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The Dinner Party
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Series
Episode
3
Airdate
7 January 2012
Ratings
8.84 Million
Running time
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Production code
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Flashback
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Flash-forward
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Flash sideways
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Centric character(s)
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Ratings
8.84 Million
Written by
Miranda Hart
Richard Hurst
Georgia Pritchett
Paul Powell
Paul Kerensa
Directed by
Recurring Characters
Margaret Cabourn-Smith - Alison
John Finnemore - Chris
Supporting Characters
Joe Wilkinson - Norman (Traffic Warden)
Special Guest Star(s)
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Celebrity Appearance(s)
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Minor or Uncredited Roles
Sarah Flower - Yoga Instructor
Paul Kerensa - Customer
Glen Davies - Plumber
Joanna Neary - Childrens' Musical Playgroup Leader
Alice Hart - M&S Customer
Archive footage
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The Dinner Party is the third episode of Series 3. It was first broadcast on Monday 7 January 2013, 9pm.

Synopsis[]

Miranda decides she is going to be a grown up, the perfect girlfriend for Mike, and starts by babysitting for Chris and Alison's child and ends up in a disastrous dinner party with Mike's dad, Valery.

Plot[]

In The Dinner Party, Miranda finds it hard to be her true self when she is with her new beau. She believes he will not accept her if he discovers she has fruit friends and vegtapals, so instead she tries to appear adult and sophisticated. She even buys a pashmina which takes her new-found sophistication to the next level. With determination she tries to keep cool and show Mike that she can be dignified. As she announces “Operation Maintain Dignity” is in operation!

Miranda’s washing machine breaks and she is forced to wear a culotte, the last clean thing in her closet. Shortly after she complains that her underwear is uncomfortable because she washed them in the dishwasher, so she decides to go commando.

Upon entering the cafe, she finds Rose with Gary, who is filling out loan applications because he is planning on buying the restaurant. Because he is pressed, he cannot babysit for Chris and Alison as promised. Being the new mature adult that she is, Miranda offers to babysit instead. Chris and Allison are desperate, so they agree, and Miranda is sent off to a soft play centre. While playing in the centre, she gets stuck and injuries her back which forces her to go to an osteopath.

At the osteopath, she forgets that she is not wearing any underpants and uses the paper on the exam table to make a nappy. Throughout the session, she makes various comments such as "we'll have to get engaged after this, sir," and "did we just consummate our engagement?" During her final stretch, she breaks wind and blows out a candle.

The next morning she tells Stevie all the mishaps of the day, to which Stevie throws down the "grown up gauntlet." Miranda agrees, and Mike enters the shop. He explains that his father would like to meet Miranda, and after some hesitation, she agrees, and offers to host a couples dinner party. She does this partially to prove to Stevie that she is a mature adult and can cope with being in a mature relationship. She adds that if Stevie can find a boyfriend by that night, she can come.

Miranda attempts to cook but after failing to save her kitchen from complete and utter destruction, she retreats to M&S and gathers supplies.

Stevie shows up to the dinner party with a Traffic Warden and Gary and Rose are forced to baby-sit during the dinner party. When Mike’s father arrives, things become tense, and to Miranda’s horror, he is the osteopath who treated her. Mike’s father, Valery continuously puts everyone at the on edge with his cold comments, and non-jokes. Penny sticks up for Miranda, but even with Penny on her side the dinner party struggles to succeed. Penny then lets slip she's glad Miranda has moved on to Mike and is done with Gary, and both Mike and Rose are interested in hearing about that. The rest of the guests are then overheard making scathing comments about Valery on the baby monitor.

Finally, with no option left, Miranda reveals to Mike her true nature, that she has no interest in abiding by the adult rule book. Rose states that Gary must be glad his 'thing' with Miranda is over. Gary retorts sharply that Miranda is his best friend and he won't say what Rose wants him to say, and if she cannot handle that, it's over between them. She leaves in a huff.

Feelings

After Valery clearly states he is leaving, not willing to put up with goofy friends and dysfunctional families, Mike says that he is staying, to Miranda's surprise. Mike tells Miranda how he was worried Miranda wasn't who he thought she was, because he was falling in love with her. He then confesses that he has fallen in love with her. An unhappy Gary watches the declaration, his expression telling.

Miranda and Mike then kiss, and have a foam fight with the dish soap liquid bubbles overflowing from her dishwasher.

Quotes[]

Penny: Darling, I've got your bed sheets. I ironed the Knight Rider duvet because David Hasselhoff was looking peculiar.

---


Penny: Now, listen here. I like Mike, and you are more than good enough for him. I do not like Valery. I will not be dictated to by Stevie the crazed leprechaun, and a man with a dead badger on his head. We stick together.

---

Miranda: You might call me a child, good. For if adults had even the slightest in-the-moment joy of a child, then frankly, the world would be a better place. Oh! And the terrine? M&S!
Rose: Well, I bet you're glad your "thing" with her is over now.
Gary: No. Miranda's my best friend, Rose, and I'm not going to say what you want me to say, so if you can't handle that, then do you know what? It's over.

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