All six episodes of the ITV drama about a group of Women's Institute members living in a rural Cheshire village during the Second World War. Following the outbreak of war, the Great Paxford WI faces a crisis of their own when their president Joyce Cameron (Francesca Annis) declares the group should be suspended for the duration of the conflict. When Joyce resigns and takes many members with her the remaining women decide to set up their own opposing faction.

But Joyce soon returns to contest the new leadership battle with Frances Barden (Samantha Bond). With the group in turmoil, its members face more conflicts of a personal nature as the impact of the war begins to affect the relationships of Great Paxford.