British Comedy Guide
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

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

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 545

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Episode menu

- Series 3 - The Man In The Long Black Coat

Seven months after Patrick gunned down one hundred of his garden gnomes in cold blood, Victor still has a score to settle with his next-door neighbour. Meanwhile, down on his allotment all is not what it would appear with a pile of horse manure bought from a dodgy character.

Further details

It's been seven months since Patrick took revenge on Victor for the vintage wine, and the neighbours are still behaving like schoolboys, constantly arguing and targeting each other with ever-pettier plots. Pippa, meanwhile, has fallen pregnant, and Margaret is at the end of her tether with both men.

On the Meldrews' other side, Nick Swainey is his usual annoyingly cheery self despite the death of his grandmother - she was 93, after all. The rest of the neighbours are growing increasingly impatient with Victor after a pile of horse manure he purchased as fertiliser was delivered to the middle of the road outside the house some days ago and has yet to be moved.

When he finally deposits the muck at his allotment, Victor is aghast to be approached by a public health scientist from the council. There's nothing to be alarmed about, he is assured, but a range of tests have to be carried out on the dung!

Back at home, Victor and Patrick's childish squabbles continue, whilst Margaret takes Pippa's advice to serve Victor a relaxing herbal tea concoction. The mix becomes the subject of extreme confusion when Mr. Swainey returns from his grandmother's cremation, and hostilities on the terrace draw to a swift halt when Pippa is involved in a serious car crash...

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 30th December 1991
Time
9:30pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
50 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Richard Wilson Victor Meldrew
Annette Crosbie Margaret Meldrew
Owen Brenman Nick Swainey
Angus Deayton Patrick Trench
Janine Duvitski Pippa Trench
Guest cast
Cecily Hobbs Receptionist
Michael Robbins Mr. Killick
Eric Idle Dr. Mervyn Whale
Writing team
David Renwick Writer
Production team
Susan Belbin Director
Susan Belbin Producer
Chris Wadsworth Editor
John Dunstan Editor
John Bristow Production Designer
Richard Winter Costume Designer
Jean Steward Make-up Designer
Chris Kempton (as Christopher Kempton) Lighting Designer
Eric Idle Composer
Ed Welch Composer

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