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Things Aren't Simple Any More

"Things Aren't Simple Any More" is the sixth and final episode of the sixth series of the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave, written by David Renwick and first broadcast on BBC One on 20 November 2000. The episode, directed by Christine Gernon, stars Richard Wilson as the cantankerous Victor Meldrew and Annette Crosbie as his long-suffering wife Margaret, alongside regular cast members such as Doreen Mantle as their neighbour Jean Warboys. In this series finale, the plot centers on the sudden death of Victor, who is killed by a hit-and-run driver early in the episode, marking a dramatic departure from the show's typical comedic structure focused on Victor's mishaps and frustrations with everyday life. The narrative then shifts to Margaret as she grapples with grief, attends Victor's funeral, and vows revenge against the unidentified driver responsible for his death, blending humor with poignant moments of loss and reflection on their marriage. Guest appearances include Jonathan Cecil as Victor's old school friend and Hannah Gordon as Glynis, adding layers to the emotional proceedings. The episode received widespread attention for concluding the series—originally aired from 1990 to 2000—with the permanent death of its iconic lead character, a bold that prevented any potential future revivals and provided closure to and Margaret's story. It holds an user rating of 8.7/10 based on over 200 reviews, reflecting its impact on fans of the show.

Episode Overview

Synopsis

The episode opens five months after Victor Meldrew's death, with his Margaret attempting to rebuild her life by organizing a neighborhood litter pick to stay occupied. During the event, she meets Glynis Holloway, a recent who has just moved to the area, and the two quickly form a bond over their mutual experiences of loss and the eccentricities that defined their late husbands' lives. Margaret also navigates ongoing complications from Victor's pre-death escapades, including a from a neighbor over an incident where Victor used a in during a bizarre altercation. Additionally, she commissions a local artist to create a of , which disappoints her due to its inaccuracy. In parallel flashbacks, attends what he hopes will be a nostalgic marking the 30th anniversary of his time at Dairies, held at a local called The Strangers Rest. Additional flashbacks depict other absurd events in Victor's final days, including an influx of Catholic pilgrims mistaking his for a and his frustrating experience filming a advert. The evening [at the reunion] proves deeply disappointing, as nearly all his former colleagues cancel due to excuses ranging from flooding and traffic jams to personal illnesses, leaving Victor largely alone to endure a lackluster performance featuring an out-of-tune singer and awkward . Interactions with the few attendees, including a with an old acquaintance nicknamed Limpy Briddock, highlight Victor's characteristic grumpiness and resignation, as he laments the event's failure with quips like "A complete and utter disaster as usual." Disheartened and missing the at 12:35 a.m., Victor decides to walk the distance back to . Tragedy strikes during Victor's solitary walk when he is struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver—later revealed to be Glynis, who was speeding to the hospital upon receiving news of her husband's sudden terminal diagnosis. The accident is depicted starkly, with only Victor's hat and hand visible in the aftermath, emphasizing the abrupt end to his life. In the immediate wake of the incident, Margaret is devastated, processing her grief through emotional outbursts and practical tasks like handling funeral arrangements. Confiding in Father Blakey, a local priest who visits to offer solace, Margaret vows revenge against the unidentified driver, declaring her intent to make them pay for taking Victor from her. The narrative interweaves these elements to shift from the comedic absurdities of Victor's final evening—marked by his dry wit and interactions with indifferent old friends—to the raw tragedy of his untimely death and 's profound emotional turmoil. As the story progresses to Glynis's guilt-ridden confession to , the tone underscores themes of unforeseen connections and , culminating in an ambiguous confrontation that leaves 's final response open to interpretation. The episode closes with a poignant montage of archival clips from Victor's life, reinforcing the series' blend of humor and .

