The ambitious and super-confident 17-year-old Tony Stonem plans to help his best friend, the perpetually half asleep virgin Sid Jenkins, to get laid. He also hopes to earn money selling illegal drugs. Abigail's party seems like the perfect place to do both.
Cassie's parents and most of her friends believe that she is over her eating disorder. The good-natured and likeable Sid seems to be the only person who thinks otherwise or even to care. However, he is distracted by his feelings for Michelle, his best friend's girlfriend, and threats of castration from a drug dealer
Jal is an aspiring classical musician at school. But her father and two brothers don't seem to respect her ability. In addition, she gets unwanted attention and encouragement-- based on her race--from the school administration. Michelle, her best friend, is too busy with Tony to offer support so she relies Sid. Jal's life gets even more complicated and dangerous later.
Chris' mother has left home, leaving Chris with £ 1000. Chris finds himself destitute after spending the money on a party. Cassie asks Sid on a date. Chris turns to Angie as the only person who can help him. But what will Angie do?
Sid's highly strung father is furious at him as he has failed most of his college coursework. Although he is very intelligent, Sid is easily distracted, particularly by his love for Michelle. Tony's promise to let him go out with her delights Sid but has the opposite effect on Cassie.
Maxxie and Anwar find their friendship being tested.
Michelle's mother decides to get married again, and Michelle is not happy with her new step sister.
Tony finds himself making friends with an unlikely person.
A mysteriously shy girl named Sketch is stalking Maxxie.
Sid is upset when he sees Cassie having the time of her life in Scotland. Things get worse when his grandfather shows up to say he is dying and to say goodbye.
Michelle's mother decides to get married again, and Michelle is not happy with her new step sister.
Chris' life is going down-hill fast, but what happens when Jal gives him a challenge?
Ever since the accident, Tony has been trying to become like his old self. No-one seems to understand him, not even himself, but what effect will the strange girl at a prospective college have on him?
Effy needs to fix her personal problems within her life along with her school life.
Keeping her pregnancy a secret is becoming impossible for Jal.
There's something wrong with Cassie, and when everything gets too much, she runs.
Each member of the gang say their final farewells to Chris as they go on their separate ways.
It’s the first day of term at Roundview College and a new gang is forming. Best friends Freddie , JJ and Cook are en-route to college. Their world collides with Effy’s, and Cook is intrigued – this trouble maker has met his match. However, both Freddie and JJ are equally smitten.
Identical twin sisters, Katie and Emily, prepare for their first day; as per usual, Katie walks all over her sister Emily. Once at college, Effy and Katie clock one another immediately, whilst Effy’s best mate Pandora tells Effy she wants to lose her virginity "asap".
At college, Cook tries to charm the girl sitting next to him but instead winds her up. Naomi doesn’t suffer fools gladly and grasses Cook up.
Effy issues smitten Freddie, JJ and Cook with a challenge to be completed by the end of the day. The winner will get to ‘know her’ better.
And so the first day at college begins...
It’s Cook’s (Jack O’Connell) 17th birthday, and half the college have been invited to his uncle’s pub to witness a night Cook believes will go down in history. The girls get are about to leave when Freddie (Luke Pasqualino) gets a phone call from his sister Karen (Klariza Clayton). She’s at her best friend Kayleigh’s (Amy Burnett) engagement party and they want to get the party started. The gang head off uninvited. Cook attracts the attention of Kayleigh’s dad, notorious local gangster Johnny White (Mackenzie Crook). The party is a timid affair, so - ignoring Freddie’s warnings about Johnny White - Cook decides to do as the Cookie monster does and up the tempo, and the evening takes a turn for the worst.
Thomas (Merveille Lukeba) arrives alone in the UK from the Congo. His family are due to join him in a few days, and he has to find somewhere for them to live. He finds an abandoned flat on an estate, but little does he know that local gangster Johnny White (Mackenzie Crook) is his new landlord, and there’s no way Johnny’s going to let him live there for free. Thomas has to fend for himself, but a chance encounter at a bus stop, and a mutual love of donuts brings him together with Pandora (Lisa Backwell) and Effy (Kaya Scoledario).
It’s fate for Pandora and Thomas, who hit it off immediately – she takes him to see her Aunt Elizabeth (Maureen Lipman), who just might have the answer to Thomas’s insolvency, with a rather unconventional money-making scheme.
With the first and only boy Pandora’s (Lisa Backwell) ever fancied having been deported, Pandora is desperate to have some fun and decides to throw a party. Unbeknown to Pandora, Katie (Megan Prescott) has used some rather special ingredients in the chocolate brownies, which take the party to another level. Effy (Kaya Scodelario) knows, but hasn’t warned Pandora or her Mum Angela (Sally Phillips) who is munching happily on the choccie treats. Effy can only look on while her best friend’s Mum’s behaviour gets increasingly bizarre.
An angry Pandora grabs the fun where she can, and towards the end of the evening let’s her heart rule her head... but will she regret it the morning?
