One Foot in the Grave: Series 4-6

The complete soundtracks of the final three series of the hugely popular sitcom, plus five Christmas Specials

One Foot in the Grave dominated the airwaves in the 1990s, running for six series and seven Specials over more than a decade and attracting audiences of almost 20 million at its peak. Created by acclaimed TV writer David Renwick, who went on to create Jonathan Creek, it cemented Richard Wilson and Annette Crosbie as household names and won numerous awards, including the BAFTA for Best Comedy and multiple British Comedy Awards for Best Sitcom.

This collection includes some of the finest episodes of the much-loved show, with scenarios ranging from the farcical to the tragic. Beset by bad luck, misunderstandings and bizarre coincidences, Victor Meldrew’s catalogue of frustrations includes being buried in his own garden, getting his feet stuck in a bag of cement, and failing to realise that the woman he’s in bed with is not, in fact, his wife. Finally, in a cruel twist of fate, he is killed in a hit-and-run accident, leaving Margaret facing up to life without him – and vowing to take revenge on the driver who hit him.

Also featured are five Christmas Specials: ‘One Foot in the Algarve’, ‘The Man Who Blew Away’, ‘The Wisdom of the Witch’, ‘Starbound’ and ‘Endgame’, in which the Meldrews and Mrs Warboys embark on a hellish holiday to Portugal; a face from the past returns; a tarot card reading prophesies disaster for Victor; a vagrant takes up residence in the garden shed; and Victor’s plans for a quiet West Country break have an eerie and utterly terrifying conclusion.

Starring Richard Wilson and Annette Crosbie as Victor and Margaret, with Doreen Mantle as Mrs Warboys, and Angus Deayton and Janine Duvitski as Patrick and Pippa Trench. Among the guest stars are Peter Cook, Barbara Windsor, Phil Daniels, Ray Winstone, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Lorraine Kelly and Roy Hudd.

Production credits
Created and written by David Renwick
Theme song written, composed and sung by Eric Idle
Incidental music by Ed Welch
Produced and directed by Susan Belbin (Series 4-5) and Christine Gernon (Series 6)

Cast
Victor Meldrew – Richard Wilson
Margaret Meldrew – Annette Crosbie
Mrs Warboys – Doreen Mantle
Patrick Trench – Angus Deayton
Pippa Trench – Janine Duvitski
Nick Swainey – Owen Brenman

Guest starring Helen Lederer, Arabella Weir, Peter Cook, Joan Sims, Barbara Windsor, John Bird, Phil Daniels, Ray Winstone, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Lorraine Kelly, Roy Hudd and Joanna Scanlan.

Episode guide

First broadcast on BBC One on the following dates:

Series 4 31 January – 7 March 1993)
The Pit and the Pendulum
Descent into the Maelstrom
Hearts of Darkness
Warm Champagne
The Trial
Secret of the Seven Sorcerers

Christmas Special: One Foot in the Algarve (26 December 1993)

Christmas Special: The Man Who Blew Away (25 December 1994)

Series 5 (1 January – 29 January 1995)
Only a Story
The Affair of the Hollow Lady
Rearranging the Dust
Hole in the Sky
The Exterminating Angel

Christmas Special: The Wisdom of the Witch (25 December 1995)
Christmas Special: Starbound (26 December 1996)
Christmas Special: Endgame (25 December 1997)

Series 6 (16 October – 20 November 2000)
The Executioner’s Song
Tales of Terror
The Futility of the Fly
Threatening Weather
The Dawn of Man
Things Aren’t Simple Any More

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