Sorry We Missed You

Ricky Turner and his family have been fighting an uphill struggle against debt since the 2008 financial crisis. With no education or professional training, Ricky Turner is given an opportunity when he is hired to run a franchise as a self-employed delivery driver under Maloney, a tough, no-nonsense employer.

To make this job possible, Abby convinces him to sell the family car, even though she uses it in her work as a home care nurse. For Ricky, this new job brings constant stress he does not enjoy, as the role keeps him under pressure to complete deliveries on time and avoid fines for delays or mistakes.

Abby, as well, finds her work more demanding without a car, and her demanding schedule often leaves her with little time to spend with her patients. The strain in the household grows as both parents grapple with finances and competing responsibilities.

During this period, Seb skips school and frequently gets into trouble with graffiti. Following a fight with his parents, he angrily tags over the family portraits during the night. When Ricky can’t find the keys to his van the next morning, he blames Seb, though Seb denies any wrongdoing. Ricky’s reaction turns violent, and he hits his son at the end of a heated argument. Liza Jane, Seb’s younger sister, tearfully admits that she hid the keys, blaming Ricky’s job for the family’s problems.

Back at work, Ricky is robbed and brutally assaulted while making deliveries. While he sits in the hospital waiting room, Maloney phones him and explains that he faces fines of over £1,000 because his barcode scanner was destroyed in the assault. Seb finally warms up and re-joins the family, and a desperate and grievously injured Ricky drives off to work in tears as his family begs him not to leave.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 16:00