7.6/10112 votes#1 - Monday
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 11/12/1998
On an otherwise typical Monday morning, Bren's canteen is thrown into crisis when Norman the bread man fails to deliver the granary torpedoes. Should she sign the docket or not? Meanwhile, Jean is preoccupied with planning her daughter's wedding and finding the entertainment. Bren's mother Petula drops in with some ideas, but they're probably not quite right. Tony has to go to the hospital to see how his cancer's going. In the midst of this, Anita's in floods of tears (it's her period), Twinkle can't spell minestrone, and nobody's put out the gravy. New Human Resources person Philippa makes her presence felt, bugging everyone to try some group activities. Scottish country dancing anyone?
Director: Geoff Posner
Writer: Victoria Wood
8.1/10100 votes#2 - Royals
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 11/19/1998
There is excitement in the canteen when news of a royal visit to the factory comes through. Nobody's very sure who's coming - Princess Anne doesn't do factories, Prince Edward does theatres - but they're all getting into a flap. When it turns out it's someone called the Duke of Danby, nobody has heard of him, save for Stan, who met him at Catterick years ago. Everyone throws themselves into role play and preparations: Twinkle has to be warned not to say they serve ""arseholes on toast"" and Anita is worried about her nipples popping up. Tony is adamant that the royals aren't speaking to the girls - God help the Duke if he does. When they eventually turn up, Twinkle's struck dumb, Anita says the wrong thing and Stan's devastated that the Duke doesn't remember him. Meanwhile, all the Duke wants is a bit of sex with poor Bren.
Director: Geoff Posner
Writer: Victoria Wood
8.1/10118 votes#3 - Scandals
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/26/1998
Bren's mum, Petula, brings shame on the factory when she acquires a new boyfriend.
Director: Geoff Posner
Writer: Victoria Wood
8.3/10103 votes#4 - Moods
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 12/3/1998
Twinkle has something weighing on her mind. In fact, everyone seems to be in a bad mood at the moment, so Philippa attempts to cheer everyone up by breaking the routine.
Director: Geoff Posner
Writer: Victoria Wood
8.2/1094 votes#5 - Party
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 12/10/1998
Everyone is looking forward to this year's Christmas party, which has a Japanese theme.
Director: Geoff Posner
Writer: Victoria Wood
8.0/1089 votes#6 - Nightshift
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 12/17/1998
While Tony is in hospital having treatment, the staff are forced to suffer his formidable replacement.
Director: Geoff Posner
Writer: Victoria Wood
The Best Episodes of Dinnerladies Season 1
Every episode of Dinnerladies Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Dinnerladies Season 1!
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...
Genre:Comedy
Network:BBC Two
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Monday" is the best rated episode of "Dinnerladies" season 1. It scored 7.6/10 based on 112 votes. Directed by Geoff Posner and written by Victoria Wood, it aired on 11/12/1998. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Royals".