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Moviefan54 I love this show. I had heard of it before when Shobna Gulati went to "Coronation Street" to play Sunita. Her biography said that she had previously appeared in the highly-rated "dinnerladies". "dinnerladies" began broadcasting on Vision TV in Canada in June, and I was pleased to see Thelma Barlow, whom I had known as Mavis Wilton in "Coronation Street", as part of the cast also.I have seen Julie Walters in many different roles, but Victoria Wood is totally new to me. She is wonderful as an actress, comedian, and writer. I want to find more of her work now.The characters were well established from the beginning and develop in realistic, yet humorous, ways in each episode. This is very gentle humour with great respect for each of the characters, despite their individual foibles. Victoria Wood is terrific in the straight-man role. She is the calm centre of the canteen while all the crises of the other characters revolve around her.It is too bad to learn that there were only 16 episodes. However, perhaps it ended before it had become repetitive or ridiculous.This is the type of humour that the British do best. I cannot imagine an American network being able to duplicate the low-key tone, which is key to this show's appeal.If you haven't seen it yet, look out for "dinnerladies".

sheerbliss This is truly Victoria Wood at her finest! The ensemble cast at once amuse you with gentle comedy, belly laughs & an enduring quality that has you involved with the characters lives so you end up crying with them as well as laughing - so true to life! If you live in the UK then you will have come across an example of each of the characters in your own lives which I feel is the real secret behind the attraction of this series. We can relate to it and recognise someone that has crossed our paths at sometime or, if we are brutally honest with our selves, something of our own personality in any one of the solidly acted characters. This show has all the ingredients of a good British comedy....as well as the touch of drama needed to make us care about the characters....more than that though it is also a love story, a gentle struggle to seek that 'one person' who you know is right for you but it takes a lot of courage & day to day living to make it come true unlike the 'fairy tale' romances we are usually presented with. Who amongst you out there has not had feelings for someone & struggled with yourself & convention to do something about it, just like Tony & Bren? Who hasn't worked with someone with the naivety of Anita who can drive you up the wall with her stupidity but at the same time engenders a feeling of being a real friend? And as for Dolly and Jean? They epitomise many, many ladies we ALL know! Victoria Wood has yet again managed to highlight the complexities of human characters & frailties but with an observational humour that makes her such a master at her craft. We can laugh with them, we can cry with them, we want them to have a happy ending but at the same time we are sad for ourselves because we know that their success means no more of the series for us!!

Markhoni A whimsical observational comedy from Victoria Wood. As another contributor said, not a million miles away from the works of Allan Bennett. It featured a mixture of Wood's 'repertory company', familiar from her other shows such as Duncan Preston and Celia Imrie and talented Northern English character actors such as Sue Devaney and Thelma Barlow (both veterans of the long-running soap 'Coronation Street') The main characters were richly detailed, the lesser ones caricatures, but very recognisable types. The one false note, I feel, was struck by the character of the heroine Bren's alcoholic, fantasist mother who made occasional raucous appearances. She was a grotesque figure, out of the wilder reaches of Charles Dickens, and seemed to have been included merely to give an opportunity for Wood's old pal Julie Walters to overact shamelessly. Victoria Wood bravely decided to end this popular show after only two series while it was still fresh (like the dinnerladies' bacon butties).

jenny_r81 The way in which "dinnerladies" is presented is enough to endear you to the show on its own. Each of the characters are simply that - their own little character more often than not in their own little world. The humour comes from their interaction and their experiences, and Victoria Wood's unique writing style.The single setting means that every now and then, there are references to events we haven't seen, or in some cases, not even been mentioned before, which gives the canteen a realistic feel (and and occasional frustrating quality!) as you realise that they do have lives outside those four walls, what kind of a life is anyone's guess."dinnerladies" is one of those comedies that loses none of its charm or wit on repeated viewings, and despite the fact that there won't be a third series, it is sure to be remembered.