"dinnerladies" - from l to r Jean (Anne Reid), Twinkle (Maxine Peake), Bren (Victoria Wood), Anita (Shobna Gulati), Dolly (Thelma Barlow)

"dinnerladies" - from l to r Philippa (Celia Imrie), Stan (Duncan Preston), Bren (Victoria Wood), Twinkle (Maxine Peake), Tony (Andrew Dunn), Petula (Julie Walters)

"dinnerladies" - from l to r Jean (Anne Reid), Stan (Duncan Preston), Bren (Victoria Wood), Twinkle (Maxine Peake), Dolly (Thelma Barlow), Tony (Andrew Dunn), Anita (Shobna Gulati)

dinnerladies

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dinnerladies

In 1997, Victoria Wood quietly pulled a white catering cap low over her hair and went to work anonymously for a fortnight in a canteen of a factory somewhere in the mysterious North. That experience was one of the links in the chain of her creating “dinnerladies”, a sitcom that ran on BBC One for sixteen episodes, and won numerous awards and accolades. Creating specially written parts, not just for her semi-regular team of “As Seen On TV” cohorts - Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie and Anne Reid; she also created a part for Thelma Barlow, just recently left Coronation Street after 26 years playing Mavis Riley. And she also created a part for Julie Walters as her monstrous mother, Petula.

Shot at BBC Television Centre, directed by Geoff Posner and co-produced by Victoria and Geoff (the show was actually a Pozzitive/Good Fun co-production), the script was recorded on the Friday of each week, then - almost uniquely at the time for a British sitcom - they would watch the rushes Saturday morning and then Victoria would rewrite and retune, while the actors - who hated this procedure with a wry vengeance - would rehearse the new dialogue in time to record the whole show again on the Saturday night. The Americans do this without blinking, but in the UK...

As well as being a sitcom, the show had serial elements, particularly the second series, where storylines such as Tony’s cancer, Bren and Tony’s relationship and Jean’s husband troubles. Also, the timescale of each episode and the date and day on which it was taking place were quite specific in each script, so that storylines arcs were believable. This all contributed to an unexpected profundity that few sitcoms have reached, based as it was on truthful characters with real things happening to them. And then, of course, talking about those things in a uniquely funny way. That helps...

One fo the most extraordinary episodes was the fourth show of the first series - “Moods” - where the regular workers in the canteen were asked to bring their parents along to a tea party. To describe the cast as "stellar” would be an understatement; the readthrough was a living breathing encyclopaedia of the last fifty years of British comedy. As well as the wonderful regulars, there was Dame Thora Hird, Dora Bryan, Elspet Gray, and, playing Stan’s dad - Eric Sykes. You could have heard a pin drop the moment before he said his first line, And you wouldn’t have heard a lorryload of pins dropping afterwards, because the whole room was laughing...

After 16 episodes - in fact, Victoria had written eight scripts for the first series, but discarded two of them as “not being good enough” - hmm - she called it a day, but the show still stands as a triumph of the ensemble blue-collar audience sitcom with heart.

dinnerladies

Series 1

Show 1

"Monday"

First Tx 12/11/98 BBC 1

Another cold early morning; Bren’s happy, Jean’s got bridesmaids’ knickers on her mind, and Norman the breadman has failed to deliver any granary torpedoes. If only the stripper could play the accordion.

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
and
PetulaJulie Walters
 
Additional cast
GirlJulia Booth
SecretarySue Devaney
AccordionistGordon Glenn
Mr MichaelChristopher Greet
LisaJane Hazlegrove
CarlyKatisha Kenyon
Norman the Bread ManAndrew Livingston
Bacon ManBernard Wrigley
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 2

"Royals"

First Tx 19/11/98 BBC 1

Stan’s met royalty before, so it’s only a question of choosing the right toupe. Anita is worried about presenting a smooth bustline, and Bren’s desperate to clear the tables.

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
and special guest
James, the Duke of DanbySimon Williams
 
Additional cast
PamelaRichenda Carey
Mr. MichaelChristopher Greet
Male WorkerSteve Huison
Female WorkerLesley Nichol
DavidGraham Seed
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 3

"Scandal"

First Tx 26/12/98 BBC 1

Not only is Bren’s mother Petula Gordeno causing mayhem in the factory with her ill considered romance, but Stan can’t get his bins hosed with her caravan in the way.

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
and
PetulaJulie Walters
 
Additional cast
SimonAshley Barker
CarmelLynda Baron
SecretarySue Devaney
ClintKenny Doughty
Mr MichaelChristopher Greet
ShelaghLill Roughly
HannahDolly Wells
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 4

"Moods"

First Tx 3/12/98 BBC 1

Tony and Bren are really happy, but everyone else is struggling. Pregnancy scares, stray branflakes; can Philippa’s bright idea for a mood lifter really work

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
and
PetulaJulie Walters
 
Special guests
ConnieDora Bryan
EnidDame Thora Hird
JimEric Sykes
 
Additional cast
Woman in QueueLiz Hume-Dawson
SecretarySue Devaney
BevJackie Downey
2nd SecretaryJudy Flynn
KirstyRachel Gleaves
HilaryElspet Gray
Veg ManAnthony Renshaw
ReenaShireen Shah
VioletKatharine Page
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 5

"Party"

First Tx 10/12/98 BBC 1

The works do has gone all formal and Japanesey. Bren’s got the man, the dress; it was all looking so good till her mother turned up and got stuck into the sake. 

