Episode Hive Logo
Show cover for One Foot In the Grave

The Best Episodes of One Foot In the Grave

Every episode of One Foot In the Grave ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of One Foot In the Grave!

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. The series was largely filmed on location in Walkford, near New Milton in Hampshire, although several clues show that the series may have been set in Hampshire – possibly Winchester. Despite its traditional production, the series supplants its domestic sitcom setting with elements of black humour and surrealism.

Genre:Comedy
Network:BBC One

Top Episode Ratings Summary

The best episode of "One Foot In the Grave" is "Hearts of Darkness", rated 9/10 from 236 user votes. It was directed by N/A and written by N/A. "Hearts of Darkness" aired on 2/14/1993 and is rated 0.2 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Things Aren't Simple Any More".

  • Hearts of Darkness
    9.0/10 236 votes

    #1 - Hearts of Darkness

    Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 2/14/1993

    During a trip to the countryside with Mrs Warboys and Mr Swainey, the Meldrews manage to get lost. Victor leaves the others to try to find help.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Things Aren't Simple Any More
    8.8/10 227 votes

    #2 - Things Aren't Simple Any More

    Season 6 Episode 6 - Aired 11/20/2000

    In the very last episode of 'One Foot in the Grave', Victor's decision to attend a school reunion unwittingly delivers him into the hands of fate. Margaret deals with the aftermath with the help of her new friend, Glynis.

    Director: Christine Gernon

    Writer: David Renwick

  • The Dawn Of Man
    8.5/10 133 votes

    #3 - The Dawn Of Man

    Season 6 Episode 5 - Aired 11/13/2000

    Victor's new fishing hobby leads to an unfortunate encounter with a fly-tipper. Meanwhile, a visit from Patrick's gay twin brother leaves Pippa feeling mentally and physically exhausted, especially when Patrick sits on a cork.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Love & Death
    8.4/10 178 votes

    #4 - Love & Death

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 11/11/1990

    When the Meldrews visit some friends on the South Coast, Victor is given a surprise.

    Director: Sydney Lotterby, Susan Belbin

    Writer: David Renwick

  • The Worst Horror Of All
    8.4/10 156 votes

    #5 - The Worst Horror Of All

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 3/8/1992

    Even a shed falling on him cannot upset Victor when he finally gets a new job. However, before starting work he must first contend with some unwanted visitors and a trip to the BBC organised by Mrs Warboys.

    Director: Susan Belbin

    Writer: David Renwick

  • Warm Champagne
    8.3/10 152 votes

    #6 - Warm Champagne

    Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 2/21/1993

    Victor returns from holiday with sunburnt feet. His mood doesn't improve, thanks to rows with the neighbours and the addition of a streetlamp to his bedroom furniture. This gives Margaret a dilemma when she is contacted by Ben, a pleasant man who she met on holiday.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Man Who Blew Away
    8.3/10 152 votes

    #7 - The Man Who Blew Away

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 12/25/1994

    Patrick is preparing for an important meeting with some Japanese businessmen. Next door, Victor's stolen car has been recovered, but he isn't very happy about it. Then the Meldrews are visited by Mr Foskett - a man who they met on holiday 17 years previously.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Beast In The Cage
    8.2/10 175 votes

    #8 - The Beast In The Cage

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 2/23/1992

    The Meldrews and Mrs Warboys get stuck in Bank Holiday traffic.

    Director: Susan Belbin

    Writer: David Renwick

  • The Pit and the Pendulum
    8.2/10 164 votes

    #9 - The Pit and the Pendulum

    Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 1/31/1993

    Victor is employing a workman in the garden, although he never seems to do any work. On the other side of the fence, Patrick has acquired a pet daschund called Denzil.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Descent Into The Maelstorm
    8.2/10 141 votes

    #10 - Descent Into The Maelstorm

    Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 1/31/1993

    Margaret falls ills to nervous exhaustion that has been building up over the last 34 years. She has little chance for peace and quiet in which to recuperate, especially with Victor's problems with gorilla suits and the waste disposal system. She is however cheered by a visit from an old friend.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Secret Of The Seven Sorcerers
    8.2/10 146 votes

    #11 - Secret Of The Seven Sorcerers

    Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 3/7/1993

    Victor is preparing for a meeting of his magician's club. He now has a job as a lollipop man, but is being bothered by hoax calls from the fire brigade. Patrick and Pippa are due to visit the Meldrews' for a reconciliation meal, but Patrick isn't looking forward to the experience.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Affair Of The Hollow Lady
    8.2/10 138 votes

