"One Foot in the Grave" (1990) TV series 1990-2000

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

4 January 1990 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Victor Meldrew is a retiree with an attitude who seems to attract bad luck. If he's not driving his...

Plot Keywords:

Grouch | Pessimist | Senior Citizen | Old Man | Married Couple

Awards:

9 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Richard Wilson	...	Victor Meldrew (42 episodes, 1990-2000)
Annette Crosbie	...	Margaret Meldrew (41 episodes, 1990-2000)
Doreen Mantle	...	Mrs Warboys / ... (18 episodes, 1990-2000)
Owen Brenman	...	Nick Swainey / ... (15 episodes, 1990-2000)
Angus Deayton	...	Patrick (14 episodes, 1990-2000)
Janine Duvitski	...	Pippa (14 episodes, 1990-2000)

Series Directed by
Susan Belbin		(35 episodes, 1990-1996)
Christine Gernon		(7 episodes, 1997-2000)

Series Writing credits
David Renwick		(42 episodes, 1990-2000)

Series Produced by
Susan Belbin	....	producer (35 episodes, 1990-1996)
Jonathan Paul Llewellyn	....	producer (6 episodes, 2000)

Series Original Music by
Ed Welch		(35 episodes, 1990-2000)
Eric Idle		(6 episodes, 1990)

Series Cinematography by
Geoff Harrison		(6 episodes, 2000)
John Rhodes		(2 episodes, 1993)
John Record		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Mike Houghton		(21 episodes, 1990-1996)
John Dunstan		(13 episodes, 1990-1992)
Mark Lawrence		(6 episodes, 2000)

Series Production Design by
Nick Somerville		(13 episodes, 1990-1993)
Linda Conoboy		(12 episodes, 1992-2000)
John Asbridge		(9 episodes, 1990-1996)
John Bristow		(7 episodes, 1991-1992)
Laurence Williams		(6 episodes, 1994-1995)
Chris Hull		(2 episodes, 1990)

Series Art Direction by
Clara Morland		(4 episodes, 2000)
Antony Cartlidge		(3 episodes, 2000)

Series Costume Design by
Richard Winter		(33 episodes, 1990-1996)
Jacky Levy		(6 episodes, 2000)

Series Makeup Department
Jean Steward	....	makeup designer (26 episodes, 1990-1993)
Vanessa White	....	makeup designer / hair designer / ... (15 episodes, 1993-2000)
Rebecca Walker	....	hair designer / makeup artist / ... (2 episodes, 2000)

Series Production Management
Gavin Clark	....	production manager (11 episodes, 1990)
Nick Wood	....	production manager (11 episodes, 1993-1995)
Duncan Cooper	....	production manager (7 episodes, 1990)
Murray Peterson	....	production manager (7 episodes, 1991-1992)
Francis Gilson	....	production manager (6 episodes, 2000)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Katie Thompstone	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 2000)
Anna Brabbins	....	third assistant director (2 episodes, 2000)
Kate Holdsworth	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 2000)

Series Art Department
Pete Wane	....	graphic designer / graphics designer (13 episodes, 1990)
Sue Claybyn	....	properties buyer (11 episodes, 1992-1993)
David Hayden	....	properties buyer (7 episodes, 1990)
Barbara Horne	....	properties buyer (7 episodes, 1991-1992)
Nick Barnett	....	properties buyer (7 episodes, 1993-1995)
Amanda Smith	....	properties buyer (6 episodes, 1990)
Nicola Burrough	....	production buyer (6 episodes, 2000)
Dave Channon	....	construction manager (2 episodes, 1993)
Dickson Peschek	....	prop master (2 episodes, 2000)
Madeleine Turnbull	....	art department assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Laurie Taylor	....	sound supervisor / sound: studio / ... (16 episodes, 1991-1997)
John A. Parry	....	film sound / sound recordist (14 episodes, 1991-1993)
Nick Roast	....	sound supervisor / sound: studio / ... (12 episodes, 1993-2000)
John Hooper	....	film sound (8 episodes, 1990-1995)
Chris Round	....	sound recordist / boom operator / ... (8 episodes, 1993-2000)
Martin Deane	....	sound: studio / sound supervisor (7 episodes, 1990)
Mark Holland	....	sound: studio (6 episodes, 1990)
Ron Keighley	....	film sound (6 episodes, 1990)
Clive Derbyshire	....	film sound (5 episodes, 1994-1995)
Dave Wagner	....	sound supervisor / assistant sound supervisor / ... (5 episodes, 1997-2000)
John Mooney	....	sound (2 episodes, 2000)
Geoff Moss	....	sound supervisor (2 episodes, 2000)

