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Episode 1

The A Word Series 2
Episode 1 of 6

When Joe says the word 'autistic' for the first time, seeing it as something bad, Paul and Alison know they need to talk to him about it.

Two years on, in the idyllic landscape of the Lake District, seven-year-old Joe is growing up and changing. He has started to notice he's different from other kids. And when he says the word 'autistic' out loud, seeing it as something bad, Alison and Paul know they must talk to their son. But how do they broach the subject with a child for whom language is already a struggle? And how do they respond to the news that Joe is struggling at school far more than they thought?

Also growing up is Joe's sister, Rebecca. Now 19, she's been travelling round Africa on a gap year and crashes back into the family home with a backpack, a tattoo and a boyfriend, James. Having met Rebecca's family, and her kid brother, James can't wait to get away again. But it's clear Rebecca has other ideas.

Two years after splitting from Nicola, Eddie is the one that got away. He has a new life in Manchester, with a flat and a good job. But he can't quite shake the old Eddie off, not least because Nicola keeps dragging him back to the Lakes. Having never told her parents that she and Eddie are divorced, Nicola is horrified when they turn up for a surprise visit.

Maurice is feeling awkward too when he finds himself on old flame Louise's doorstep. They've hardly spoken in two years, but all that's about to change when Louise's son Ralph applies for a job at Scott's Brewery.

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59 minutes

Last on

Tue 7 Nov 2017 21:00
BBC One

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:24

    The Wedding Present

    Brassneck

  • 00:52

    Buzzcocks

    Autonomy

  • 00:56

    The Wedding Present

    Sticky

Credits

Alison Hughes Morven Christie
Paul Hughes Lee Ingleby
Eddie Scott Greg McHugh
Nicola Daniels Vinette Robinson
Joe Hughes Max Vento
Rebecca Hughes Molly Wright
Maurice Scott Christopher Eccleston
Gary Mallard Craig McDonald-Kelly
Terry Norris George Bukhari
Mr Elliot William Fox
Mrs Hankin Erin Shanagher
Mrs Payne Marie Critchley
Ramesh Ibrahim Ismail
Sarah Hibbs Gemma Paige North
Linda Michelle Tate
Bill Harrison Newell-Parker
Emily Scott Emelia Rae Levy
Grace Daniels Clare Holman
Vincent Daniels Jude Akuwudike
James Thorne Aaron Pierre
Louise Wilson Pooky Quesnel
Ralph Wilson Leon Harrop
David Nowak Adam Wittek
Pavel Kaminski Tommie Grabiec
Maisie Scarlett Hodgson
Ella Fiona Luo
Olly Austin Haynes
Harry Alfie Porter
Sam Archie Cawthra
Dr Graves Daniel Cerqueira
Sophie Berwick Lucy Gaskell
Mark Berwick Travis Smith
Writer Peter Bowker
Producer Jenny Frayn
Director Sue Tully
Production Company Fifty Fathoms Productions Ltd

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