Cast and Crew

The principal cast of "Things Aren't Simple Any More," the final episode of the British sitcom , features Richard Wilson reprising his role as the perpetually exasperated , whose misadventures culminate in a tragic hit-and-run accident during a work . returns as Victor's long-suffering wife, Margaret Meldrew, who grapples with grief and unexpected confrontations in the episode's aftermath, providing emotional depth to the series' conclusion. Recurring supporting characters are limited in this finale, with no appearance by as the nosy neighbor Mrs. Warboys, shifting focus to new dynamics in Victor's absence. Guest stars include as Mr. Gundry, Victor's former boss who hosts the awkward reunion; as Glynis, a fellow retiree whose interactions with highlight themes of loss; and as Gillian, adding to the episode's ensemble of peripheral figures from Victor's past. Other one-off roles feature Howard Attfield as a blind man, Jeanne Mockford as a Catholic woman, and William Osborne as Father Blakey, contributing to subplots involving Margaret's coping mechanisms. Notable cameos include comedian as the barman at the reunion, infusing brief humor into the proceedings. Unique to this , the episode incorporates self-referential casting with director Christine Gernon appearing as the advert director in a flashback sequence, and writer as an advert crew member, blending behind-the-scenes elements into the narrative. Key production personnel include writer , who penned the script as he did for the entire series, delivering a poignant close that mixes with darker tones. Christine Gernon directed the episode, marking her return to the show for its conclusion after helming several prior installments. Producer Jonathan P. Llewellyn oversaw the production, ensuring the finale's extended runtime and emotional weight.

Production

Development and Writing

Following the success of the fifth series in 1995 and a Christmas special in 1997, David Renwick began planning the sixth and final series of One Foot in the Grave in 1999, aiming to revive the show after a five-year hiatus while ensuring a conclusive end. He rejected ideas for a millennium-themed special, instead opting for a full series to wrap up the narrative definitively, with production announcements made public by July 2000. Renwick's rationale for concluding after six series stemmed from a sense that he had exhausted fresh ideas for Victor Meldrew's perennial misfortunes, believing further episodes risked diminishing the show's quality and inviting unwanted spin-offs or returns. In crafting the finale, "Things Aren't Simple Any More," Renwick focused on a definitive closure by Victor via a hit-and-run , a decision he later described as one he "always knew" was necessary to seal the character's arc and prevent any revival. He considered alternative comedic demises, such as a falling on Victor, but settled on the hit-and-run for its blend of sudden tragedy and ironic realism, involving a driver distracted by personal woes. To preempt tabloid spoilers, Renwick announced Victor's in advance, emphasizing his intent to end the series on his terms without lingering ambiguity. Renwick consulted with lead actor Richard Wilson during , sharing his plan to kill ; Wilson endorsed the choice, stating it was the right moment to conclude and that the ending would carry emotional weight. , who played Margaret Meldrew, also supported the direction, aligning with Renwick's tightly controlled scripting style that left little room for improvisation. The script balanced the series' signature humor—rooted in 's exasperated rants—with poignant tragedy, using the hit-and-run to underscore themes of unforeseen misfortune while providing cathartic resolution. A central sequence reunited old friends, disappointing and tying up character arcs by shifting focus to Margaret's future, allowing the episode to reflect on relationships amid chaos without undermining the comedic tone.

Filming Locations

The principal interior scenes set in the Meldrew home for "Things Aren't Simple Any More" were filmed at Centre in London's , consistent with the production practices for the series' domestic sequences. Exteriors of the home, though not central to this episode's key events, were typically shot on location at 4 Tresillian Way in Walkford, near in Dorset, a residential street that provided the suburban backdrop for the show's setting. The episode's exterior reunion dinner venue featured the Golden Lion Pub on Royal College Street in Camden, London, where Victor Meldrew attends a reunion during the episode's opening sequence, capturing the venue's traditional interior for the social gathering scenes. The pivotal road accident site, depicting Victor's fatal hit-and-run, was filmed at Shawford in Hampshire, England, utilizing a rural railway bridge on Shawford Road near Winchester to stage the nighttime collision with practical road elements for authenticity. Production for series 6, including this episode, occurred in ahead of its autumn broadcast, with in leveraging the and areas for additional suburban authenticity where needed, though the episode's dramatic climax shifted to the location for its isolated, dimly lit road setting.

Broadcast

Airing Details

"Things Aren't Simple Any More" premiered on on 20 November at 9:00 PM, serving as the series finale for the long-running . The episode had a of approximately 40 minutes. In the , the broadcast drew a consolidated of 12.84 million viewers, according to BARB ratings, marking one of the highest viewership figures for the series in its final season and exceeding the series average by approximately one million. Initial overnight ratings were 10.7 million, peaking at 11.6 million during the episode's finale sequence, reflecting strong engagement with the conclusion of Victor Meldrew's story. The BBC promoted the finale through targeted trailers that highlighted the series' closure and the emotional weight of Margaret Meldrew confronting life after Victor's death, building anticipation for the narrative endpoint. A companion documentary, "I Don't Believe It! The One Foot In The Grave Story," aired immediately before the episode to reflect on the show's decade-long run.

