An infrequent visitor to Britain, I had seen the name Victoria Wood in DVD stores but I really had no idea who she was or what she did. Recently, I saw 'Dinnerladies' offered at a low price and ordered on the off-chance. I'm very glad I did, as it turned out to be a most pleasant surprise. A comedy series in a single set (the canteen) is challenging in itself, but sharp, funny and often poignant writing not liberally scattered with four-letter words makes a refreshing change. The characters are played magnificently by members of Wood's faithful troupe (as I discovered on subsequent DVD purchases); of course, they are usually somewhat 'over the top' but comedy often comes from exaggeration and repetition. I don't know what it is in Victoria's voice or accent and there's a certain something in the eyes too, but I find them most appealing; her character's underlying sadness and worldly wisdom makes one quite sad when the 16 little episodes come to a close. It is, however, a sign of some of the better comedy series that the writer and producer (both Victoria Wood) know that it is judicious to end on a short but high note (à la Fawlty Towers) rather than see a series drag on over an increasing number of series getting unfunnier and unfunnier as time goes by. This purchase has prompted me to discover more of Wood's work, whether as a stand-up comic or in a fuller acting role such as ITV's 'Housewife, 49'. If you like clean, intelligent comedy, then join the queue in the canteen and cast an eye over the dinnerladies!