This Is Jinsy

Threcker, an officious ex-teacher of Maven's who delights in tormenting Jinsy's arbiter, visits the island.

Winter has well and truly arrived on Jinsy, with ice levels currently somewhere between Christopher's knee and Tony's thigh. While a bitter snow storm rages outside, Maven is snuggled up in his chalet enjoying his favourite boardgame with Trince (who, like the storm, is outside).

Unfortunately for Jinsy's arbiter, duty calls. The death of Betti Jeven during the weekly Meat Quiz means Maven must abandon the comfort of his adult 'onesie' and recycle her nameworm (the small invertebrate that lives in the gut and gives each resident their name). After death, it's imperative that the worm is extracted and inserted into the island's newest baby so that the name can live on.

But the bad news doesn't end there. Overseeing the procedure will be Mr Threcker (Simon Callow) - an officious ex-teacher of Maven's who delights in tormenting Jinsy's arbiter. And with the next incumbent of the nameworm snowed in on the other side of the island, it's up to Maven, Sporall and Threcker to brave the elements to deliver the nameworm themselves.

It's not long before the intrepid party are horribly lost on Jinsy's snowy wastelands. Worse still, Maven's shoes are starting to rub. However, with hope dwindling, they stumble across a miniature chalet in Jinsy's abandoned model village. The gang pile inside in search of shelter and warmth, only to find... well there are no words to describe what they find... quite literally in fact, since they find a man with no nameworm (Nigel Planer).

Could this happy little accident mean that things might actually end well for Maven for once? Or will a terrible mix-up leave Jinsy's arbiter facing a gruelling surgical procedure involving a powerful suction device and his rear end?

This episode takes us to the Moosic Tavern for an evening of Sandy's Choice (a kind of Jinsy's Got Talent). Judging the musical stylings of the regimental gentleman, Retch and Hoik, will, as ever, be Sandy, an enigmatic golden retriever whose paw hovers tantanlisingly over the green 'Woof' button or the red 'Enoof' one. Will it be paws up or paws down from Sandy for the two old duffers?