In the last years of Victoria's reign, London is beset by the "Touched": people — mostly women — who suddenly manifest abnormal abilities, some charming, some very disturbing. Among them are Amalia True, a mysterious, quick-fisted widow, and Penance Adair, a brilliant young inventor. They are the champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched, while fighting the forces of… well, pretty much all the forces — to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place.

Stevenage-based builders Lee and Dean are brothers from other mothers, inseparable best friends since they first met at school. That is until Lee meets and falls in love with Nikki and she moves into their flat.

Jimmy Carr hosts proceedings as the 8 Out of 10 Cats crew take over the words and numbers quiz.

Horror novelist Luke Sinclair retreats to a small town to finish writing his latest book. A young woman is murdered in the woods nearby, in circumstances similar to those in his bestselling novel, "Reaper". Faced with increasing pressure from a suspicious local sheriff, as well as the advances of a female FBI investigator, he must uncover the killer before he or she strikes again, further implicating him in the crime.

Ian has achieved such a high level of British citizenship that he is to be transformed into a swan. We follow Ian and his wife Donna in their preparations for this transformation.