In the normal scheme of things, Flatpack on the Water doesn’t exist. That is, of course, unless you tip your head to an angle of fourteen and a half degrees from the horizontal.

When the resident village vagrant dies from greengage-tartlet poisoning, the search is on to find a replacement. Atticus ‘Maxie’ Malleable, an irritating windbag, is sent forth into the world to identify and employ a suitable individual.

Meanwhile, Edward St. Claire, a selfish, shallow sales-executive has been having an ill-considered affair with his company-chairman’s daughter. When this fact becomes public knowledge, he is sacked on the spot.

The two men meet on a deserted country lane and Maxie delivers the good news that Edward has been chosen to become the new village vagrant, a job that attracts a handsome salary, paid in Brogues. Edward dismisses this as a cruel joke.

He wakes the following morning to find that he has arrived in the village. It is St Gruntle’s day; the annual village celebration, and Edward is expected to play a central and often-humiliating role in the festivities.

And, there is no escape...