One Foot in the Grave

One Foot in the Grave

Who would have thought retirement could be so chaotic?

Created by David Renwick

On BBC One

1990–20006 seasons36 episodes30 min7.7 / 10

A darkly comic sitcom about retirement's indignities, built on one man's self-inflicted misery and surreal domestic chaos rather than warmth or reassurance.

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. Despite its traditional production, the series supplants its domestic sitcom setting with elements of black humour and surrealism.

Where to watch

Questions people ask

  • Does One Foot in the Grave leave you hopeful? No. Less hopeful than 95% of series.

  • Is One Foot in the Grave sad? Yes, very. More sad than 91% of series.

  • Is One Foot in the Grave violent? Barely. Less violent than 78% of series.

  • Is One Foot in the Grave easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 66% of series.

  • Is One Foot in the Grave scary? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

67/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Distinctly its own thing.

Rarity92

How unlike any other series this one feels

Surprise65

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love48

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like One Foot in the Grave

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as One Foot in the Grave

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like One Foot in the Grave, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like One Foot in the Grave, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like One Foot in the Grave, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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