Starlings follows the lives of a typical working-class brood who live near Matlock in Derbyshire. Granddad has recently moved in, following a rabble-rousing incident at the old folks' home. Rather than see him unhappy, Terry and his warm-hearted wife, Jan, decide to move his father in to their already crammed family home.

Making room for him is Charlie, their 16-year-old football-crazy tomboy daughter; work-shy, reptile enthusiast, Gravy; and beautiful Bell and her brand new baby, Zac, who arrives bang on time for the first episode. Then there's Bell's ex-boyfriend, Reuben, trying to get back with her.

Uncle Loz, Granddad's long-lost son and the artist of the family; and last, but not least, Jan's nephew, Fergie, who offers to bivouac in the garden, after being made homeless when his long-suffering partner chucks him out. And that's it, Starlings - a fully-fledged functional family.