Rising Damp

The new tenant, Osborne, seemingly dies after eating a bowl of Miss Jones's home‑made soup, prompting concern among the household. Yet it is Rigsby who is ultimately measured for a coffin, turning the situation on its head in a surprising twist.

Suddenly at Home is a programme presented as a single episode. It sits within the episode genre, delivering a self‑contained story that unfolds inside the series’ framework. The title hints at a domestic setting, and the piece is crafted to convey its narrative in a concise, episodic format. In this instalment, the newly arrived tenant Osborne appears to meet an untimely end after he consumes a bowl of Miss Jones’s homemade soup. The scene gives the impression that the soup has been fatal, leading the characters – and the audience – to believe Osborne has died on the spot. The tension centres on the unexpected consequences of a simple, home‑cooked meal. Despite the apparent death of Osborne, the storyline takes a turn when Rigsby, another resident, is the one who ends up being measured for a coffin. This reversal shifts the focus from Osborne’s presumed demise to Rigsby’s unexpected fate, highlighting a darkly comic twist. The episode concludes with the measurement scene, underscoring the irony that the person thought to be safe is the one facing the final arrangement. Throughout the episode, Miss Jones’s role as the cook becomes a focal point, as her soup inadvertently triggers the chain of events. Meanwhile, the measurement of the coffin for Rigsby provides a visual reminder of the unexpected turn, reinforcing the episode’s darkly humorous tone.