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
and
PetulaJulie Walters
 
Additional cast
Mr MichaelChristopher Greet
TiffanyAnn-Louise Grimshaw
Mr TashimotoEiji Kusuhara
HugoAdam Leese
KeithPeter Lorenzelli
BabsKate Robbins
BobJack Smethurst
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 6

"Nightshift"

First Tx 17/12/98 BBC 1

Tony’s away and Bren can’t even motivate Twinkle to fetch some brown bread from over there to here. The factory’s losing orders, Dolly and Jean have walked out, and Bren’s left single handed to run the nightshift through the most important night of the year. 

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
 
Additional cast
SecretarySue Devaney
Mr MichaelChristopher Greet
Little ManDavid Hatton
Nicola BodeuxSue Wallace
MalcolmOzzie Yue
 
Written byVictoria Wood
 

Casting
Susie Bruffin
Liz Vincent-Fernie

Music By
Victoria Wood

Arranged By
David Firman

Production Buyer
Sue Templar

Art Director
Nic Pallace

Costume Designer
Anna Stubley

Make Up Designer
Christina Baker

Production Co-Ordinator
Melanie Parker

Production Team
Nicky Hodges
Sarah Kershaw
Adrian O’Brien

 

Stage Manager

Jane Cotton


Floor Manager
Nick Rae

Script Supervisor
Silvana Job

Vision Mixer
Hilary West
Hilary Briegel

VT Editor
Mykola Pawluk

Dubbing Mixer
Nick Roast

Senior Cameraman
Nigel Saunders

Sound Supervisor
Laurie Taylor
Scott Talbot (“Royals”)

Lighting Director
Graham Rimmington

Designer
Ken Starkey

Production Manager
Lesley Davies

Executive Producers
Phil McIntyre
David Tyler

 
Produced byVictoria Wood
Geoff Posner
 
Directed byGeoff Posner

Series 2

Show 1

"Catering"

First Tx 25/11/99 BBC 1

April. It’s work experience day. Bren wants to show Sigourney, the work experience girl, a typical day in the canteen, but Derwent, the work experience boy, has jammed a twenty foot ladder right across the cooker, and Glen the breadwoman has had an operation and can’t bob under.

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
 
Additional cast
JaneSue Devaney
SigourneyJoanne Froggatt
GlendaSue Cleaver
BettyHelen Cotterill
DerwentLiam Fox
PaulKevin Maxwell
BertColin Edwynn
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 2

"Trouble"

First Tx 2/12/99 BBC 1

June. It’s the first day of summer. Jean’s husband Keith has left her for a Welsh dental hygienist and she’s abusing the customers. Tony’s thinking of asking Bren to go to Marbella with him, but it’s hard to concentrate with Jean yelling. Anita is celebrating the second week of her relationship with Pedr. Petula is back with some interesting news.

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
and
PetulaJulie Walters
 
Additional cast
PeggyLinda Bassett
JaneSue Devaney
ValJudy Flynn
SteveSteve Huison
RegKaleem Janjua
ManJonathon Magnanti
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 3

"Holiday"

First Tx 9/12/99 BBC 1

August. Bren is so excited about her holiday with Tony she might even buy some decent clothes. Stan has sad news about his father, and Petula is doing dangerous things with the gas in her caravan. Babs from Urmston is back, and Bren has to learn to toughen up.

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
and
PetulaJulie Walters
 
Additional cast
JaneSue Devaney
NormanAdrian Hood
SteveSteve Huison
ManPeter Martin
BabsKate Robbins
PiemanGraham Turner
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 4

"Fog"

First Tx 16/12/99 BBC 1

November. Bren is having an uncomfortable day. The Blood Donors van has come to the factory, and a prisoner has escaped in the fog on his way to Strangeways. Bren is upset when she sees Tony’s holiday photos.

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
 
Additional cast
GlendaSue Cleaver
BarryHoward Crossley
CustomerAngela Curran
JaneSue Devaney
TomMark Drewry
Mr MichaelChristopher Greet
PolicemanNick Malinowski
BobbieTina Malone
WomanChristine Moore
CustomerGillian Perry
SuePaul Rider
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 5

"Gamble"

First Tx 23/12/99 BBC 1

December. Stan is furious with Philippa for failing to save the fuse bulbs on last year’s Christmas tree lights. The dinnerladies are desperate for Bren and Tony to get it together, mainly because they’ve got a bet on. It’s looking good, when Bren’s past catches up with her.

