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Dinner for One
| Dinner for One | |
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| Airdate | |
| Written by | Lauri Wylie |
| Directed by | various |
| Network | various |
| Style | 18/11-minute comedy sketch |
| Company |
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| Origin | UK
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Dinner for One is a British comedy sketch first recorded for television in 1963. Virtually unknown in Britain, it has gained cult popularity in several other European countries and has become the most repeated TV show worldwide.
Cast: Freddie Frinton (James), May Warden (Miss Sophie)
Contents |
Plot Overview
Miss Sophie is celebrating her 90th birthday with a formal dinner. As in previous years, she has invited her most dear friends: Sir Toby, Admiral von Schneider, Mr. Pommeroy, and Mr. Winterbottom. Alas, due to her considerable age, Miss Sophie has survived all of her friends, who are impersonated in turn by her faithful butler James. Beside serving dinner, James must pour the accompanying drinks for the men and raise and empty the four glasses during each course. As the evening progresses, James becomes increasingly inebriated, loses his dignified bearing, struggles to avoid a tiger pelt rug on the floor, and confuses a flower vase with a wine glass.
Notes
The courses and accompanying drinks:
- mulligatawny soup (sherry)
- haddock (white wine)
- chicken (champagne)
- fruit (port)
Trivia
The Show
- Variety: Already broadcast live, the sketch was later recorded in several black-and-white versions in 1963. Most well-known are an 18-minute recording popular in Germany and a shorter 11-minute version originally produced for Swiss television.
- Cult: In several countries the sketch is traditionally aired every year on New Year's Eve (in some on December 23 instead). In 1988 the Guinness Book of Records started listing it as the most frequently repeated TV show ever. Remarkably, even in countries where dubbing is almost universal, the sketch is usually shown with the original English dialogue.
Quotes
- James: The same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: The same procedure as every year, James!
DVD Release
External Sites
- Transcript (18-minute version)
- The Mystery of Dinner for One (Slate)
