Dinnerladies Diaries
Creating dinnerladies was, in fact, a step into the unknown and a big leap. And, during this challenge and incredible journey that spawned one of the most-loved British sitcoms of all time, Victoria recorded all her thoughts and feelings in diaries, notebooks and photos. Every aspect is explored along the way, from the fluffs, the gaffs and the laughs as we see Victoria and the rest of the dinnerladies cast record the show live in front of a studio audience to an archive interview with Wood herself as she explains the processes she went through to make this iconic sitcom. With exclusive access to Victoria's diaries, her backstage photos and studio records - together with footage of the making of the show which has never been seen before - we're able to tell the full story of the sublime sitcom in this three-part series. Plus, there are contributions from co-stars and fans alike, such as Julie Walters, Maxine Peake, Duncan Preston, Jim Moir and Jo Brand as they describe why dinnerladies deserves its place in sitcom history. And, as an extra special treat, four of the original cast members, Andrew Dunn (Tony), Shobna Gulati (Anita), Anne Reid (Jean) and Thelma Barlow (Dolly) meet up to chew the fat on what made making dinnerladies such a delicious experience.
- 2018-2018
- 1 season
- Documentary
Creating dinnerladies was, in fact, a step into the unknown and a big leap. And, during this challenge and incredible journey that spawned one of the most-loved British sitcoms of all time, Victoria recorded all her thoughts and feelings in diaries, notebooks and photos. Every aspect is explored along the way, from the fluffs, the gaffs and the laughs as we see Victoria and the rest of the dinnerladies cast record the show live in front of a studio audience to an archive interview with Wood herself as she explains the processes she went through to make this iconic sitcom. With exclusive access to Victoria's diaries, her backstage photos and studio records - together with footage of the making of the show which has never been seen before - we're able to tell the full story of the sublime sitcom in this three-part series. Plus, there are contributions from co-stars and fans alike, such as Julie Walters, Maxine Peake, Duncan Preston, Jim Moir and Jo Brand as they describe why dinnerladies deserves its place in sitcom history. And, as an extra special treat, four of the original cast members, Andrew Dunn (Tony), Shobna Gulati (Anita), Anne Reid (Jean) and Thelma Barlow (Dolly) meet up to chew the fat on what made making dinnerladies such a delicious experience.
Season 1 Episode Guide
3 Episodes 2018
Episode 1
Perfect Ingredients
Victoria Wood describes why she wanted to have a go at making a sitcom, how she came up with the idea of dinnerladies, and how she came to use a mixture of long-time collaborators coupled with some new actors to create the perfect cast. The show also focuses on one of the funniest couplings in sitcom history, Dolly and Jean played by the unforgettable Thelma Barlow and Anne Reid. Plus, Victoria describes why she wanted her friend Julie Walters to be one of the stars of the show by playing her on screen mum, Petula Gordino.
Episode 2
Love Bites
Victoria Wood describes the making of dinnerladies, how she did her own warm-up comedy for the show and how she persuaded the BBC to record each episode, not once, but twice. The show also focuses on some of the male characters in the dinnerladies kitchen, such as the catering manager Tony played by Andrew Dunn and their 'will they, won't they?' on screen romance. Plus, there's a feature on Stan the canteen Handy Man, played by Duncan Preston who, previous to dinnerladies, had worked with Victoria for over 20 years.
Episode 3
Final Toast
In this final instalment, Victoria Wood describes why, despite the show being set in a canteen, preparing meals and acting at the same time isn't a particularly good idea. The show also looks at some of the canteen's customers, such as Bob played by Bernard Wrigley and Jane played by Sue Devaney as they describe their experiences on set. Plus, there's a feature on the canteen's human resources manager Philippa, played by long-time collaborator Celia Imrie. To top it all, Victoria describes why she decided to close the canteen for good after just two series and what she went on to do next.