Gwenda looked at her watch. It was almost time for Big Wheel, her favourite television programme of the week. In fact, thanks to satellite, she could see Big Wheel every night. But Thursdays were special. On Thursday there was a brand new programme – not a repeat.

Gwenda was addicted to Big Wheel. She loved the bright lights of the studio, the mystery prizes, the contestants who might win a million pounds if they got enough questions right and dared to spin the wheel. Best of all, she loved the presenter – Rex McKenna – with his permanent suntan, his jokes, his perfect white smile. Rex was about fifty years old but his hair was still jet black, his eyes glimmered and there was a spring in his step that made him seem much younger. He had been on the show for as long as Gwenda could remember, and although he hosted two other quiz programmes as well as a dancing competition on the BBC, it was in Big Wheel that Gwenda liked him best.

“Is it on yet?” she called from the kitchen.

There was no reply from Brian. He hadn’t been talking very much lately, either.

She reached into a cupboard and took out a tin of beans. It wasn’t exactly what you’d call a feast but it had been a while since either of them had earned any money and she was beginning to feel the pinch. She looked around the kitchen for a clean plate but there weren’t any. Every surface was covered with dirty crockery, a tower of soiled plates and bowls rose out of the sink. Gwenda decided she would eat the beans out of the tin. She plunged her hand into the brown, filthy water and somehow managed to find a fork. She wiped off some of the grease on her dress and hurried from the room.

The lights were out in the sitting room but the glow of the television was enough to show the way. It also showed the mess that the room had become. There were old newspapers scattered across the carpet, overflowing ashtrays, more dirty plates, old socks and underpants. Brian was sitting on a sofa that had looked ugly and second hand the moment it had left the shop. There was a nasty stain on the nylon cover. Ignoring it, Gwenda sat down next to him.