Foreign Bodies

The second series of The Indian Doctor continues the story of Dr Prem Sharma, the high-flying Delhi graduate, who has come to Britain in the early 1960s as one of the first wave of Indian doctors invited by the health minister, Enoch Powell.

Now, a year after his arrival, Prem faces a new adversary, evangelist preacher Herbert Todd. When an outbreak of smallpox threatens to bring catastrophe to the village, Prem finds himself fighting prejudice and incompetence and locked in a confrontation with the intransigent Todd for the hearts and minds of the villagers.

Prem and his wife Kamini nervously await the arrival of his dreaded mother-in-law, Pushpa. With India gripped by the chaos of a smallpox epidemic, Pushpa is taking the opportunity for a long-overdue inspection of her daughter's new life - and the son-in-law of whom she doesn't approve.

Meanwhile, Reverend Todd is struggling to control his pretty teenage daughter Verity, who is home from boarding school for the summer. He is preparing a slide presentation of his missionary work in Africa, and hopes to win a few new souls for his congregation.

Prem's young receptionist Gina is desperate that the new reverend baptise her baby but, because the child was born out of wedlock, Todd refuses.

Local copper Emlyn visits the doctor suffering from depression - or is it just boredom? There is not much crime in the valleys, and his life has none of the glamour of Z-Cars. Prem suggests Emlyn find some diversions from his routine, with awkward consequences.

Young tearaway Dan is still causing trouble, and seems to have found a kindred spirit in the reverend's wayward daughter. When Dan suddenly starts to feel unwell, Prem is concerned to discover that his fever is very high. But before he can make a proper diagnosis, Dan disappears.