Freddie’s (Luke Pasqualino) the black sheep of his family. His big sister Karen (Klariza Clayton) has ambitions - she’s reached the final of a TV talent show to find a new member of girl group Da Sexxbombz. Freddie despises her lust for celebrity but is emotionally blackmailed into upholding the story Karen and their Dad, Leo (Simon Day), are spinning. On top of this, living in the shadow of the increasingly reckless Cook (Jack O’Connell) is becoming too much to bear. When Effy (Kaya Scoledario) turns up at his shed, Freddie doesn’t know what to do with himself; there’s a always been a connection between them. Freddie feels torn between his family, his friends, and his heart, and the isolation is overwhelming. Will Freddie start to put himself first, or will he retreat to his shed, and beloved skateboard, as he always has before?
Naomi (Lily Loveless) thinks she has the world worked out, and puts people in their appropriate boxes. There's her hippy mum (Olivia Colman); the adoration from Emily (Kathryn Prescott); Cook's (Jack O'Connell) insulting misogyny; and her politics teacher, Kieran's (Ardal O'Hanlon), flattery. She thinks she has them all sussed, and that it's only her who can see the truth. However, the upcoming student elections leave her at a loss, and her insecurities get the better of her. The trust and confidence inspired by a friend encourages her to stand up to her arch rival, the antithesis of everything she stands for, as her and Cook go head to head; but Naomi learns that nothing is black and white anymore.
JJ’s (Ollie Barbieri ) feeling lost and confused. The upset within the gang has taken its toll on him, and his fine balancing act has come unstuck. When he visits his psychiatric clinic, he just gets given more drugs. At home, his mother (Juliet Cowan) is worn out with it all, and away from the home, JJ can see his friends coming apart at the seams. With Effy (Kaya Scodelario) at such a low ebb, and the chance discovery of Cook (Jack O’Connell), Freddie (Luke Pasqualino) and Pandora’s (Lisa Backwell) secrets, he feels the burden to be overwhelming. But an unlikely member of the gang - Emily (Kathryn Prescott ) - proves to be the true friend at his time of need.
Effy (Kaya Scodelario) is at the lowest point, but this time there’s no older brother at home to notice; and home life has deteriorated so much that it’s even harder than ever for her to communicate. Katie (Megan Prescott), having usurped Effy as Queen Bee, takes every opportunity to rub in her superiority and highlight the fact that Freddie (Luke Pasqualino) is her man, and Effy is to keep her hands off. She invites Effy to a party in the woods, but there are stipulations - Effy has to drive, and Cook is not welcome. As they all head off, the car strains with tension - as secrets and rivalries build. Their paranoid state increases when they have a frightening run in with some poachers. Freddie manages to lighten the mood, and as they arrive at the campsite, they recover themselves and start to have fun. Effy finds some magic mushrooms, and they experiment. Katie’s jealousy of Effy returns, as Effy becomes the centre of the action. The fun and excitement intensify, that is until it becomes clear someone has been tampering with their stuff. Hearing gun shots, they realise someone is charging towards them. The atmosphere darkens and any fun they were having disappears in an instant. Later, Effy gets the opportunity to follow her heart, but a decision she makes may be difficult to ever recover from.
Katie (Megan Prescott) won’t leave the house. Fortunately, Emily (Kathryn Prescott) is able to disguise herself as her sister, and sits an exam for her, facilitating the self-imposed house-arrest. Emily and Naomi (Lily Loveless) get closer, but when Emily asks Naomi to accompany her to the college ball, she says no – breaking Emily’s fragile heart. Against her better judgement, and under duress, Emily agrees to partner Katie to the ball, and they plan their outfits together. Out shopping, though, Katie sees a way of regaining her hard-sought status at college. When Freddie inadvertently drops the bombshell about Emily and JJ, Katie hatches a plan – making her sister the ultimate victim. Katie’s scheming results in the mother of all show-downs. But she’s the one who has to face her fears and accept some hard truths – she’s not in control any more.
Cook (Jack O’Connell) and Effy (Kaya Scodelario) are in self-imposed exile from the gang, having gone to stay with Cook’s father. Effy is running away from everything she’s ever known and Cook enables her escape. Problem is, Cook is slowly falling out of lust, and in love. Back in Bristol, JJ (Ollie Barbieri) tries to snap Freddie (Luke Pasqualino) out of his depressed stupour, down about the loss of both his best mate, and the girl he loves. Freddie and JJ force Effy to confront who she is and what she really wants. She has to make amends for the damage she’s caused. She also has to decide whether to follow her heart. Can the four friends find a way forward together?
Following an accident at one of his club nights, Thomas questions his own life style. Pandora tries to comfort him but Thomas finds himself turning to God and the African community.
Emily and Naomi are back and still in love. When the police pay a visit to the couple things take a turn for the worse.
Cook is charged with GBH after loosing it at a party and he deices to plead not guilty in court. He ends up being given bail but has to be electronically tagged and is put on a curfew which means he has to stay with his mother. He also ends up being expelled from college. Cook receives a visit from Effy who decides to be honest with the way she feels.
Katie has not seen Emily much since she went to live with Naomi. With her mother now the only breadwinner for the family with her new wedding planning business, Katie tries to help her organise a wedding but things don't go to plan. Katie ends up turning to Emily for support but things just end up getting worse for her.
