Love and Death (8 Nov. 1990)

The Meldrews encounter typical problems when they go to stay with Vince and April at their seaside hotel,including a dead sea-gull in the toilet and a group of performing midgets who set on... See full summary »

Director:

Sydney Lotterby

Writers:

David Renwick, David Renwick (by)

Stars:

Richard Wilson, Annette Crosbie, Myrtle Devenish

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Richard Wilson	...	Victor Meldrew
Annette Crosbie	...	Margaret Meldrew
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

Storyline

The Meldrews encounter typical problems when they go to stay with Vince and April at their seaside hotel,including a dead sea-gull in the toilet and a group of performing midgets who set on Victor when he takes a midge spray to the bath-room. After the attack two Romanian girl guests are sympathetic to him and Margaret gets jealous,causing Victor to go out and get drunk. So as not to disturb Margaret the hosts put him in their bed but this leads the Meldrews to suspect them of trying to seduce Victor. As a result Victor sets fire to April's wig and Vince gets pushed off the pier.

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Plot Keywords:

victor meldrew

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 1990 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (DVD)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

April is in her room getting ready for bed when Vince comes up the stairs. As April runs to the bed and grabs her wig, the door behind her opens a crack and then shuts. When April gets to the door, she turns a latch before opening the door, as if to unlock it. The door was already unlocked.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Victor Meldrew: Unbelievable! Didn't you see what she was reading, at her age? Unbelievable!
Victor Meldrew: What about her at her age?
Victor Meldrew: 'The Joy of Sex'. That old woman sitting next to me. I didn't know where to put my face.
Margaret Meldrew: Well, it doesn't seem to have put you off finding words for this brain-teaser. Key word 'undemocratic'; what have you got? Mount, mate, moan, mound; ride, rude, crude, nude; rod, ram, nut; rat. Nice, cute, round, dome. And dormice. Very Freudian.

User Reviews

Well I didn't think it came from somebodies bottom

This has to be my favourite episode of One Foot in the Grave. Full of fine moments. Not surprisingly when One Foot in the Grave ended viewers could vote for what episode they could watch again and they chose this one. This episode also represented the show in the poll to find Britains Best Sitcom in 2004.

Victor and Margaret are going to April and Vince's for the weekend. They are both friends of the Meldrew's who run a guest house at the seaside. On the train Victor is sat next to an old lady who is reading "The Joy of Sex". The couple arrive at the guest house where they meet April and Vince. Victor has made friends with two Romanian beauties Petra and Marie. A stupid Margaret thinks there is something sexual involved, so a furious Victor storms out. He has a day on the beer. Margaret is worrying, but April tells her to sleep in her room which she does. The police that night bring an unconscious Victor home. He gets put in April's room. The next morning, Victor see's April in her room and April says "We won't tell Margaret about last night, it can be our little secret" Victor thinks he has slept with her. Then Vince goes into the room where Margaret is in bed to get his fishing trousers. As he is putting them on, Margaret thinks he has slept with Vince. As revenge, Victor sets the hotel alight and Margaret throws Vince into the sea.

The great Stephen Lewis played Vince, he played one of sitcoms finest characters, Cyril Blake on On the Buses and Don't Drink the Water. This episode proves that with a real good director you can't go wrong. This was the only episode directed by Sydney Lotterby, one of the finest directors/producers whose credits include: Sykes and A, Last of the Summer Wine, Open all Hours, Porridge, Some Mothers do ave em and Going Straight and surprise surprise with him directing, it was probably the best One Foot in the Grave episode.

Best Bit: VICTOR: There is a dead seagull in the lavatory, APRIL: It must have flew in from the window, VICTOR: Well I didn't think it came from somebodies bottom.