    #12 - The Affair Of The Hollow Lady

    Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 1/8/1995

    Victor thinks that the woman in the greengrocers fancies him. Meanwhile, Mrs Warboys has won a wax model of herself and the Meldrews are having problems with their door locks.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Futility Of The Fly
    8.2/10 138 votes

    #13 - The Futility Of The Fly

    Season 6 Episode 3 - Aired 10/30/2000

    Margaret regrets hiring an attractive cleaner to help around the house. Meanwhile, Mrs Warboys has a couple of nasty frights.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Beware The Trickster On The Roof
    8.1/10 149 votes

    #14 - Beware The Trickster On The Roof

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 3/1/1992

    Mr Swainey has brought Victor a present back from his holiday - an unlucky charm. Victor thinks that Mrs Stebbings's tv aerial is laughing at him and his resulting misfortune. Meanwhile, Patrick and Pippa are having problems trying to sell their house.

    Director: Susan Belbin

    Writer: David Renwick

  • Monday Morning Will Be Fine
    8.0/10 153 votes

    #15 - Monday Morning Will Be Fine

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 2/2/1992

    After a burglary Victor decides not to replace his television set in order to give him and Margaret more opportunity to get out of the house. However, a trip to the pub results in a disconcerting experience with an old friend.

    Director: Susan Belbin

    Writer: David Renwick

  • Dreamland
    8.0/10 151 votes

    #16 - Dreamland

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 2/9/1992

    Margaret is having a recurring dream about murdering someone who looks like Victor. However, it's Margaret who is starting to irritate Victor. That is, until she disappears.

    Director: Susan Belbin

    Writer: David Renwick

  • The Broken Reflection
    8.0/10 152 votes

    #17 - The Broken Reflection

    Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 2/16/1992

    Alfred, Victor's accident prone brother, is making his first visit from New Zealand for 25 years. Victor is not looking forward to his stay, preferring to act as a neighbourhood vigilante.

    Director: Susan Belbin

    Writer: David Renwick

  • The Trial
    8.0/10 176 votes

    #18 - The Trial

    Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 2/28/1993

    Victor has been selected for jury service. He hasn't been required in court yet, but he is on call so he is stuck in the house all day and must somehow beat his boredom.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Only A Story
    8.0/10 127 votes

    #19 - Only A Story

    Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 1/1/1995

    Mrs Warboys is staying with the Meldrews following the flooding of her house and is starting to irritate Margaret. However, Victor is a lot calmer than usual thanks to the reflexology treatment that he has started receiving.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hole In The Sky
    8.0/10 141 votes

    #20 - Hole In The Sky

    Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 1/22/1995

    Patrick is looking forward to his trip to stay with Pippa's brother after an embarrassing visit to an Armenian restaurant in order to attempt to make up with Victor. Meanwhile, the Meldrews are employing a pair of very strange workmen and Margaret is getting jealous of a marionette.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Exterminating Angel
    8.0/10 142 votes

    #21 - The Exterminating Angel

    Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 1/29/1995

    Romance is in the air for Mr. Swainey when he finally invites Tania the nurse out for a date. Victor takes a new job as a chauffeur but rapidly wipes out his employer's beloved fleet.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • In Luton Airport No One Can Hear You Scream
    7.9/10 170 votes

    #22 - In Luton Airport No One Can Hear You Scream

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 10/4/1990

    When Victor and Margaret return from their holiday, they discover that their luggage has been sent to the other side of the world, and that their house has been burned down.

    Director: Susan Belbin

    Writer: David Renwick

  • Who Will Buy?
    7.9/10 165 votes

    #23 - Who Will Buy?

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/1990

    While Pippa believes that Victor may have murdered an elderly blind man, Victor uses a benefit concert to re-introduce his ventriloquist act.

    Director: Susan Belbin

    Writer: David Renwick

  • I'll Retire To Bedlam
    7.8/10 174 votes

    #24 - I'll Retire To Bedlam

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 1/25/1990

    After being stuck in the shed for over three hours, then forced to spend an entire day with his eyes closed after a visit to the optometrist, Victor cannot bear the trials of babysitting.

    Director: Susan Belbin

    Writer: David Renwick

  • The Return Of The Speckled Band
    7.8/10 161 votes

    #25 - The Return Of The Speckled Band

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 2/8/1990

    Following a food poisoning incident, problems with the electricity man, the Meldrews embark on a well deserved holiday, however this is only the start of their problems?

    Director: Susan Belbin

    Writer: David Renwick