Indian Summers - Episode Guide

Ralph Whelan and the rest of the Indian Civil Service begin the annual move to Simla where the doyenne of British society Cynthia Coffin prepares the exclusive white British Club for the summer season.

Sarah becomes suspicious of Alice's past and begins some detective work to uncover the real reasons behind her move to India.

It's the Sipi Fair in Simla, the only time in the year that the Indian community are allowed onto the grounds of the British Club.

There's much excitement in Simla as the Viceroy arrives. Ralph is troubled when he discovers that the only evidence that linked Chandru Mohan to the Congress Party is missing.

Ralph tries to take advantage of divisions among the Indian communities. Cynthia is shocked by Eugene's revelation about his finances. Sarah places Alice in a very difficult position.

The pressure continues to mount on Ralph as Jaya reveals the real reason for her visit to Simla. A mountaineer saves Alice, Madeleine and Ronnie from a perilous situation.

Simla is buzzing as it prepares for the annual amateur dramatic production, but the play is overshadowed by the news that a murder victim has been found in the river.

The British community turn out in force for the murder trial. Ian is wracked with guilt about his part in Ramu's arrest and Leena is torn apart in the witness box.

Madeleine is dealt some devastating news, and Alice is terrified when Sarah threatens to tell everyone that Alice's husband is alive. Tensions between Ralph and Cynthia escalate.

In the final episode, Ramu Sood's fate is left in Ralph's hands, a vote takes place at the club to lift the colour bar, and Alice and Aafrin prepare to go public with their relationship.

The drama picks up in 1935. A terrorist attack against the British Viceroy of India puts Aafrin in the frame, while Cynthia urges Ralph to make a play for the top job.

Aafrin's wounded comrade Naresh is convinced someone has betrayed him. The truth is discovered by Aafrin who struggles to contain himself when it is much more dark and dangerous than he had been lead to believe. Cynthia wants to send Alice back home to England. Alice however does not want to go anywhere with her disturbed husband. Ralph's ambitions come crashing down.

Aafrin's troubles deepen as his personal and political worlds collide, while Ralph needs to befriend the slippery but powerful Maharajah of Patiala and his mistress Sirene.

The club holds a fashion show, but the glamorous evening turns ugly when a horrifying attack is made on a guest, with the identity of the culprit a mystery. Ralph takes it upon himself to play detective and bring the perpetrator to justice himself, but the truth turns out to be more terrible than he could have imagined and threatens to leave his political career in tatters. Elsewhere, Sirene continues to cause chaos in Simla, as she clashes with Cynthia and wreaks havoc in Ralph and Madeleine's marriage

Lord Hawthorne, badly burned and barely alive, is determined to seek revenge on his attacker and orders the police to arrest Adam. Ralph and Cynthia's plan to save Adam is thrown into disarray when an earthquake hits Simla. In the middle of the chaos, Ralph uncovers a shocking secret about his past which throws new light on his family history and threatens to end his relationship with Cynthia forever. Meanwhile, Alice finally decides to take a stand against her abusive husband.

As Simla gathers to celebrate King George's Silver Jubilee, Aafrin is trapped in a nightmare. The terrorist Naresh Banerjee is plotting a bomb strike at the picnic. Can Aafrin stop the attack, while protecting his secret life of betrayal and espionage? In a race against the clock, Aafrin needs to enlist the help of his sister Sooni, but in doing so puts her in the line of fire and leaves her fighting for her life.

The Maharajah returns to Simla, and offers Ralph his political support - at a price. Ralph is forced to consider how far he is prepared to go to achieve his ambitions as his marriage enters its darkest hour. Sarah also returns to help with the aftermath of the bombing, and her appearance prompts Cynthia to reveal a secret from her past.

Alice and Aafrin plan to flee the country, and Cynthia offers to help them escape to Australia. However, Charlie comes dangerously close to uncovering their plan. Ian drowns his sorrows following Sooni's decision, which leads him to accidentally stumble on a surprising revelation about an old friend that could put a stop to Ralph's political ambitions.

Ralph faces his darkest hour as his life starts to spiral out of control. As the announcement of the new Viceroy leaves his ambitions in tatters, he realises those closest to him have been conspiring behind his back. Having discovered the truth about his wife's affair, a ruthless Charlie stops at nothing to orchestrate Aafrin's downfall. Alice tries to save her lover, but Charlie is in no mood to be conciliatory as he plots to see Aafrin hanged for treason.

Alice and Charlie prepare to leave India for good. Ralph and Aafri make momentous decisions about their careers. Cynthia is in a bidding war as Chotipool goes under the hammer.

Writer Paul Rutman is joined by Julie Walters and the rest of the cast and crew to discuss the real history behind the drama, and the ambitious undertaking that brought Indian Summers to life.