TV series
Dinnerladies is a BBC sitcom written by and starring Victoria Wood that chronicles the antics of a group of workers in a canteen in the north of England. Bren tries to maintain a semblance of order in amongst the chaos, while dealing with the canteen supervisor, slightly sex-obsessed cancer sufferer Tony. Dolly and Jean are the bickering menopausal older women, always at odds but best friends beneath it all. Then there's thick-as-two-short-planks Anita, and the terminally uninterested Twinkle, more concerned with having a good time than anything else. Making up the motley crew are military man handyman Stan, all rules and regulations, and ditzy Philippa, who never seems to get anything right.
Availability
Checked Jul 22, 2026
dinnerladies premiered November 12, 1998. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Dinnerladies is a BBC sitcom written by and starring Victoria Wood that chronicles the antics of a group of workers in a canteen in the north of England. Bren tries to maintain a semblance of order in amongst the chaos, while dealing with the canteen supervisor, slightly sex-obsessed cancer sufferer Tony. Dolly and Jean are the bickering menopausal older women, always at odds but best friends beneath it all. Then there's thick-as-two-short-planks Anita, and the terminally uninterested Twinkle, more concerned with having a good time than anything else. Making up the motley crew are military man handyman Stan, all rules and regulations, and ditzy Philippa, who never seems to get anything right.
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Episode 1
Friday 9th April 1999: The canteen is being painted over the weekend. But when the decorators arrive early, Bren has to cope with all manner of inconvenience.
Directed by Geoff PosnerWritten by Victoria WoodGuest stars Joanne Froggatt, Helen Cotterill, Colin Edwynn, Liam Fox, Kevin Maxwell, Sue Cleaver, Sue Devaney
Episode 2
Monday 21st June 1999: A bad atmosphere hangs over the canteen as Jean is in a foul mood following her husband Keith's decision to leave her for a Welsh dental hygienist.
Directed by Geoff PosnerWritten by Victoria WoodGuest stars Linda Bassett, Judy Flynn, Jonathan Magnanti, Steve Huison, Kaleem Janjua, Julie Walters, Sue Devaney
Episode 3
Thursday 5th August 1999: Bren is excited by the prospect of going to Marbella with Tony. Meanwhile, Stan and Petula have less reason to be joyful.
Directed by Geoff PosnerWritten by Victoria WoodGuest stars Steve Huison, Peter Martin, Kate Robbins, Graham Turner, Julie Walters, Sue Devaney, Adrian Hood
Episode 4
Monday 1st November 1999: Tony's holiday photo, the visiting blood donor unit and an escaped prisoner are all contributing factors to Bren's bad day.
Directed by Geoff PosnerWritten by Victoria WoodGuest stars Howard Crossley, Tina Malone, Paul Rider, Nick Malinowski, Christine Moore, Angela Curran, Gillian Perry, Mark Drewry
Episode 5
Tuesday 21st December 1999: It's nearly Christmas and all Bren's festivities are currently amounting to are three Carry On films and some spaghetti hoops. Meanwhile, the other ladies indulge in a bit of a flutter, and Stan has a bone to pick with Philippa.
Directed by Geoff PosnerWritten by Victoria WoodGuest stars Mark Drewry, Brian Stephens, Graham Turner, Liz Hume Dawson, Bernard Wrigley, Sue Devaney, Adrian Hood
Episode 6
Thursday 23rd December 1999: Bren's past has caught up with her and it looks as though she and Tony are off the menu as far as romance is concerned, causing her to contemplate handing her notice in.
Directed by Geoff PosnerWritten by Victoria WoodGuest stars Christopher Greet, Janette Tough, Rachel Gleaves, Bernard Wrigley, Julie Walters, Sue Devaney
Episode 7
Friday 31st December 1999: Philippa is getting in a flap over the factory's millennium dinner and transporting all the staff and equipment to the venue on time. But the discovery of something on the fire escape diverts everyone's attention.
Directed by Geoff PosnerWritten by Victoria WoodGuest stars Peter Lorenzelli, Kaleem Janjua
Episode 8
Monday 10th January 2000: Anita's replacement, the terminally flatulent Christine, proves a hit with Dolly but falls foul of the other ladies.
Directed by Geoff PosnerWritten by Victoria WoodGuest stars Kay Adshead, Lynn Whitehead, Sue Cleaver, Adrian Hood
Episode 9
Monday 7th February 2000: The new self-clear system does not find favour with Bren, Petula delivers some shocking news, and Tony is making plans.
Directed by Geoff PosnerWritten by Victoria WoodGuest stars David Hatton, Francis Lee, Katharine Page, Henry Kelly, Julie Walters, Adrian Hood
Episode 10
Tuesday 29th February 2000: Tony and Bren's future is riding on her success on Totally Trivial. Yet while she prepares for her big moment, Stan and the girls receive bad news regarding the canteen. Series Finale
Directed by Geoff PosnerWritten by Victoria WoodGuest stars Henry Kelly, Julie Walters, Sue Cleaver, Sue Devaney, Adrian Hood
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match dinnerladies.
Maxine PeakeTwinkle
Thelma BarlowDolly Bellfield
Anne ReidJean
Shobna GulatiAnita
Duncan PrestonStan Meadowcroft
Victoria WoodBrenda
Celia ImriePhilippa Moorcroft
Andrew DunnTony Martin
BBC TwoUnited Kingdom
