Sam, a widower, is co-proprietor of Cresta Cabs, a London-based minicab company. His partner, Dexter, is unreliable to say the least and proves it by throwing jimself into the Thames and bequeathing a host of debts to the beleaguered business.

His bimbo widow, Tina, fails to see the difficulty in this situation and, with as incompetent a crew of drivers as it is possible to hire, Sam is left to tear out his hair.

Among the cabbies is Phil, a frustrated rock musician whose relationship with waitress Chrissie (children Cher and Madonna) is on the rocks.

Ever-optimistic part-timer Baz also works as a postman and spends his social hours taking his latest dating-agency acquaintance to his favourite Chinese restaurant. The presence of his step-son, Marlon, only makes his life more difficult.

Of the other characters, Andre is the stud, with children all over the place; Rajiv, the intelligent one who helps with the firm's books; Cambridge, the easily duped graduate; Barry, the loudmouth; Henry, the African who can never find his way; and Reen, the unhappily married radio operator who still has feelings for old flame Sam.