Through a second marriage, Maddy (Caroline Quentin) suddenly finds herself at the head of a modern day extended family - made up of a complication of children, step children, step siblings and half siblings – with a few ex-partners and in-laws thrown in.

Life of Riley explores the dilemmas of modern parenting. Children are cleverer, sharper and more aware of their parents’ faults and weaknesses than ever before. Luckily Maddy is an optimist – and she is very funny, imaginative and clever. Her downfall comes because she tries (or is forced) to take on too much. She could juggle six things, but by going for seven, she drops them all.

In Life of Riley, Maddy will discover that parenting has never been so difficult – or so complicated. And parents have never been so ill equipped to deal with it. Maddy will find herself outwitted at every turn by short people a quarter of her age. Her only weapon is humour and she quickly realises that making jokes and making her family laugh is the only way they are going to get through this.