IT IS always difficult to imagine how a successful television show can be transported to the stage, but the newly produced Dinnerladies based on the 90s hit really does live up to the television show’s name.

Dinnerladies was as we know a massive television hit in the late 90s right up to 2000, packed with stars like Victoria Wood, Julie Walters and Celia Imrie.

It was definitely a must see part of television in my household.

However today the stage show reproduces the television show, replacing the original characters with new actors (apart from two), taking on their accents, mannerisms, and even hairdos.

Quite a task I hear you say, but actually it was well played and full marks to the casting director - oh and the stylist.

I was treated to a performance of the classic sitcom at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley.

Presented by The Comedy Theatre and directed by David Graham the show featured two of the original television stars Shobna Gulati as the pleasant but rather dim Anita and the canteen manager Andrew Dunn as Tony.

The action like the TV show takes place in a kitchen of a works canteen where its workers talk about everything from turkey basting, Sooty and Sweep, Agadoo, and the implications of marriage, all over a cuppa, quite a mixture for a Saturday matinee.

So to the show, I felt that the first half lacked pace in the dialogue but it really picked up in the second half with some great comedy moments form Gulati.

Not only is she proving herself in this year’s celebrity Masterchef but she also displays the great comedian she really is.

Other fine performances come from Andrew Dunn who still shows us his undying lust for Bren originally played by Victoria Wood but today being played by the talented Laura Shepherd.

I also enjoyed Stella Ross and Liz Bagley’s very accurate reincarnations of Dolly and Jean, again originally played by Thelma Barlow and Anne Reid.

Also making a cameo appearance but almost stealing the show was Peter Bradleigh’s Bob.

Catch Dinnerladies on the road if you can, It was like sitting in my front room and watching the show all over again.

To catch Dinnerladies on the road go to dinnerladiesontour.com