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Freddie Frinton as the increasingly drunk butler James in 1963's Dinner for One
Photo: NDR / dpa
On December 31, the sketch »Dinner for One« will again determine the TV program.
Up to 15 million viewers tune in when butler James has to pretend to Miss Sophie that on her 90th birthday her four friends from Schneider, Pommeroy, Sir Toby and Winterbottom are sitting at the table and toasting the celebrity.
Now the 1963 ratings hit is to become a series: Ufa Fiction is planning to make a multi-part series out of the story leading up to the solo dinner.
The production company announced this on Wednesday morning.
In six episodes of 45 minutes each, »Dinner for Five«, according to the working title, is intended to deliver a »romantic, funny adventure series, visually stunning and contemporary«.
The book "Dinner for five - Killer for one" by Michael Koglin, which was published in 2002, serves as the basis.
Competition for Miss Sophie
As for the content, Ufa revealed that the story began in 1921 and was about four men courting Miss Sophie's hand.
She is about to turn 39 and feels compelled to marry one of the wealthy men – but not immediately.
"To secure another year of freedom and get over her childhood fling with James, the butler's son, she devises a competition for the four bachelors: who will bring her the best birthday present for her 40th birthday next year, she will marry him," said Ufa.
Filming for the high-end series is expected to begin at the end of 2023.
Nothing is known about the cast, but Tommy Wosch (»Faking Hitler«) is said to be the showrunner and screenwriter.
hpi