Series Special Effects by
Paul Mann	....	special effects supervisor (1 episode, 1997)
Martin 'Marty' McLaughlin	....	snow effects technician (1 episode, 2000)

Series Visual Effects by
Chris Lawson	....	visual effects designer / visual effects (33 episodes, 1990-2000)
Colin Mapson	....	visual effects designer (6 episodes, 1990)

Series Stunts
Steve Whyment	....	stunt arranger / stunts (7 episodes, 1993-2000)
Bill Weston	....	stunt arranger / stunt performer (3 episodes, 1990-2000)
Gabe Cronnelly	....	stunt arranger / stunt performer / ... (3 episodes, 1995-2000)
Colin Skeaping	....	fight arranger / stunt arranger (2 episodes, 1990-1993)
Mark Lisbon	....	stunt performer (2 episodes, 1996-2000)
Tina Maskell	....	stunt performer (2 episodes, 1996-2000)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Kempton	....	lighting director / studio lighting / ... (39 episodes, 1990-2000)
Roger Goss	....	camera supervisor / studio camera supervisor (20 episodes, 1990-1993)
John Record	....	film camera / film camerman (16 episodes, 1990-1997)
Duncan Unsworth	....	studio camera supervisor / camera supervisor (15 episodes, 1994-2000)
Peter Robinson	....	lighting gaffer (7 episodes, 1993-2000)
Keith Burton	....	film camerman (6 episodes, 1990)
Peter Loring	....	film camera (6 episodes, 1994-1995)
Ian Jackson	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 2000)
John Rhodes	....	film camera (5 episodes, 1993)
James Grimes	....	grip (4 episodes, 1992-1997)
Will Charles	....	lighting director / studio lighting (4 episodes, 1996-2000)
Alan Bayley	....	camera supervisor (3 episodes, 1990-1992)
John Hembrough	....	assistant camera / focus puller (2 episodes, 1993)
Paul Lang	....	best boy / electrician (2 episodes, 1993)
Martin Kempton	....	studio lighting (2 episodes, 1995-1996)
John Fletcher	....	focus puller (2 episodes, 2000)
Julia Smith	....	lighting director (2 episodes, 2000)

Series Casting Department
Judy Loe	....	casting adviser / casting advisor (18 episodes, 1990-1996)
Tracey Gillham	....	casting advisor (7 episodes, 1997-2000)
Rebecca Howard	....	casting advisor (6 episodes, 1990)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Karen Beale	....	assistant costume designer / costume design assistant (5 episodes, 1990-1993)

Series Editorial Department
Sue Collins	....	vision mixer (31 episodes, 1990-2000)
Chris Wadsworth	....	videotape editor / editor: video tape / ... (25 episodes, 1990-1993)
Mark Lawrence	....	videotape editor / editor: video tape (9 episodes, 1994-1997)
Heather Gilder	....	vision mixer (7 episodes, 1994-1997)
Jonathan Wood	....	colorist (2 episodes, 1993)

Series Music Department
John Du Prez	....	music arranger: signature tune / music arranger / ... (41 episodes, 1990-2000)
Eric Idle	....	composer: signature tune / music performer: signature tune / ... (41 episodes, 1990-2000)
André Jacquemin	....	music producer: signature tune / music producer / ... (40 episodes, 1990-2000)
Ed Welch	....	composer: incidental music (28 episodes, 1990-2000)

Series Transportation Department
Peter Thompson	....	action vehicles (1 episode, 1997)

