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Dinner for One, or The 90th Birthday, is a comedy sketch written by British author Lauri Wylie for the theatre in the 1920s. German television recorded a performance of the piece in 1963, in its original English language. This short comical play subsequently went on to become the most frequently repeated TV programme ever (according to the Guinness Book of Records, 1988-1995 ).

This sketch has become an essential component of the New Year's Eve schedule of several German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian televisions, and a cult television classic in Finland, Estonia, Faroe Islands and Austria; on New Year's Eve 2003 alone, the sketch was broadcast 19 times (on various channels). As of 2005, the sketch has been repeated more than 230 times. It is famous in other countries as well: Switzerland, South Africa, Australia ...

The sketch presents the 90th birthday of elderly upper-class Englishwoman Miss Sophie, who invites for dinner every year her close friends: Mr Pommeroy, Mr Winterbottom, Sir Toby, and Admiral von Schneider.(Note that the plot has nothing to do with New Year's Eve)

The problem is that Miss Sophie's friends have died years ago, and so her butler James impersonates each of the guests in turn. Miss Sophie decides on appropriate drinks to accompany the menu of the evening, consisting of Mulligatawny soup (Miss Sophie orders dry sherry), North Sea haddock (with white wine), chicken (with champagne), and fruit for dessert (with port) served by James, and so he finds himself raising (and emptying) his glass four times per course.

James has to rise and to empty his glass four times per course, consequently he gets completely drunk.

Even before the alcohol begins to exert its influence, he has trouble avoiding the head of a tiger skin lying on the floor between the dinner table and the buffet.
The crucial exchange during every course is:

James: The same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?

Miss Sophie: The same procedure as every year, James!

After the dinner, Miss Sophie indicates to a very drunk James that she wishes to retire to bed, to which James responds:

James: By the way, the same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?

Miss Sophie (delightedly): The same procedure as every year, James!

James: Well, I'll do my very best!

ENJOY THE SKETCH!!