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Popular comedian Paul Finchley is arrested by DI Palmer on an allegation of rape in 1993 by a woman called Rebecca Thornton. Former comedy partner Karl Jenkins is supportive, as is wife Marie, even though Paul admits to her that he has been seeing another woman. Paul becomes a tabloid headline when the gutter press get wind of the accusation, prompting another seven women to come forward and for him to be suspended from his current television show. At the same time he visits his daughter Dee, an ex-addict in a rehabilitation unit.
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Paul's latest accuser is Christina Farnborough, who baby sat Dee as a child though Dee denies that anything happened and supports her father, despite gutter press harassment. Paul throws a birthday party for her, which is well-attended, prompting Karl to be optimistic for his ex comedy partner's future but Marie's demand that Dee insists on her father's innocence leads to her fleeing the house. Soon afterwards Paul's legal team tell him that they have proof that Christina is lying though Dee, following a new recollection from her childhood, stakes out Christina's house to demand more answers.
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The Finchleys run the press gauntlet visiting Dee in hospital after she has rammed her car into Christina's house before meeting Zoe, Paul's barrister. For Marie the interview is unsettling as it probes the couple's sex life and, whilst she dismisses Karl's declaration of feelings for her, a chance encounter with sincere accuser Rebecca makes her wonder about Paul's innocence. Dee is also taken aback when Paul tells her how he was sexually abused by his father but agrees to stand by him at court.
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Paul finally appears in court, watched by Marie and Dee. Christina is the first prosecution witness and gives a graphic account of her apparent sexual ordeal but defending barrister Zoe demolishes it, suggesting her only interest is in a pay-out from a tabloid paper for her story. Zoe is equally adept at discrediting Rebecca Thornton's evidence, though Marie is not wholly convinced that her husband is not guilty. Put on the stand Paul declares his imperfections but also swears his innocence and the judge requires a verdict - one which will not only affect his standing as a national treasure but also the future of his family.
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