Claire McCarthy

Maxine Clarke never made it to the big time as part of girl group Variety, but is still desperately trying to cling on to her dream as the (failing) music manager for teen pop group Sweet Gyal. However, Maxine finds herself in crisis when, fed up with her trying to live vicariously through them and her embarrassing attempts to get them a record deal, Sweet Gyal threaten to drop her. But Maxine's come up with a plan, a comeback. This time, bigger, bolder and, well... older. Who cares about a hip young girl group anyway?! What the world is really missing is Mum Pop.

To recover a silver lion ornament for singer Emma Bunton Tim travels back to the court of Henry Vlll where Anne Boleyn (Emma again) asks jester Tim to send invitations to the guests for her Christmas party. However Cardinal Wolsey aims to steal them so that they will come to his own party and Tim must thwart him.