Freddie finds himself totally digging Effy. They have Stonem house to themselves with Andrea away. They end up in a fight though when Freddie's coursework suffers and he blames it on their relationship. After arguing with his father, Freddie finds himself turning to his grandfather, Norman for some advice.
JJ falls in love with Lara a girl who works at the same place as him. JJ is determined to get her date with her but nobody thinks he is up to the challenge. Cook tries to help him by offering him some advise. JJ soon discovers he will have to beat more hurdles if he is to succeed.
Anthea and counsellor John Foster help Effy so that she can return home. She pays a visit to Freddie but now that her life has strict routines she has set herself they find it hard to pick up from where they left off. Freddie and Anthea are worried about her and it soon becomes obvious that something is not right.
The situation at Naomi's reaches a head and there are several showdowns as the gang head into the adult world.
Rich teams up with Grace so that he can learn how to chat up his ideal girl.
Mini feels under threat after Grace brings Franky to the charity fashion show and she ends up firing both of them. Grace's relationship with Nick is also on the rocks.
Mini ends up befriending the gang so that she can isolate Liv, who is still dating Nick but is spending time escaping from reality with Matty. Their friendship ends up changes forever though after Liv admits the truth to Mini.
Nick is the star of the school but following Matty's reappearance he beomes unsettled and as he sees Matty slip effortlessly into new friendships, old wounds come back to the surface. After realising that everything he thought he wanted is crushing him, Nick leaves it all behind and puts his faith in Matty.
Alo is bored with his life on Creevey Farm and he ends up going to the city so that he can party and try and get laid. His parents decide to take him out of him from college in an attempt to force him to buckle down on the farm. Alo ends up throwing a party at the farm which ends up ruining the place. After his his dad is hospitalised he finally realises that it's time for him to grow up.
Grace believes in fairytales but she fnds herself forced to face reality when Rich meets her father and he threatens to send her back to Mayberry's College for Young Ladies if her grades suffer. Grace's father ends up going back on his word, sending her to Mayberry's anyway even though her grades haven't dropped. Rich ends up asking her to marry her.
Rich and Grace's wedding day arrives and the team are pulling together to make it a good day. Alo is the best man, so it ends up being no surprise that they run into trouble and become separated in Somerset.
The friends are on holiday in Morocco where the villa is only half finished, in the middle of nowhere and without running water. On the flip side though they have managed to find a load of weed under the floorboards. AOL's party-tracking skills are put to the test and they end up at a villa owned by Luke. Franky, unhappy in her relationship with Matty, ends up being drawn towards Luke. Luke and his mate Jake go to see the group the next day. They're in Morocco on business, and have been hiding their weed in the gang's villa. After saying they need the rest of it back, Luke invites everyone to a party being held on a beach. Matty and Franky end up being drawn into a situation beyond their control which has repercussions for everyone.
Rich has been banned by Professor David Blood from going to see Grace in hospital and he is suffering. Alo attempts to keep him out of trouble by organising some band practice, but Rich is committed to Grace and he stands outside the hospital waiting for her to call him. Rich manages to find a way past security after she calls and breaks into her room. Blood decides that Grace is going to be transfered to another hospital in Zurich and Rich goes to to his house to appeal to him not to only to discover that they've already left.
Alex has his first day at college, but he's not worried about fitting in or making any new mates. He ends up catching the eye of another student and they become frinds instantly. Alex sees something special in Liv and she becomes involved in his strange and wonderful world.
Franky is in a bad place as she's unable to concentrate on her studies before some important exams. Her friends have been avoiding her, parental support makes her feel smothered and in her isolation she feels pushed towards Luke.
Mini's mother has hooked up with a pervy new live-in boyfriend who Mini really dislikes. To make matters worse, Alo has broken the rules of their 'no strings attached' relationship and admitted that he is in love with her. Mini decides that she needs to get away and ends up seeking refuge in the arms of her father.
Nick is in love with Franky, but the feelings aren't returned. He attempts to deal with the fact that Franky is nothing more than a friend but his feelings towards her increase. Matty gets in touch with his brother, Nick who is also in love with Franky and needs Nick's help to get him out of Morocco and back to Bristol.
Alo still has no clue that Mini is pregnant with his baby. He attempts to get over her by going out with a new girl called Poppy Champion. Mini is soon a distant memory as things progress between the two of them. Franky's efforts to make Alo see sense fail.
Liv has been partying with her new friend Alex ever since he first showed in Bristol. He ends up disappearing for a dirty weekend though as Liv needs him most. After she attempts to reach out to her old her friends, she finds herself excluded from their lives. Liv is forced to face up to the choices she has made but isn't quite as strong as she thought she was.
Mini and Franky are still in Mini's bedroom, but with Matty back in Bristol and Mini's pregancy becoming more obvuious, time is running out fast for the girls. Things end up coming to a head after Mini's heath takes a turn for the worse.
The exam results are in and Alex is throwing a leaving party that he hopes nobody will ever forget. Everybody's future hangs in the balance as Franky finds it hard to confront her past. The group is still in shock following Grace's death and time is running out for them to make things right.