Sunday best: 17 expert tips for the perfect roast dinner, from brining the chicken to bashing the potatoes

It's the crowning glory of any weekend - but the stakes are high and soggy veg or claggy gravy could ruin everything. Here are the hacks to try - and the corners not to cut

Few meals retain a capacity for disappointment like the classic British roast dinner. Expectations are usually high, and there is just so much that can go wrong: tough meat, soggy veg, claggy gravy, ill-advised departures from traditional methods and ingredients. Most of us have probably had more bad ones than good.

With so much work involved, the temptation to cut corners is strong. But resist! Instead limit your ambitions, resign yourself to some hard work and follow the tips below. A better roast dinner is within your grasp.