Series Other crew
Philip Quinn	....	technical coordinator / resources coordinator / ... (32 episodes, 1990-1996)
Christine Gernon	....	production assistant / production secretary / ... (14 episodes, 1990-1995)
Fiona Strachan	....	production secretary (12 episodes, 1990-1993)
Amita Lochab	....	production assistant / floor manager (9 episodes, 1990-1995)
Samantha Frith	....	production secretary (8 episodes, 1991-1993)
Nick Wood	....	assistant floor manager / location manager (8 episodes, 1991-1993)
Jenny Penrose	....	assistant floor manager (7 episodes, 1990)
Jane Wellesley	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1990)
Susan Silburn	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1991-1992)
Jo Alloway	....	programme finance associate / programme finance assistant (7 episodes, 1997-2000)
Adam Tandy	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1990)
Gail Evans	....	production assistant / continuity (6 episodes, 1993)
Kate Carrol	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1994-1995)
Caroline Caley	....	stage manager (6 episodes, 2000)
Caroline Gardener	....	script supervisor (6 episodes, 2000)
Gabrielle Lindemann	....	location manager (6 episodes, 2000)
Lindsey Chamier	....	location manager (5 episodes, 1993)
Simone Dawson	....	assistant floor manager (5 episodes, 1993)
Anthony Garrick	....	location manager (5 episodes, 1994-1995)
Mark Sanders	....	studio resource manager / studio resources manager (5 episodes, 1997-2000)
Charlotte Simmonds	....	production secretary (4 episodes, 2000)
Max De Nett	....	design operative / production operative (3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Brian Green	....	design operative / production operative (3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Charles Whaley	....	assistant floor manager (2 episodes, 1990)
Judith Bantock	....	finance assistant / programme budget assistant (2 episodes, 1993)
Andrew Breaks	....	studio resource manager (2 episodes, 2000)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1990-2000) (UK) (TV)
• UKTV Gold (????) (UK) (TV)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment

Runtime:

30 min (34 episodes) | 70 min (1 Episode) | 60 min (3 episodes) | 40 min (2 episodes) | 50 min (1 Episode) | 90 min (1 Episode)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

New Zealand:PG (season 1) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Algarve, Portugal

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Although "I don't believe it" is the catchphrase of the show, the first time Victor said it was in the last few minutes of "The Return of the Speckled Band" - the final episode of the first series.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Victor Meldrew: What in the name of bloody hell?

Movie Connections:

Featured in 50 Most Shocking Comedy Moments (2006) (TV)

Risk of both feet in the grave from laughing

Although not as funny as Fawlty Towers, this is one of the best comedy series to come out of the UK in recent years. I can understand it not appealing at all to non-British people but to a normal Brit, this series embodies everything that is typical of British humour of the latter half of the twentieth century. The crisis of trying to adjust to retirement is a universal one and Victor Meldrew reactions to present day society are in fact those of all or most of us, even if he has the courage to express them vocally and us, not. Certainly the catch phrase from the series "I don't believe it" is common in people's mouths today. Just think when you have to call a company and you are no longer put thru to a switchboard but to some kind of robot and to access the department you want you have to press button one, then two etc etc. If you make one cock-up, the whole thing goes wrong. This is the kind of stupidity Meldrew is having to battle with. SOme of the episodes are so funny ( when Meldrew finds a strange old lady in his bed !! ) that you seriously risk of ending up in the grave yourself from too much laughter. Others can be tedious and you feel that the scriptwriters were more inspired some days than others. That said, from the fairly large number of episodes I've seen, I would say that about at least 65 to 70 percent of the episodes are side-splitting. When I watch this programme, I feel I am watching something peculiarly common to BRitish Humour. I could not imagine Amercians laughing at this, not to speak of French, Germans or Spanish ! Some of the humour is indeed fairly "morbid" and "sick" and would have limited appeal outside the UK. THat doesn't matter at all, but I'm just stating it as a fact. The last episode to end them all has to be seen but is bitter and sad and not funny at all - very strange compared with the others. Obviously, the BBC had decided to number Meldrew's days for once and for all but weren't too sure how to go about it. When I saw the final result, I "just didn't believe it" !!!!!!!!!!!!