Harbour Lights

A diving accident kills Pete Ford, a close friend of former Royal Navy officer Mike Nicholls. Having accepted the post of harbourmaster at Bridehaven, his old hometown, Mike hopes the job will help put his past behind him, but Pete's grieving family aren't ready to let the dust settle. Meanwhile, Jason Blade tries to settle a score with Mike that results in Jason's brother becoming Mike's deputy.

An abandoned yacht in the water just outside the harbour triggers an investigation by Mike and Melanie. When they discover the vessel belonged to Paddy, an itinerant salesman having an affair with Aunt Nicholls, Mike organises a search involving the police and the coastguard. As they attempt to map out Paddy's route from Heymouth to Bridehaven, Mike starts to realize there's more to the story.

Mike is alarmed by the behaviour of Alan Semple, a Falklands veteran who descends on Bridehaven with a group of sea cadets for training. Mike is particularly concerned for the safety of cadet Joanna Ellis, who seems to be the constant target of Semple's ridicule. Meanwhile, Jane wants to rekindle her relationship with Mike, but he decides to invite Melanie to the harbourmaster association's ball.

Suicidal holidaymaker Arthur Denton arrives in Bridehaven, and slowly his story of a tragic honeymoon 30 years earlier begins to unfold. Jane begins working at the bingo hall and decides to spice things up with an exciting revamp. Rita takes the blame for Jason's drunken antics, even though it could put her behind bars for a long time. Mike's relationship with Melanie continues to blossom.

A Rastafarian birdwatcher, Cordell Johnson, ruffles a few feathers among those drawn to Bridehaven by the sighting of a rare specimen. Mike receives word that a narcotics drop is due to take place in the harbour any day soon. Suspecting that Cordell may be involved, he decides to keep a close eye on him. With Jane and Melanie vying for his affections, Mike unwittingly manages to rebuff both women.

Tony's latest land deal, a bid to purchase a stretch of coastline known as "Paradise," is scuppered by a toxic spillage, which sparks an investigation by Mike and Steve. George is delighted at the news, having turned himself into an eco-warrior. Jason's increasingly erratic behaviour begins to set off alarm bells. As Mel settles into her new flat in Hartlepool, Mike invites Jane over for dinner.

Tony is lovestruck when his estranged wife, Holly, returns home unexpectedly and claims that she wants to get back together with him. Mike becomes suspicious, and he and Jane join forces to investigate, suspecting that Holly's ultimate aim is to fleece him.

Mike devises a plan to relieve the off-season boredom by encouraging locals to practice lifesaving skills on an inflatable whale, following an incident in West Bay in which a stranded whale died. Jason faces up to his responsibilities and decides to visit his mother in prison. As Mike's romance with Jane continues to blossom, Jason worries over his sister's new boyfriend, a local DJ.

A ship carrying a consignment of vintage Scotch belonging to Tony Simpson is hit by an unexpected storm surge, and the crew ditch the cargo before being rescued. As the consignment washes up on the beach, Jason and George smuggle it away, while Tony tries to track it down with the help of PC Busby. When Jane's ex-boyfriend turns up, she feels torn between her feelings for Mike and her ex.

Jane and Philip decide to celebrate their engagement with a party. Mike believes that he is powerless to intervene and contemplates taking a long trip away on his faithful boat. Having been offered a potential promotion to sergeant, Melanie returns to Bridehaven to take up her former job. As Jane's party draws to a close, a forlorn Mike hands over to his deputy and says goodbye to Bridehaven.