Originally conceived for radio, the BBC TV play is a painfully funny expose of the mores and desires underpinning a suburban cocktail party and established the hallmarks of Mike Leigh's style genius - astute observation, droll wit (watch lanky Sue dancing with pint-sized Roger) - all carried off by a perfect cast.
At its centre is a superlative performance from Alison Steadman as Beverly, the hostess from hell, seductively swaying around a living room to her beloved Demis Roussos LPs. It gets worse - her husband prefers James Galway.