George Cole plays the archetypal dad of the title, blissfully unaware of how easily he can drive his son, Alan, to distraction. Alan, in turn, desperately wants to communicate with his own son, Vincent-and he is determined that Vincent doesn't suffer the same childhood embarrasments he remembers so vividly. But his attempts, although well-meant, often end in disaster. In the midst of it all Alan's wife, Beryl, keeps the peace, tends the wounds and tries (usually unsuccessfully) to inject some sanity into the proceedings.