Local entrepreneur Ripley Holden, a brash, charismatic family man, holds a lavish opening for his new showpiece arcade in his beloved home town of Blackpool.

However, his fortunes take a turn for the worse when he discovers the dead body of a young man on the premises. Keen to get the case cleared up, Ripley co-operates with the investigating police officer, DI Peter Carlisle.

But Carlisle takes a dislike to Ripley, which makes him all the more determined to prove the businessman is the culprit.

Family problems add to Ripley's headache; his young son, Danny, is seemingly hiding something and his 20-year-old daughter, Shyanne, brings home an unsuitable new boyfriend - a man Ripley was at school with. Ripley instructs Shyanne's partner to end the relationship. Shyanne is left heartbroken. Meanwhile, Carlisle takes a shine to Natalie, Ripley's wife.