Les Dennis to star in Dinner Ladies stage adaptation
Les Dennis will star in a stage adaptation of Victoria Wood's sitcom Dinner Ladies.
Narrative Synthesis
Neutral news article compiled by integrating coverage details from all reporting stations.
Les Dennis is to star in a stage adaptation of Victoria Wood's sitcom Dinner Ladies, taking on the role of Stan. The actor, known for Family Fortunes and a musical version of Only Fools and Horses, will tour the country with the production, which has been approved by Wood's estate.
Dennis spoke about his long connection with Wood, recalling that they first met in 1973 on the talent show New Faces. He said they both predicted the other would win, and both lost, which bonded them. He described Wood as someone who 'suffered no fools' and had a strong belief in her own originality.
The stage adaptation will begin its run in Manchester, where the original TV series was set. Dennis, who now lives near Stockport, said he was excited to perform in front of a Manchester audience for two weeks. He noted that the original show drew 15 million viewers and hoped that families who loved the series would bring younger generations to see it.
Dennis also discussed the character of Stan, originally played by his friend Duncan Preston. He recalled that Wood came to see them in a pantomime years ago and approved of their work, though she commented that Cinderella was 'a bit of a cow'. He emphasised that the show's enduring appeal comes from Wood's writing, which is warm, funny, and rooted in recognisable characters.
When asked what Dinner Ladies would bring to the stage, Dennis promised 'gales of laughter and real heart', describing it as a 'warm hug' from Victoria Wood. The production is set to tour the UK, with further dates to be announced.
On screen
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Key Claims
Factual or political claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 |
|---|---|
| Les Dennis will play the role of Stan in the stage adaptation of Dinner Ladies. | |
| The production has been approved by the estate of Victoria Wood. | |
| The tour will start in Manchester, where the original series was set. |
Channel Perspectives
Editorial focus, emphasis angles, and key quotes from each reporting news station.
The channel focused on Les Dennis's personal memories of Victoria Wood and his emotional connection to the project. The interview was warm and nostalgic, highlighting the approval of Wood's estate and Dennis's long friendship with the original cast member Duncan Preston. The tone was celebratory and conversational, with Dan Walker steering the discussion toward the show's legacy and Dennis's career.
- “We both were on a talent show called New Faces, which was the Britain's Got Talent of its day. And we both were on. And she said to me, I think you're going to win. And I said, no, I think you're going to win. And we both lost.”
- “It's going to be a warm hug and a Victoria Wood hug. And that's that's approved by the family.”
- “Raws of laughter, gales of laughter and real heart and real. There's a sentimentality to it as well, but not over sentimental.”
Bulletin Timeline
Chronological list of news reports tracked for this story.