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

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Series 2, Episode 5 - Love And Death

Victor and Margaret head off for a weekend at the seaside, staying with old friends who run a B&B, where Victor is presented with a most unusual and unwelcome gift, and Romanian students cause yet further confusion in the Meldrews' lives.

Further details

The Meldrews are on their way for a weekend by the sea, staying with old friends April and Vince, who run a B&B. Typically, their holiday is punctuated by many unfortunate misunderstandings and mishaps...

Before even having a chance to settle into their room, Victor finds a dead seagull stuck in a lavatory, before misunderstanding the latter-half of a missed conversation over dinner and believing he's eating cat stew! His get-away takes a turn for the brighter the next day when he meets two very polite fellow residents, pretty young female Romanian students, whom he is able to help with some menial tasks - and let off a bit of steam to. Margaret, however, becomes racked with jealousy after misunderstanding their innocent comments of thanks!

Meanwhile, Vince presents Victor with a gift: a tombstone bearing his name and date of birth! It's not the kind of thought a man in his retirement years wishes to dwell on. He then has the misfortune to be beaten up by a group of midgets and accidentally superglues a full pint of beer to his forehead.

An argument with Margaret proves the last straw and he ends up getting very drunk in a nearby pub. He's found in the early hours by the local police in a public toilet, completely inebriated and making seagull noises. Returned to the guest house, Vince and April do their best to calm the situation and keep Margaret from finding out the extend of her husband's embarrassing adventures, but only succeed in putting themselves in the direct line of fire!

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 8th November 1990
Time
9:30pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Richard Wilson Victor Meldrew
Annette Crosbie Margaret Meldrew
Guest cast
Myrtle Devenish Elderly Lady on Train
Georgina Hale April Bluett
Stephen Lewis Vince Bluett
Leigh Samuels Petra
Patricia Martinelli Marie
Peter Burroughs Rusty
Paul Mari Policeman
Writing team
David Renwick Writer
Production team
Susan Belbin Director
Sydney Lotterby 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

Press

OFITG latest show to be hit with woke warning

The episode - titled Love And Death - sees Victor (Richard Wilson) and wife Margaret (Annette Crosbie) go on holiday to Bournemouth. They are told by two guests that there are midgets in the bathroom, but thinking they said midges, Victor bursts in there with bug spray. Instead Victor - whose catchphrase is "I don't believe it", finds two half-naked dwarves, who are part of a theatre show. It is offensive to use the word midget in reference to people with dwarfism.

Fay Leyfield, The Sun, 14th July 2021

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