During the first series of THE BROTHERS - a serial from the time in which soap operas dealt with human relationships in a naturalistic manner without outlandish elements – family patriarch and director of Hammon Transport Robert Hammond died while doing the deed with secretary Jennifer Kingsley (Jennifer Wilson, RUN FOR YOUR WIFE). Eldest son Edward (EMERGENCY-WARD 10's Glyn Owen, replaced from series two onward by THE McKENZIE BREAK's Patrick O'Connell) expected to inherit the firm to which he has devoted his life only to find that his father has also left equal shares to his younger brothers – accountant Brian (Richard Easton, FINDING FORESTER) and layabout David (Robin Chadwick, SOME KIND OF HERO) – and, more surprisingly, to Jennifer who is also the mother of Robert's illegitimate daughter Barbara (Julia Goodman, TWENTY-ONE). The first ten episodes consisted of the Edward's attempts to buy out his brothers and Jennifer, Barbara coming to terms with learning of her illegitimacy, Brian's marital problems with chilly wife Ann (Hilary Tindall), David relationship with model Jill (Gabrielle Drake, AU PAIR GIRLS), Jennifer and the brothers learning to work together and counter the sinister machinations of client Sir John Borrett (Hamilton Dyce, BECKET) and the scheming of Robert's widow Mary (Jean Anderson, SCREAMTIME) to control her sons' private lives and get rid of Jennifer (especially once Edward starts seeing her).

Series two finds Mary returning from abroad after a heart attack to meddle in the lives of her sons. The plan for Edward, Brian, David, and Jennifer to expand the business by buying land bordering the firm hits a snag when Australian delivery van company owner Harry Carter (TAGGART's Mark McManus) puts in a considerably higher bid for the property. When Carter attempts to poach their company foreman Bill Riley (Derek Benfield, LIFEFORCE), Brian and David try to convince Edward and Jennifer to propose a merger with Carter's company while retaining the controlling interest; but they may be playing right into Carter's hands as they have rightly divined that his business is in trouble by its association with less than savory guarantors. Mary manages to drive a wedge in between Edward and Jennifer with the unsuspecting help of Edward's old flame Nancy (GHOST SQUAD's Claire Nielson), and their animosity extends to the boardroom where Jennifer sees their talk of mergers and takeovers as a world away from their father's way of doing business and Edward siding with his brothers seemingly to spite her. After Edward confronts his mother about her interference in his life, Mary tries to get at Jennifer through striking up a friendship with Barbara who is getting ready to go off to art school. She also seeks to manipulate Brian's chances of reconciliation with Ann, and Ann accepts her help once she has discovered that Brian is interested in daughter Carol's teacher (Anna Fox). David resumes his relationship with Jill but also begins an affair with her roommate Julie (Gillian McCutcheon, LONDON'S BURNING). At art school, Barbara falls for older, married Nicholas Fox (Jonathan Newth, FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD), causing further tension between her and her mother. Tensions mount at the firm over Carter's use of non-union drivers and the truck drivers threaten a strike while Carter tries to worm his way further into the business by turning David and Brian against Edward (who has both his own vote and an extra casting vote) and encourages them to elect a new chairman. Edward and Jennifer are thrown together as they attempt to save the business from Carter, and may bankrupt the firm in the attempt.