King Charles draws laughs in Germany as he alludes to 1963 British sketch Dinner for One

It has been a staple of New Year’s Eve in Germany since 1972 and is extremely popular elsewhere on the mainland as well.

But in Britain, Dinner for One is virtually unheard of – despite holding the Guinness World Record for the most repeated TV show of all time.

Last night, King Charles delighted his esteemed audience in Germany when he referred to the sketch during a speech that kicked off his state visit to the country.

Speaking in German to guests including the country’s president and former chancellor Angela Merkel, the king joked: “It’s nice of you all not to leave me alone with a ‘Dinner for one!’

Originally taped in 1963, the show revolves around the 90th birthday of upper-class Englishwoman Miss Sophie, played by May Warden, as she is attended by her butler James.

The table is set for four guests, but they are all long dead, leaving James – played by comedian Freddie Frinton – increasingly drunk as he imitates and drinks in front of them all.

Check out the sketch below

Also known as The 90th Birthday (Der 90. Geburtstag in German), the show was originally written by British author Lauri Wylie for the theatre.

Frinton and Warden played it in British seaside resorts as early as 1945.

German producer Peter Frankenfeld came across it while searching for ideas in Blackpool.

He then invited Frinton and Warden to perform it on screen in 1963 in front of a live TV audience.

In 1972, it was shown on German TV at 7:40 pm on New Year’s Eve to fill a gap in the schedule. A tradition was born and has been shown every year since.

More adventurous viewers watching the skit, which airs in English but has a brief introduction in German, will try to keep up with James’ drinking.

Miss Sophie is alone because friends Sir Toby, Admiral von Schneider, Mr. Pomeroy and Mr. Winterbottom have died.

James consumes all of their drinks over four courses – mulligatawny and sherry, North Sea haddock and white wine, chicken with champagne, and fruit and port – and repeatedly trips over a tiger head rug.

It has been a staple of New Year’s Eve in Germany since 1972 and is extremely popular elsewhere on the continent. But in Britain, Dinner for One is virtually unheard of – despite holding the Guinness World Record for the most repeated TV program of all time

Originally taped in 1962, the show revolves around the 90th birthday of upper-class Englishwoman Miss Sophie, attended by her butler James.

The table is set for four guests, but they are all long dead, prompting James – played by comedian Freddie Frinton – to get increasingly drunk as he imitates and drinks for them all

A major theme of the sketch is James’ repeated tripping over the head of a carpet of tiger skin

Before each course, James asks his employer if it will be “the same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?” She then replies, “Same procedure as every year, James.” They repeat the lines as he escorts her to bed at the end of the sketch

Before each course, James asks his employer if it will be “the same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?”

She then replies, “Same procedure as every year, James.”

They repeat the lines as he escorts her to bed at the end of the sketch.

The allusions to sex were mirrored by Frinton and Warden’s alleged real-life affair.

Dinner for One has made an impact off screen as well, spawning cookbooks and even a commemorative stamp.

Frinton, who died in 1968, was well known in Britain and starred in the BBC show Meet The Wife.

But he was also hugely popular with his drunken comedy skit, in which he wore a top hat and tails and carried a broken cigarette.

Warden died in 1978 at the age of 87.

Dinner for One first aired in the UK in 2018 when it was shown on Sky Arts.

It is also shown in countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

King Charles spoke at the former royal residence Schloss Bellevue, now the home of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

In his speech, the monarch pledged to “strengthen ties between the UK and Germany” and paid tribute to the “enduring value” of the relationship between the two nations.

In what was his government’s first state banquet speech, Charles emphasized that he was “completely convinced” that the link between Britain and one of the EU’s leading countries will “ever grow stronger”.

On the historic day before, the King and Queen’s consort Camilla was officially welcomed in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of peace and unity and the first time the location has been used to greet a foreign head of state.

Charles and the Queen Consort pose with Mr. Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender at the Schloss Bellevue in Berlin

Former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel laughed at King Charles’ speech. Above: The couple is sitting at the table

The dinner guests also included some celebrities, including German resident and former Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse, and distant German relations of the King.

Charles told those in attendance: ‘The relationship between Germany and the United Kingdom is also of great importance to me, Mr President, and I am more convinced than ever of its lasting value for all of us.

“It means so much to us that my wife and I were able to come to Germany for my government’s first-ever overseas tour.

“I can only assure you that during my time as King I will do all I can to strengthen the bonds between us.”