel, Lesley Hand, David Cleeve, Richard King, Roy Pearce (Dancers), Bill Povey, Julian Gaillard, Jock Cummings, Judd Proctor, Max Harris (Musicians), Romeo Bertie (?), Kevin Moran, Ken Tracey, Karen Burch, Alan Peters, Pat Qualye, Kathleen Morris, David Billa, Dennis Plenty, Ronald Gough, Ann Plenty, Elaine Williams, Bunny S__man, David Eynon, Stuart Myers, Lewis Alexander, Sonnie Willis, Adele _____, Aileen Lewis, Lola Morice, Jean Channon, Iona Macrae, Lorna Kilner, Tina Winter, Jenny Elsden, Jackie Elsden, Derek Hunt, Terry Sartain, Gary Dean, Willie Beauman, Ray Edkins, Les Ames, Keith Goodman, David Melbourne (Non-speaking artists at dance), Freddie White, Tom O'Leary, Lois Kentish, Jean Hilton, Rikki Lancing, Vi Delma, Emmett Hennessy, Bill Lodge, Renee Roberts, Betsy White, Terry Francis, Sylvia Osborne (Extras in teashop, tram and shipping office)]

^* Note the spelling of "Mathews" here compared with the credits of Home Fires in Season Four.

In the midst of a relentless London heatwave, Hazel suffers a miscarriage. James is indifferent toward his wife's distress, as his focus is now on his step-cousin, Georgina, who has come to live at Eaton Place. Richard is alarmed at his son's behaviour, and things come to a head when Hazel and James engage in a fierce argument. Richard intervenes and James demands that his father move out of the household. Downstairs, Rose and Hudson engage in rigorous verbal sparring at the turn of events upstairs and Daisy, through her tears, succumbs to the mounting tension in the household. As Britain is about to become engulfed in the First World War, the occupants of 165, both upstairs and down, are uncertain what the future will bring. (John Iodice)

Writer: Alfred Shaughnessy
Designer: John Emery
Director: Bill Bain
Regular cast: Hudson, Rose, Hazel Bellamy, Richard Bellamy, James Bellamy, Ruby, Georgina Worsley, Daisy
Guest cast: none

Mrs Bridges has taken a shine to Albert Lyons, purveyor of fish and poultry to the Bellamy household. She invites him to downstairs luncheon and becomes increasingly smitten with him. Upstairs, Hazel tells Richard that she plans to leave James and hopes "to seek refuge with her typewriting machine somewhere". The servants go on a day trip to Herne Bay during a bank holiday and Mrs Bridges is dismayed by her chance encounter with a drunken Mr Lyons. With the invasion of Belgium, Britain is irrevocably involved in the European conflict; Captain James leaves Hazel and Richard to report for duty and Richard tells Hazel that she is needed now more than ever at Eaton Place. That pleasant order of life the Richard has known and loved – the world of the late Lady Marjorie – has starkly come to an end forever. (John Iodice)

Writer: John Hawkesworth
Designer: Andrew Drummond
Director: Bill Bain
Regular cast: Rose, Mrs Bridges, Hazel Bellamy, James Bellamy, Richard Bellamy, Hudson, Edward, Georgina Worsley, Ruby, Daisy
Guest cast: Frank Middlemass (Albert Lyons), Paul Alexander (Hon. Billy Lynton), Raymond Barry (Mr Lyons' friend). Pierrots: Peter Honri (Uncle Claude), Paul Haley (Uncle George), Avril Fane (Auntie Lil) [Uncredited: Devon Ericson (Girl in pink dress at Pierrot show), Peter Armitage (Man at Pierrot show), Stuart Myers, Bill Herbert, Sue Bishop, Judy Nicholls, Michael Moore, Ken Tracey, David Billa (Extras at Country House), Constance Carling, Barbara Bermel, Alan Casley, Geoff Witherick, Keith Norrish, Bill Lodge, David Cleeve, Tom O'Leary, John Dolan, Colin Barrie, Elizabeth Balogh, Grace Dolan, Cy Town, Laurence Archer (Extras in studio)]