One Foot in the Grave

Victor and Margaret return from holiday to find that their baggage has been sent to the other side of the world and their house has been demolished following a terrible fire. They attempt to cheer themselves up by holding a house warming party.

The Meldrews begin the task of decorating the new house, and are entrusted with the responsibility of tortoise sitting for Margaret's god-daughter, Jenifer while she's on holiday. Disaster is lurking amongst the grass cuttings.

Victor writes a hilarious script for a new comedy series. Unfortunately no-one else finds it funny. Margaret also catches the dramatic fever and makes a foray into amateur dramatics.

Victor fends off a toy dinosaur salesman. Meanwhile, Pippa suspects that Victor is responsible for the murder of an elderly blind man. A benefit concert gives Victor the chance to resurrect Cuthbert the dummy and air his ventriloquist skills.

Victor and Margaret decide to make a weekend visit to see friends Vince and April in their boarding house in Bournemouth on the south coast. Vince presents Victor with a most unusual and unwelcome gift.

As Victor is unable to sleep, he kindly ensures that Margaret also gets no peace. Things get so desperate that Victor contemplates opening Ronnie and Mildred's Christmas present from last year - but no, he's not quite that desperate.

Victor bemoans the commercialism of Christmas and ponders whether it ever had a deeper, spiritual meaning.