It starred Gerard Kelly as Willie Melvin, a bank-teller at the fictional Strathclyde Savings Bank (whose logo was very similar to the TSB), with dreams of becoming a novelist. Most of the plots revolved around his attempts to get his book, the autobiographical My Childhood Up A Close, published, however his efforts are continually thwarted by both his own incompetence and overall gullibility. He frequently gets led astray by best friend Chancer Andy Gray, who has a penchant for get-rich-quick schemes and various dodgy dealings that backfire, with Willie getting caught up in the resulting mess. None of this ingratiates Willie with his long suffering boss and bank manager McLelland (who is always looking for an excuse to fire him), and constantly exasperates his mother, played by Jan Wilson.

He was held back in this by his own incompetence, the dodgy dealings of his best friend Chancer (Andy Gray), and the lack of support he gained from his mother (Jan Wilson), the bank's manager Adam McLelland (Dave Anderson) and his obsequious fellow teller, Brian (Jonathan Watson). Other recurring characters included Chancer's friend Tam (Iain McColl) and Willie's love interests, Janice (Elaine Collins, Series 1 and 2) and Fiona (Ann Bryson, Series 4 and 5).

Billy Connolly guest-starred in one episode.

• City Lights at BBC Online
• City Lights at BBC Online Comedy Guide
• City Lights at IMDb  
• City Lights at British TV Resources