The Pit and the Pendulum (31 Jan. 1993)

As ever it's not Victor's day. He picks up Patrick's dog in mistake for the phone and is angered by womanizing workman Kazanzi,who is doing some gardening for the Meldrews and who charms ... See full summary »

Director:

Susan Belbin

Writers:

David Renwick, David Renwick (by)

Stars:

Richard Wilson, Annette Crosbie, Angus Deayton

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Richard Wilson	...	Victor Meldrew
Annette Crosbie	...	Margaret Meldrew
Angus Deayton	...	Patrick
Janine Duvitski	...	Pippa
Daniel Peacock	...	Kazanzi
Sarah Bolden	...	Susan (Kazanzi's daughter)
Katharine Page	...	The voice of (voice)

Storyline

As ever it's not Victor's day. He picks up Patrick's dog in mistake for the phone and is angered by womanizing workman Kazanzi,who is doing some gardening for the Meldrews and who charms Margaret. When he sees Kazanzi with a very young girl - who actually turns out to be his daughter - Victor lets fly at him. When Margaret returns she find Kazanzi has buried Victor up to his neck in the garden with a pot over his head. She also hears that her mother has died.

---

Plot Keywords:

hairy man | losing temper | flirting | crab | victor meldrew | 

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 January 1993 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

29 min 29 min (DVD)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Margaret's mother: Hello? Margaret, this is your mum speaking. I'm 'prised I'm not here now, but that's because I'm somewhere else. I say, I'm somewhere else! But I bet you'll both be up here soon, won't you? The pair of you. So, I'll see you then. Hello?
[beep sounds]
Margaret Meldrew: Hello, mum. It's Wednesday at six o'clock. I'm just ringing to say that all being well we'll be up there Sunday afternoon about three, but I'll speak to you soon. Bye-bye.

User Reviews

A great start to series 4

This was a great start to the brilliant fourth series of 'One Foot in the Grave'

Victor is having some work done in the garden. Kazanzi is the man doing it who is popular with the ladies. He spends more time chatting up the ladies than doing the digging. Victor can't believe it when he finds himself digging for him. Patrick's very small dog has gone missing. When Victor's phone rings, Victor picks it up thinking it to be the phone. Victor is getting fed up with Kazanzi, he is even more annoyed when he has had a bath in Victor's bathroom and is sat down having a big breakfast cooked by Margaret. The last straw is when Victor gets home and finds Kazanzi on the sofa with a lady (it is actually his daughter). This is the last straw, so Victor loses it. As revenge Kazanzi buries Victor in the garden. Then news comes through that Margaret's mother has died.

A great episode- regarded as one of the best 'One Foot in the Grave' episodes. The scene where Victor mistakes the dog for the telephone is one of the most remembered scenes in 'One Foot in the Grave' Playing Kazanzi was Daniel Peacock. His Dad is Trevor Peacock who played Jim Trott in 'The Vicar of Dibley' He reminds me of Nicky Henson, who played Johnson in the classic 'Fawlty Towers' episode 'The Psychiatrist' He looks like him- hairy chest very visible and the character was very similar, popular with the ladies, cheeky cockney attitude and easily makes ladies laugh. Victor was very much like Basil Fawlty, sees him a show-off, a waste of time and strongly disapproves of his casual attitude.

Best Bit: KAZANZI: I used to have one of them electronic woodchoppers, but the noise kept giving me orgasms.

Second Best Bit: Victor mistaking the dog for the phone.