Editing Dinner for One (section)

==Broadcasting countries==
The sketch has become a viewing tradition on New Year's Eve in German-speaking countries, where up to half the population may watch it every year on New Year's Eve. Some die-hard fans even copy the meal served in the sketch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com/2011/12/dinner-for-one-the-same-procedure-as-every-year-on-new-year%E2%80%99s-eve/|title=''Dinner for One'': The Same Procedure As Every Year On New Year's Eve {{!}} Frequent Business Traveler|website=www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com|access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref> The full 18-minute version is typically aired in Germany on [[Das Erste]] in the afternoon, and the [[ARD (broadcaster)#Television|regional third channels]] several times throughout the afternoon and evening. In Austria, [[ORF 1]] airs the full sketch around 11:30&nbsp;pm. Swiss public broadcaster [[Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen|SRF]] shows its own 11-minute version around 7:00&nbsp;pm on [[SRF 1]] and at 11:50&nbsp;pm on [[SRF zwei]].<ref>{{cite web |title=''Dinner for One'' Sendetermine 2013–2018 |date=22 February 2023 |url=https://www.fernsehserien.de/dinner-for-one/sendetermine/-1}}</ref>

In Finland, the show is viewed by 400,000 viewers each New Year's Eve. It is also a New Year tradition in Scandinavian countries.

In Sweden, the show was suspended for six years after its first screening, deemed unsuitable because of James's heavy drinking. However, the TV network finally capitulated to popular demand and brought it back.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/tv/article20092893.ab|title=Grevinnan och betjänten hade en romans på riktigt...|work=Aftonbladet Plus|date=31 December 2014 |access-date=24 November 2018|language=sv}}{{subscription required}}</ref> It has been broadcast every year since 1976 in Sweden, with the exception of 2004 in the wake of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami]].

In 1985, the Danish television network, DR, decided not to broadcast the sketch,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politiken.dk/pol_oplys/ECE221956/dr-viser-90-aars-foedselsdagen-hver-nytaarsaften-men-hvilket-aar-blev-den-ikke-sendt/|title=DR viser '90-års fødselsdagen' hver nytårsaften, men hvilket år blev den ikke sendt?|work=Politiken |date=5 January 2007 |access-date=1 January 2012|language=da}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dr.dk/OmDR/Kontakt_DR/spoergsmaal/TV/20110324111904.htm|title=Hvornår blev sketchen '90 års fødselsdagen' sendt første gang i Danmark?|work=DR |date=24 March 2011 |access-date=1 January 2012|language=da}}</ref>  but received so many complaints that it returned the following year. With this single exception, ''Dinner for One'' has been shown on DR every 31 December since 1980.

It is also broadcast annually on New Year's Eve in the [[Faroe Islands]].

In Norway, the show is broadcast on 23 December, also since 1980. In 1992, it was aired 15 minutes early, and the resulting audience uproar caused it to be re-broadcast later that night.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/alt-om-_grevinnen-og-hovmesteren_-1.2859|title=Alt om "Grevinnen og hovmesteren"|website=Guide|language=nb|access-date=3 January 2019|date=22 December 2004}}</ref>

It is broadcast annually on New Year's Eve in Australia by public broadcaster [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] (since 1989)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cubis |first1=Shane |title=Broadcast on SBS for 30 years: How 'Dinner For One' became a NYE tradition |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/whats-on/article/broadcast-on-sbs-for-30-years-how-dinner-for-one-became-a-nye-tradition/vozvicnfk |website=SBS What's On |access-date=29 December 2023 |language=en |date=19 December 2016}}</ref> and South Africa, though it is not as well known as in Europe. It was shown briefly in the [[United States|US]] (by [[HBO]]) in the 1970s.

The sketch is almost completely unknown in the United Kingdom, and its first national British television airing did not come until [[Sky Arts]] broadcast the film on New Year's Eve 2018 (although a year before, the film had been screened on [[Grimsby]] local channel Estuary TV).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.a516digital.com/2018/12/when-is-uk-tv-premiere-not-premiere-how.html|title=When is a UK TV premiere not a premiere? How PR quickly changes history|website=a516digital|access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref> The Sky Arts broadcast included English subtitles for the German-language introduction, the end of which briefly faded out followed by a fade in on Frinton, cutting out the moment when the German announcer introduces James.

In German-speaking countries, the sketch is usually shown in the original English without dubbing or subtitles. It is easy to understand with even a basic knowledge of English due to the physical nature of the comedy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/12/26/same-procedure-germans-celebrate-new-years-eve-with-dinner-for-one|work=[[the Wall Street Journal]]|title=Same Procedure: Germans Celebrate New Year's Eve with ''Dinner for One''|first=Todd|last=Buell|date=26 December 2013}}</ref> British people are often perplexed by German fans' ability to quote dialogue.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,418781,00.html |title=Dinner for Who?': Germany's New Year 'Procedure' |work=[[Der Spiegel]]|date=30 May 2006}}</ref>
After its sensational success on continental Europe Norddeutscher Rundfunk offered the sketch to the BBC. However, BBC was not interested since the sketch did not meet BBC quality standards.