David Renwick’s impact on British comedy might be underestimated, he has quite the gift for taking seemingly unassuming circumstances and make them laugh-out-loud funny, right from the gut, but then turn on a sixpence and hit home with touching truths or insights about love, relationships and life itself – just when you least it. That level of down-to-Earth honesty in comedy is always prominent in One Foot in the Grave, and it’s been a real joy revisiting these four episodes included in this collection, which are four radio episodes of the successful 90s TV series, with the iconic character Victor Meldrew leading the way.

Renwick also wrote sketches for the likes of Alexei Sayle, Spike Milligan, Not the Nine O’clock News, and The Two Ronnies – with one of the famous sketches being his Mastermind parody, with Ronnie Corbett answering the question before last, a favourite from another legendary duo. He also created the show Jonathan Creek, starring Alan Davies, another success from the late nineties and in its revival some ten years after that as well. For me, he helped create timeless characters, and this release is a great reminder.

One Foot in the Grave: The Radio Episodes, was written and adapted for radio in 1995, but the content and context of the comedy, and Meldrew monologues, could genuinely be from today. They’re simple moans and complaints, in that very Victor way and much like Victoria Wood’s: As Seen on TV vinyl released in May (and reviewed here), you get such a sense of the comedy as Renwick’s writing picks out every day whinges like the cost of living, the state of the news, the ‘wrong’ newspapers and all those things you associate with having neighbours you can or can’t stand and all the in-between.

This double vinyl release showcases the seriously sharp comedy writing, covering four episodes. I spent my teenage years watching the show and even at that age, loved the dark British wit and Richard Wilson’s excellent Victor Meldrew, as well as his very patient wife Margaret – the ever-excellent Annette Crosbie. What’s particularly poignant is I’ve been listening in recent weeks, and it’s only just been announced that Doreen Mantle passed away – and she was another vital character, as Mrs Jean Warboys, in the lives of Victor and Margaret, so I’m saddened by the news but this new record is a fine way to commemorate her talent as well.

The four episodes start off with Alive and Buried, in which Victor is pushed into an early retirement after being replaced by a machine at work. Already irritated by the frustration, and not really feeling old enough to retire, he ends up hanging around the house getting under Margaret’s feet and riled by the acerbic comments from her friend, Mrs Warboys. Things aren’t helped when he’s visited by Age Concern-type worker Nick Swainey (the reoccurring Owen Brenman), who tries to get him involved in events that Victor considers are suited for actual elderly people. While not happy, Margaret reminds him he used to do magic and so he gets all his gear out of the loft and agrees to put on a show to help after all, but it’s called off after a power cut. Heading home in a slow car that’s seen better days, and that’s another sub-story throughout, his boot is full of escapology items and just the car almost breaks down, he tries to ask a young lady for help but is instead caught in an undercover Police sting for curb-crawling – and is fined. It was quite the first week for Victor, and it’s very funny, and this was just the start!

Episode 2 ‘Timeless Time’ takes a complete adjustment in approach – and it’s powerful for it. While the story revolves around Victor and Margaret not being able to sleep, particularly after he wakes up and then keeps Margaret awake, the story lingers on subjects of life, love, and death in an incredibly intelligent way. While we get Victor’s amusing monologues, Wilson and Crosbie offer an example of their pure talents with understated brilliance from both. There’s a lot of tenderness amongst the dark comedy, as they chat about life and time – even suggesting a past and lifeline that might not have happened due to the loss of a young son. It’s deeply human, while remaining rooted in reflective comedy and worth your full concentration.

Side C and D features the epic In Luton Airport No-one Can Hear you Scream, where after a holiday abroad, the Meldrew’s return home to find that their home has burned down – and was also demolished due to the damage. Why did no-one tell them before? Well, Mrs Warboys (and others) didn’t want to ‘in case it ruined their holiday’ – a very British sentiment, if ever there was one. While the pair move into a new house, we join then months later in their new place and organising a housewarming, but no-one appears to turn up. It turns out they’ve given out the wrong address, and their guests are elsewhere, having a fun time with an elderly gent who thought they were doing something nice for him. What’s funny is Victor’s innate anger at ground level, at the ludicrous nature of everything, at what’s happened and even to the point of forgetting where his new home is and throwing his neighbour out of his actual house. In truth, like classic Frasier, there’s a small issue which expands and develops, until it explodes in a highly amusing and usually absurd manner.

And then there’s The Beast in the Cage; another UK-themed example of all things Bank Holidays and being stuck in traffic jams. Again, it’s incredible how such story weaving and strong lead characters can bring out top notch comedy, from a simple one-setting. Whilst the Meldrew’s and Mrs Warboys are set for a nice day out at the local Zoo, they get stuck in traffic and the only thing Victor can see is the back of a horse’s arse – and he’s been staring at it for so long, he’s forgotten what the front looks like. As well as musings on existence, they discover a song that’s been accidentally left in the car recorded by his local garage about what a moany old bugger Victor is, and the boys can hold a tune! Set in ‘real time’, this is an ode to the British motorway, to barely moving for hours, and not even getting the crisps you asked for because someone else forgot. It could sound depressing, but it’s another whole host of dark, comic fun.

And this is the thing about One Foot in the Grave, Victor’s words can appear to be a tirade of outbursts over nothing, but he’s often right. The premise is perfect because in essence he’s the only sane one in a crazy world but even in a positive situation, stuff goes wrong, and don’t we all feel like that from time to time? It remains relatable, even during the farcical.

One Foot in the Grave: The Radio Episodes also has a simple setup from Minty Design. The two record sleeves inside feature photos in frames of Victor and Margaret Meldrew, alongside picked-out images of object or animals that have played a part in their lives – and some you may well recognise. The two records are a light purple/burgundy, and both played excellently – this is another success from Phil Kinrade at Alchemy Mastering for the BBC and Demon Records, and a true celebration of all things Meldrew – in the best way possible.

One Foot in the Grave: The Radio Episodes is released by Demon Records, order here: https://amzn.to/3KASWHn