‘Melancholy magic’: how Judi Dench and a host of stars came under the spell of the greatest comedy in history

That strain again … (from left) Penelope Wilton, Judi Dench, Simon Callow and Stephen Fry in The Twelfth Night Reunion. Photograph: Danny Kaan

Many of us decline into our dotage. Actors slip into their anecdotage. Two of the best programmes in the rather arid TV Christmas schedules featured Judi Dench touchingly reminiscing about her love of Shakespeare. The great dame is also one of the glittering ensemble in The Twelfth Night Reunion, a one-off event conceived and hosted by Gyles Brandreth and recorded at the Orange Tree in Richmond, London, a year ago, where a group of actors share their memories of the play.

Now available on YouTube, it is like an upmarket version of The Graham Norton Show with two heart-stopping moments.