''Dressing for Breakfast'' is a
Channel 4 sitcom which ran between 1995 and 1998 about two women, Louise (
Beatie Edney
Beatrice Edney (born 23 October 1962) is an English television actress.
Born in London, she is the daughter of actress Sylvia Syms and her husband Alan Edney. Her brother is Benjamin Edney and her cousin is musician Nick Webb. Edney first came ...
) and Carla (
Holly Aird
Imogen Holly Aird (born 18 May 1969) is an English television actress known for playing forensic pathologist Frankie Wharton in the BBC1 drama series '' Waking the Dead'', having previously starred in productions such as ''Soldier Soldier'' a ...
).
The series was based on a 1988 book with the same title by
Stephanie Calman
Stephanie Calman is the author of six books, ''Confessions of a Bad Mother'', ''Confessions of a Failed Grown-Up'', ''How (Not) to Murder Your Mother'', ''How (Not) to Murder Your Husband'', ''Dressing for Breakfast'' and ''Gentleman Prefer My Sis ...
who also wrote the series.
Storyline
The plot mainly concerns 29-year-old
jewellery maker/seller Louise and her quest to find the perfect man. Her interfering
left wing
Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy. Left-wing politics typically involve a concern for those in soci ...
activist
Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...
mother Liz (
Charlotte Cornwell
Charlotte Cornwell (26 April 1949 – 16 January 2021) was an English actress, singer, and a celebrated teacher of acting on the faculty at the University of Southern California (2003-2012).
She began her career as an actress in Richard Cottr ...
) gets in the way. In her search for a boyfriend she makes some wrong choices and gets advice from best friend Carla and her husband Dave (
Nigel Lindsay).
Reception
The TV series was generally well received. It gained acclaim for featuring strong female characters and its frank look at female sexuality.
It proved popular with audiences and was commissioned for three series broadcast between 1995 and 1998.
Cast
The cast included:
*
Beatie Edney
Beatrice Edney (born 23 October 1962) is an English television actress.
Born in London, she is the daughter of actress Sylvia Syms and her husband Alan Edney. Her brother is Benjamin Edney and her cousin is musician Nick Webb. Edney first came ...
as Louise
*
Holly Aird
Imogen Holly Aird (born 18 May 1969) is an English television actress known for playing forensic pathologist Frankie Wharton in the BBC1 drama series '' Waking the Dead'', having previously starred in productions such as ''Soldier Soldier'' a ...
as Carla
*
Charlotte Cornwell
Charlotte Cornwell (26 April 1949 – 16 January 2021) was an English actress, singer, and a celebrated teacher of acting on the faculty at the University of Southern California (2003-2012).
She began her career as an actress in Richard Cottr ...
as Liz
*
Nigel Lindsay as Dave
*
Mark Aiken
Mark Aiken is a Northern Irish actor.
Biography
Aiken was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and attended The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He has appeared in numerous UK and US TV drama series including ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigat ...
as Mike (S3)
*
Sophie Stanton as Rose
*
Robert Langdon Lloyd
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, ho ...
as Fabrizio (S1)
*
Philip Glenister
Philip Haywood Glenister (born 10 February 1963) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in the BBC series ''Life on Mars'' (2006–2007) and its sequel '' Ashes to Ashes'' (2008–2010). He also played DCI William ...
as Mark (S1 Ep2)
*
Andrew Clover as Laurence (S3)
*
Richard Durden
Mark Richard Durden-Smith (born 8 February 1944), known as Richard Durden, is an English actor, with a range of television, film and stage credits.
Personal life
Durden-Smith was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College and Merton ...
as Graham (S2)
*
Lucy Robinson as Sarah (S3)
*
Sam Kelly as Creepy Man
*
Omid Djalili
Omid Djalili ( fa, امید جلیلی; born 30 September 1965) is a British actor, comedian and writer.
Early life and education
Djalili was born on 30 September 1965 in Chelsea, London, to Iranian Baháʼí parents. He attended Holland Park ...
as Turkish Man (S1 Ep4)
*
Ray Fearon as Steve (S1 Ep4)
*
Juliette Gruber
Juliette Gruber (born 1965) is a British actress born in the United States, but who moved to Britain at the age of one.
Gruber is the niece of Hollywood actor Walter Matthau (1920–2000), who was married to her mother's sister. Gruber is the da ...
as Sophie (S1 Ep4
*
Danny Webb as John (S2 Ep3)
*
Victoria Carling as Elaine (S2 Ep3)
Trivia
There is only a 13 year age difference between
Charlotte Cornwell
Charlotte Cornwell (26 April 1949 – 16 January 2021) was an English actress, singer, and a celebrated teacher of acting on the faculty at the University of Southern California (2003-2012).
She began her career as an actress in Richard Cottr ...
who portrayed Louise's mother and
Beatie Edney
Beatrice Edney (born 23 October 1962) is an English television actress.
Born in London, she is the daughter of actress Sylvia Syms and her husband Alan Edney. Her brother is Benjamin Edney and her cousin is musician Nick Webb. Edney first came ...
(Louise).
References
External links
* {{IMDb title, 0108753
BBC Comedy Guide
1995 British television series debuts
1998 British television series endings
1990s British sitcoms
Channel 4 sitcoms