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dinnerladies (TV series)

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dinnerladies is a 1990s British television sitcom written by and also featuring Victoria Wood. The show is set entirely in the canteen of a factory in Manchester, with the caterers and regular customers as the main characters. The mostly female, mostly middle-aged characters' inner lives and social interactions are vividly and amusingly depicted.

As with much of Victoria Wood's work, there is also a counterpoint of sadder themes, including a personal tragedy involving one of the characters.

There were two series of the show. The first series ran in 1998 from 12th November to 17th December and the second series from 25th November 1999 until 27th January 2000. Both series were shown on BBC1. Reruns air on UKTV Gold.

Episodes

Series 1

  1. Monday - A typical Monday in the canteen. Jean is preparing for her daughter's wedding, Dolly and Bren discuss the weekend's television offerings, Twinkle turns up late as usual and new Human Resources manager Phillippa attempts to get the dinnerladies to take up Scottish country dancing, or to massage each other to relieve stress.
  2. Royals - The factory is abuzz with the news of an impending Royal visit, and the dinnerladies are delighted to learn that they will be interviewed by the Duke and Duchess after they've had their lunch. Unfortunately, between Anita's preoccupation with her bra, Dolly's weight problems and Stan's memories of life in the Army, all does not go according to plan...
  3. Scandals - When Bren's mother Petula moves into the factory car park with underage fiancé Clint, she unwittingly sparks a national outcry. Before long, Clint's mother and the tabloid newspapers form a picket line around the gates, and it's up to Bren to sort out the mess before the factory goes out of business altogether.
  4. Moods - Hormones are running riot in the canteen as everyone turns up to work in a bad temper - Stan's had trouble with his dad, Anita is convinced her new haircut makes her look like Fatima Whitbread and Twinkle thinks she might be pregnant. Will Phillippa's suggestion of inviting everyone's parents to a tea party help everyone unwind? This episode guest starred Thora Hird and Dora Bryant as the of Dolly and Jean's monstrous mothers.
  5. Party - A merge with a Japanese company means that the factory's New Year dinner has an Oriental theme to it. Unfortunately, Bren's mother Petula invites herself along, then drinks too much and starts flirting with everything in range. As the end of the evening draws near, Bren and Tony make plans to spend the rest of the evening together, but will the over-amorous Jean and needy Stan throw a spanner in the works?
  6. Nightshift - An unexpected order comes in, prompting the factory manager to ask all the staff, including the dinnerladies, to work a 24 hour shift. With Tony off work ill, temporary manager Nicola Bodeux gives the staff a hard time, resulting in Dolly, Jean, Anita and Twinkle walking out. Realising her constant failure to connect with people, Nicola herself then resigns. Bren prepares for the impossible task of manning the canteen single-handedly all night - will anyone come back to help her out?


Series 2

  1. Catering
  2. Trouble
  3. Holidays
  4. Fog
  5. Gamble
  6. Christmas
  7. Minnellium
  8. Christine
  9. Gravy
  10. Toast

Cast

Crew

Guest stars include:

[è[Category:British television sitcoms]]

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