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
 
Additional cast
JaneSue Devaney
TomMark Drewry
NormanAdrian Hood
GirlLiz Hume-Dawson
MartinBrian Stephens
PiemanGraham Turner
BobBernard Wrigley
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 6

"Xmas"

First Tx 24/12/99 BBC 1

Christmas Eve. Bren has blown it with Tony. Anita has gone off and left her inflatable man behind. Petula has hopes of a family Christmas with Bren, but Twinkle and Stan aren’t having it. Bren hands in her notice.

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
and
PetulaJulie Walters
 
Additional cast
JaneSue Devaney
CustomerRachel Gleaves
Mr MichaelChristopher Greet
JaniceJanet Tough
BobBernard Wrigley
withThe Black Dyke Band
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Shpw 7

"Minnellium"

First Tx 30/12/99 BBC 1

The dinnerladies are catering the firm’s millennium dinner in town at the Old Brewery. The traffic is building, and it’s going to be a race against time to even get there from the canteen. Tony goes out for a fag, and finds something on the fire escape that puts the dinner right out of their minds. Keith drops by to make peace with Jean.

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhiliipaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
 
Additional cast
RegKaleem Janjua
KeithPeter Lorenzelli
 
WrittenVictoria Wood

Show 8

"Christine"

First Tx 13/1/00 BBC 1

January. Anita’s replacement is championed by Dolly and loathed by everyone else. The crunch comes when she makes a brew and fails to hand out the correct mugs. Petula’s rackety lifestyle has caught up with her, and a social worker is suggesting Bren has her mother to live with her. An unwelcome proposal for someone who finds it hard to say no.

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
 
Additional cast
ChristineKay Adshead
GlendaSue Cleaver
NormanAdrian Hood
Mrs HolcombeLynn Whitehead
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 9

"Gravy"

First Tx 20/1/00 BBC 1

February. The winds of change are blowing through the canteen. The new self clear system starts today, and Bren can’t stand it, clearing the tables is the best bit. Bren and Tony have plans, but no finance. Could Bren’s head for trivia be put to good use?

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
and
PetulaJulie Walters
 
Additional cast
KenDavid Hatton
NormanAdrian Hood
BrianFrancis Lee
BettyKatharine Page
As himselfHenry Kelly
 
Written byVictoria Wood

Show 10

"Toast"

First Tx 27/1/00 BBC 1

February 29th. Stan is hoping for a proposal. Bren is being coached for her big TV chance. Dolly is so upset by the new uniforms she may have to go and live in Cheshire. Petula is fading fast, but Tony doesn’t want anything to distract Bren on the most important day since they got together.
Starring Victoria Wood as Bren

Starring
BrenVictoria Wood
 
DollyThelma Barlow
TonyAndrew Dunn
AnitaShobna Gulati
PhilippaCelia Imrie
TwinkleMaxine Peake
StanDuncan Preston
JeanAnne Reid
and
PetulaJulie Walters
 
Additional cast
GlendaSue Cleaver
JaneSue Devaney
NormanAdrian Hood
as himselfHenry Kelly
 

Casting
Susie Bruffin
Liz Vincent-Fernie

Music By
Victoria Wood & David Firman

Production Buyer
Sue Templar

Art Director
Nick Somerville

Costume Designer
Anna Stubley

Make Up Designer
Christina Baker

Production Co-Ordinator
Melanie Parker

Production Team
Sarah Church
Jo Sinkins
Tim Gething
Billie Watley

Stage Manager
Jane Cotton

Floor Manager
Nick Rae

Script Supervisor
Hayley Boyd

Vision Mixer
Hilary Briegel

Studio Resources Manager
Mark Sanders

Videotape Editor
Mykola Pawluk

Dubbing Mixer
Nick Roast

Senior Cameraman
Nigel Saunders

Sound Supervisor
Laurie Taylor

Lighting Director
Graham Rimmington

Designer
Ken Starkey

Production Manager
Murray Peterson

Executive Producers
Phil Mcintyre
David Tyler

 
Produced byVictoria Wood
Geoff Posner
 
Directed byGeoff Posner

dinnerladies

Have a look at this "Cast & Crew" photo, and score a bacon sarnie for every famous face you can spot.

"dinnerladies" has been turned into a book, an audio cassette, and a DVD, but sadly not a tea towel. Yet.

Both series are available on DVD to "collect" as they say when they mean "buy" - here are some links.

To buy Series 1 on DVD, click here

Series 2 is available here

This may be out of stock - it was issued by the BBC and they can be a bit erratic - but never fear, it was re-released by a company called "Playback", here

And glory be, both series together in one box are alive and well and living here

The audio version has a special linking commentary by Duncan Preston and can be found by clicking here

There's also a great book of the scripts of the first series, with a brilliant behind-the-scenes piece and rehearsal photos and so on...


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