Things Aren't Simple Anymore
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| “Things Aren't Simple Anymore” | |
|---|---|
| One Foot in the Grave episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 6 Episode 6 |
| Guest stars | Hannah Gordon |
| Written by | David Renwick |
| Directed by | Christine Gernon |
| Original airdate | 20 November 2000 |
| Episode chronology | |
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| "The Dawn of Man" | "Visiting Uncle Dick (Comic Relief short special)" |
| List of One Foot in the Grave episodes | |
"Things Aren't Simple Anymore" is the final full-length episode of the British television sitcom One Foot in the Grave written by David Renwick and starring Richard Wilson, as Victor Meldrew, and Annette Crosbie.
The episode was notable for attracting tourists to the scene of the accident, and also for an accusation that ITV had engineered for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? to have its first jackpot winner on the same night that the episode was broadcast.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The episode is told in flashback. It begins with Margaret (Annette Crosbie) on the telephone to a solicitor about an incident where Victor had thrown a syringe into someone's bottom. She reveals that a conviction might be difficult as her husband is dead.
Coming to terms with her husband's death as a hit and run victim, she joins a Church group clearing litter from roads. There she meets Glynis Holloway (Hannah Gordon), whose husband had also recently died. The two become good friends.
In the flashback story, Victor is invited to a school reunion. He reluctantly attends the pub, where the barman (Paul Merton) informs him that most of the other guests are unable to attend. Sitting on his own while waiting for Limpy the one remaining other potential attendee, he is entertained by two cabaret performers (Ed Welch and Jean Challis). Victor gives up and leaves the pub, but Limpy arrives seconds after his departure.
Victor calls Margaret for a lift. As he stands at the side of the road waiting for Margaret, Glynis approaches him in her car. Drowsy, she begins to fall asleep, mounting the kerb and knocking down Victor. She stops from a distance, but decides not to return to the scene when she sees Margaret arrive seconds later.
In the present, Margaret prepares some juice and paracetamol for Glynis' migraine. She finds a scrap book of press cuttings from Victor's death in Glynis' kitchen drawer and realises that her new friend is responsible for his death. Ominous music plays, as Margaret looks at the box of paracetamol. Margaret is shown to drop two tablets into the glass, and leave the house. The total quantity of tablets Margaret had put into the glass remains ambiguous.[2]
The episode ends with a montage of some of the events referred to during the episode, accompanied by the song "End of the Line" by The Traveling Wilburys. This includes Victor and his car being covered in artificial snow at the supermarket during the filming of a Christmas television advertisement (in the middle of June), scaring a young couple after grass cuttings are attached to his face from sun tan lotion, and the incident with a syringe. The final shots are of Victor and Margaret driving through the countryside.
[edit] Cultural impact
Victor's demise had been announced in the press in the summer before broadcast. In an interview with The Sun, Richard Wilson said "I feel sad, of course, but it's the right time. To keep doing it would have got dull."[3]
The death scene was filmed outside The Bridge Hotel and pub[4][5] at Shawford railway bridge, next to the River Itchen, Hampshire, on 21 July 2000.[6] Victor Meldrew had become such a cultural icon that many fans left messages and flowers at the scene.[7]
Although the final full-length episode, the two protagonists returned for a short sketch for Comic Relief 2001.
[edit] Scheduling controversy
The episode was broadcast on the Monday evening that Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? broadcast its first UK jackpot winner. The news of Judith Keppel's win, recorded the preceding Sunday, was leaked to the press, and the resulting publicity led to a ratings win for ITV. Who Wants to be a Millionaire? attracted 13.9 million viewers (48%), with One Foot getting 10.7 million (36%).
It was alleged that Celador had rigged the show to spoil the BBC's expected high ratings for the sitcom's finale. Wilson in particular was quoted as saying that ITV had "planned" the win, adding that "It seems a bit unfair to take the audience away from Victor's last moments on earth."[8]
Eleven viewers complained to the Independent Television Commission (ITC), but the quiz show was cleared.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Millionaire? cleared of ratings 'fix'", BBC News, 15 January, 2001. Retrieved on 2007-01-28.
- ^ Comedy Connections, BBC One, 10:35pm, Friday, 12th January 2007
- ^ "Both feet in the grave", BBC News, 15 July, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-01-28.
- ^ The Bridge. Pup Explorer. Retrieved on 2007-01-28.
- ^ Map of SO21 2BP United Kingdom. MultiMap. Retrieved on 2007-01-28.
- ^ Banks, David. "Village scene of Victor’s demise" (Extract reproduced on unofficial website by permission of the Editor), Hampshire Chronicle, FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-01-28.
- ^ "Meldrew fans lay floral tributes", BBC News, 24 November, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-01-28.
- ^ "Wilson: Millionaire win 'planned'", BBC News, 22 November, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-01-28.
