2.1 Abigail's Party

Andy and Martin return for another series of an A to Z of UK
television drama and in time-honoured fashion are keeping it
alphabetical. First up is the iconic Mike Leigh Play for Today:
Abigail’s Party. Devised for the stage, and performed over a 100
times before it was recorded for television, Leigh’s kitsch classic
sees the monstrous Beverley (a tour-de-force of a performance from
Alison Steadman) preside over an evening soiree which she, her
neighbours, and the viewing audience at home would never forget.
Grab your cheese and pineapple on a cocktail stick, get the
Beaujolais in the fridge and fire up Demis Roussos on your record
player and strap in for this glorious window into the conventions
and aspirations of 1976. Another gin and tonic? Sue? Ange? Tony?
Okay?