![One Foot In The Grave. Image shows from L to R: Margaret Meldrew (Annette Crosbie), Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson). Copyright: BBC One Foot In The Grave. Image shows from L to R: Margaret Meldrew (Annette Crosbie), Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson). Copyright: BBC](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300/o/one_foot_in_the_grave_series1.jpg)
One Foot In The Grave
- TV sitcom
- BBC One
- 1990 - 2000
- 42 episodes (6 series)
The grumpy complainer and accident prone Victor Meldrew takes early retirement and finds he has far too much time on his hands. His long suffering wife and neighbours just have to grin and bear it. Stars Richard Wilson, Annette Crosbie, Doreen Mantle, Owen Brenman, Angus Deayton and Janine Duvitski
- Series 1, Episode 1 repeated Monday at 5:20pm on U&Drama
Episode menu
Series 2, Episode 4 - Who Will Buy?
Further details
Victor has retrieved his old ventriloquist's dummy from storage and begun practicing with it. Unfortunately, the aged prop keeps bursting and spilling sawdust, so, finding it somewhat creepy at the best of times, Margaret banishes it to the downstairs toilet when not in active use.
Margaret goes out to work, and whilst delivering a bouquet of flowers comes across an elderly blind man, living alone in a less salubrious part of town, and without contact from his Australia-living son or grandchildren on his seventieth birthday. She attempts to lift the gent's spirits and pretends his son has in fact written to him, before making her excuses and departing.
She returns home to find Victor entertaining Patrick and Pippa - but neither Meldrew has any idea where they've seen the couple before! It has grown late so, as good hosts, Victor enthusiastically encourages them to stay and use their bed. It's only at this point Margaret realises who they are - their new next-door neighbours who went on an extended holiday the day they moved in!
Later that week, talked into performing a short ventriloquist routine at a local fundraising show by Nick, Victor is giving his best on stage when dreadful news reaches them - the old blind man, someone Nick regularly helped, has been found murdered, his flat robbed and ransacked. When Pippa learns of this, her mind goes into overdrive.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Thursday 25th October 1990
- Time
- 9:30pm
- Channel
- BBC One
- Length
- 30 minutes
Upcoming repeats
- Friday 13th September 2024 at 5:20pm on U&Drama
Cast & crew
Richard Wilson | Victor Meldrew |
Annette Crosbie | Margaret Meldrew |
Owen Brenman | Nick Swainey |
Angus Deayton | Patrick Trench |
Janine Duvitski | Pippa Trench |
William Vanderpuye | Toy Salesman |
Patricia Greene | Jill Archer |
Jimmy Jewel | Albert Warris |
David Renwick | Writer |
Susan Belbin | Director |
Susan Belbin | Producer |
Chris Wadsworth | Editor |
John Dunstan | Editor |
John Asbridge | Production Designer |
Richard Winter | Costume Designer |
Jean Steward | Make-up Designer |
Chris Kempton | Lighting Designer |
Eric Idle | Composer |
Ed Welch | Composer |
Pete Wane | Graphics |