My last summer.

The group meet one last time to mark Junior's death. Lou’s illness has begun to affect the muscles controlling her breathing. The others are also in declining health; Andy has recently been hospitalised for a recurrent chest infection, and Ben’s tumour has doubled in size. Although previously adamant not prolong his battle with cancer by accepting further treatment, Ben opts to undertake another round of chemotherapy, attributing his changed outlook to the friendships he has developed through participating in the series. Since the last residential, Jayne has been finalising her divorce and waiting to hear if the son she gave up for adoption wishes to make contact. Pain caused by a growing tumour has kept her housebound for a month, and she is withdrawing from friends and family. Junior’s widow Sonja has become increasingly isolated since his death. She talks with brutal honesty about the pain of losing her husband. In an equally frank recorded message for the group, she implores Jayne to let her guard down and occasionally reveal her vulnerability to those close to her. Jayne remains determined not to burden her friends with her illness and wishes to maintain her dignity, and privacy, until the end. The group plant trees in Junior’s – and each other’s – memories. In two and a half years of terminal illness, Lou’s oxygen mask is the only thing she’s ever concealed from her children. Her cover is broken when her youngest, Poppy, walks in as she’s trying it on. Jayne too has reversed her previous decision not to undertake more treatment, agreeing to aggressive radiotherapy. Recently she received an email from the son she gave up from adoption, who has decided not to meet her. Jayne appears at peace with this outcome, describing it as clean closure. A month later, she is admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties and passes away, alone, in the night. Lou and Ben visit her grave, once again forced to confront the harsh realities of their participation in the series. Inspired by Jayne’s enthusiasm for life, Ben reconnects with old colleagues. His latest treatments haven’t proven effective, and, poignantly, in his last appearance on camera, Ben plays the music he has chosen for his funeral service. Sonja has struck up a friendship with the mother of one of Junior’s children, seven year old Earl Junior. He now visits to tend his Dad’s memorial garden at her home once a week. Andy and Annette are moving to the Suffolk coast with the intention of paying off their outstanding debt and improving Andy’s quality of life. Since the move, Andy’s health has taken a turn for the worse. He has become immune to his antibiotics, and there is little his medical team can now do for him. The programme ends with Lou visiting him in hospital.