Scheduling Controversy

The final episode of One Foot in the Grave, titled "Things Aren't Simple Any More", aired on BBC One at 9:00 p.m. on 20 November 2000, directly opposite the episode of ITV's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? featuring the quiz show's first £1 million jackpot winner, Judith Keppel. This scheduling clash divided audiences during prime-time viewing hours, with initial overnight ratings showing Millionaire? attracting 13.9 million viewers compared to 10.7 million (peaking at 11.6 million) for the sitcom finale, resulting in a perceived dip in ratings for the long-running BBC series despite its cultural significance as Victor Meldrew's swan song. The competition highlighted the intense rivalry for Monday night dominance, as both channels vied for family audiences in a period marked by aggressive peak-time programming strategies. Public and media reactions focused on the perceived unfairness of pitting a beloved comedy finale against the hype of a historic game show win, sparking debates about the cultural weight of scripted storytelling versus instant spectacle. Eleven viewers lodged formal complaints with the Independent Television Commission (ITC), criticizing the overlap and questioning whether ITV had deliberately timed the jackpot to overshadow the episode. Coverage in outlets like The Guardian amplified these discussions, portraying the event as a symptom of broader tensions in British television, where the excitement of Millionaire?'s prize overshadowed reflections on One Foot in the Grave's decade-long legacy. In response, the initially accused of "" by allegedly engineering the jackpot timing to boost ratings, a claim made in pre-air statements that fueled media speculation. However, following viewer complaints and an investigation by regulators, the BBC retracted the allegation, issuing an apology on 1 December 2000 and affirming the coincidence without rescheduling the episode. This incident contributed to a of a ratings shortfall for the finale, though official consolidated figures later showed viewership of 12.84 million, exceeding the series average by one million and mitigating long-term perceptions of underperformance. The controversy underscored the 2000s "TV wars" between BBC and ITV, characterized by strategic counterprogramming to capture Monday night slots amid shifting viewer habits.

Reception and Impact

Critical Reviews

Critics generally praised the finale of Things Aren't Simple Any More for its emotional resonance and fitting closure to the series, highlighting David Renwick's script as poignant in its exploration of grief and loss. The Guardian's Gareth McLean described the episode as delivering a "satisfyingly bleak ending" that aligned with the show's longstanding refusal to prioritize cheerfulness, using flashbacks to Victor's final days to underscore the sudden tragedy of his hit-and-run death. The episode itself garnered no major awards, though the broader series received BAFTA nominations in 2001, including for casting director Esta Charkham, reflecting ongoing recognition for its contributions to .

Audience Response and Legacy

The final episode, "Things Aren't Simple Any More," attracted an average of 10.7 million viewers, peaking at 11.6 million, on its initial airing, underscoring the deep investment in Victor Meldrew's ongoing misfortunes. The abrupt depiction of Victor's death by a hit-and-run driver delivered a profound emotional impact, leaving many viewers saddened by the loss of one of British television's most beloved characters. Fans engaged in extensive discussions about the episode's poignant , particularly how Victor's demise ensured the series' definitive end and eliminated possibilities for revivals or spin-offs, a choice intentionally made by writer to provide narrative finality. Over the years, the episode solidified the series' cult status within , with reruns frequently broadcast on channels and the full run, including the finale, made available on streaming services like since 2017. As of 2025, the series remains available to stream on and in the UK. This accessibility contributed to renewed popularity during the nostalgia wave, as evidenced by special radio tributes and mentions in retrospectives on enduring . The episode's cultural footprint includes enduring references to its memorable quotes and the ambiguous involving Margaret's actions toward Glynis, which continue to spark fan debates and highlight the show's influence on crafting emotionally resonant conclusions. Home media releases further extended the episode's reach, with DVD collections such as The Very Best of One Foot in the Grave issued in October 2001, allowing audiences to revisit the finale and reinforcing its role in the series' lasting legacy. These editions, along with subsequent complete series box sets, supported viewership resurgences tied to broader revivals of 1990s British television, maintaining the episode's relevance as a benchmark for bittersweet comedy endings.

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