One Foot in the Grave
Who would have thought retirement could be so chaotic?
One Foot in the Grave is a BBC television sitcom series. The series features the exploits of Victor Meldrew and his long-suffering wife, Margaret. The programmes invariably deal with Meldrew's battle against the problems he creates for himself. Living in a typical household in an unnamed English suburb, Victor takes involuntary early retirement. His various efforts to keep himself busy, while encountering various misfortunes and misunderstandings are the themes of the sitcom. Despite its traditional production, the series supplants its domestic sitcom setting with elements of black humour and surrealism.
Episodes
1Who's Listening?
59 minDec 27, 1990
"All the miseries in the world seem a hundred times worse at Christmas." Victor isn't in a seasonal mood thanks to Mrs Warboys' nativity play, a hostage crisis and 263 garden gnomes. However, Victor's troubles are tiny compared with those of the small boy who wants his dead father home.
2The Man in the Long Black Coat
48 minDec 30, 1991
Victor and Patrick's feud has continued and they now communicate via Post-It notes. Pippa is expecting a baby, while Victor is keeping an allotment and buys some radioactive horse manure.
3Victor in the Bath
8 minMar 12, 1993
For UK Comic Relief 1993, Victor spends 'just one more minute' in the bath contemplating the mysteries of life, from wrinkled fingers to microscopic insects.
4One Foot in the Algarve
92 minDec 26, 1993
The Meldrews are going on holiday to Portugal with Mrs Warboys. While Margaret is concerned about her approaching 60th birthday, Mrs Warboys is looking forward to meeting her pen friend, with thoughts of romance. Meanwhile, a journalist is attempting to retrieve a vitally important camera film which just happens to be in Margaret's handbag.
5The Wisdom of the Witch
60 minDec 25, 1995
When Cousin Ursula dies the Meldrews have to clear out her house in the country, although a witch has predicted that Victor is about to come to an untimely end. Patrick and Pippa have finally sold their house and are preparing to move. Patrick has a new job with his own secretary - something which puts his life in danger.
6Starbound
59 minDec 26, 1996
The Meldrews return from a long weekend away to find a man living in their shed. Victor is suffering from a hernia but this hasn't stopped him getting a job as a gardener working for Patrick's new boss. Meanwhile, Mr Swainey's mother claims that she is abducted by aliens from Neptune every night.
7Endgame
68 minDec 25, 1997
Victor and Margaret have new neighbours, the McVities, with whom they are actually getting on well. But for how much longer will it last, especially when Victor buys a haunted caravan, and then inadvertently kidnaps the mother of a millionaire?
8Visiting Uncle Dick
8 minMar 6, 2001
Short post-finale outing for the Meldrews in aid of Comic Relief (2001). Margaret is visiting a relative in hospital. Viewers are left wondering whether the series finale has been ignored for a non-canonical charity sketch, but with typical dialogue involving the Meldrews ignoring what the other is saying, the conclusion remains true to the series finale!
9I Don't Believe It! The One Foot in the Grave Story
30 minNov 20, 2000
Documentary celebrating 10 years of the popular BBC sitcom 'One Foot in the Grave', which ran from 1990 to 2000. Cast members and writer David Renwick discuss the series and a selection of memorable clips illustrate the show's huge appeal.
10Britain's Best Sitcom: One Foot in the Grave
30 minFeb 14, 2004
Rowland Rivron pays tribute to Victor Meldrew , the irascible pensioner whose catchphrase "I don't believe it!" struck a chord with world-weary viewers everywhere. Contributors include Richard Wilson , Annette Crosbie , Angus Deayton and Eric Idle.
Where to watch One Foot in the Grave
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Series cast
