Who's who in dinnerladies

Meet the motley canteen crew serving up grub and giggles in the sublime sitcom.

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Brenda 'Bren' Furlongn (played by Victoria Wood)

Bren is the warm-hearted deputy manager of the canteen. Slightly scatter-brained (except when it comes to films as she has near-encyclopedic knowledge of movies), Bren is always happy to help her fellow workers out of a jam, and extremely tolerant of her eccentric mother Petula. In fact, if anything, Bren is perhaps a little too selfless for her own good. It’s clear that she has feelings for her boss Tony, but after an unhappy childhood and marriage, does she have the self-confidence to do anything about it?
Dolly Bellfield (played by Thelma Barlow)

The oldest member of the canteen team, Dolly does not suffer fools gladly. Unfortunately, it seems that she thinks everyone is a fool except her. Something of a gossip and a snob, Dolly is prone to bitchy remarks and questionable views on the state of society fuelled by the Daily Mail, her favourite newspaper. But she does have a vulnerable side and, when she lets her guard drop on the odd occasion, you can see that she really does care about her pal Jean and the rest of the kitchen cohorts.
Jean (played by Anne Reid)

Jean is Dolly's best friend, although you wouldn’t guess that immediately as the pair are constantly bickering and trading jibes. Underneath it all is a strong sense of companionship, though, and being more laid-back than Dolly, Jean is the yin to her yang. In fact, the only complaint her fellow workers probably have against her is that she refuses to wear the reading glasses she clearly needs. But, whilst Jean is bright and breezy in the canteen, it transpires that she’s very unhappily married at home. Is all that about to change?
Twinkle (played by Maxine Peake)

Twinkle is the youngest member of the team and, whilst she doesn't quite have the surly, snarling attitude of Catherine Tate’s "Am I bovvered?" teenager, it's not far off. Forever arriving to work late after a night on the town, Twinkle has washed up at the factory canteen due to having very little career prospects after skipping so much school. Despite her grumpiness, she is clearly fond of her co-workers though, and often turns to Bren for help if she finds herself in a pickle. Oh, and she’s a secret football fan, but don’t tell anyone…(!)
Anita (played by Shobna Gulati)

Anita is sweet, thoughtful, loyal, full of love and joy… but she’s neve going to win Mastermind or be a member of Mesna. Never. Ever. Yes, Anita, is not the sharpest tool in the box and this can lead to many misunderstandings and awkward situations – and Anita doesn’t just get embarrassed – she gets MORTIFIED. Luckily her colleagues are there for encouragement and support and, in turn, Anita often helps them to solve their problems without even realising that she’s doing it.
Tony Martin (played by Andrew Dunn)

Recently divorced, Tony is the manager of the canteen. Bawdy and brash, Tony is not always the most tactful of people. He has an eye for the ladies, but doesn’t always know the best way to deal with his feisty female staff, often using a cigarette break as an excuse to escape uncomfortable situations. Hard-working and conscientious, he expects the same of his team and relies on his sarcastic sense of humour to get him through the day and deal with any frustrations and disappointments.
Stan Meadowcroft (played by Duncan Preston)

Something of a jobsworth, Stan is the factory handyman and is obsessed with every little detail of his work, which can often lead to the impression that he’s a dull chap. He’s often seen in and around the kitchen fixing equipment, especially the toaster. A former member of the Parachute Regiment, Stan no doubt picked up his love for rules and routines in the military, and he’s constantly mentioning his father, a retired Desert Rat. Stan can come across as narrow-minded but he’s a man of principle and extremely trustworthy.
Philippa Moorcroft (played by Celia Imrie)

Philippa is one of those types who desperately wants to help, but often ends up frustrating people in the process. Well-meaning, but a little uptight and overbearing, Philippa is the Human Resources manager for the company and apparently landed the job because of her affair with the factory manager, Mr Michael. On a seemingly endless mission to organise events and activities to boost morale, her enthusiasm eventually rubs off on the canteen staff as they gradually warm to her.
Petula Gordino (played by Julie Walters)

Bren's relationship with her mother got off to a rocky start when Petula had her taken into foster care as a child because she was "cramping her style". Selfish, opportunistic and manipulative, you would presume that Bren would want to have nothing more to do with her. Unfortunately, as she lives in a caravan in the firm's car park, she’s forever popping in, asking for favours and causing havoc. Her relationship with reality is also questionable as she claims to be close friends with the rich and famous.