Dinner for One is a 1963 British comedy sketch, which gained popularity in Germany and became a beloved New Year's Eve tradition. The sketch features Miss Sophie, a wealthy woman, who is celebrating her 90th birthday with a dinner party that consists of her four closest friends: Sir Toby, Admiral von Schneider, Mr. Pomeroy, and Mr. Winterbottom. However, all her friends have died, and only her butler, James, is left to impersonate each one of them by standing at their place and pouring drinks.
James proceeds to drink each one of their toasts, resulting in him becoming progressively more drunk. As the evening continues, he forgets which character he is impersonating, and Miss Sophie has to remind him who he is before each toast. The sketch culminates in James completely under the weather before the final dinner course, and he proceeds to knock over plates and glasses and stumble around the room, causing mayhem.
The affectionate sketch has been shown every New Year's Eve on television in Germany since 1972, and it continues to be a widespread tradition. The original sketch is in English, but it has been dubbed into German and other languages. Despite its British origin, the sketch is almost unknown in the UK and other English-speaking countries. The sketch is an example of the importance of cultural context as a determinant of humor.