One Foot in the Grave series was rewritten to have the Meldrews' house destroyed in a fire (this was filmed on waste ground in Northcote Road, Springbourne). This also gave the opportunity for a new interior set to be designed, as Belbin had been unhappy with the original set designed for the series, which she felt was too restrictive to shoot in. Since series two, the exterior scenes of the Meldrew's home were filmed at Tresillian Way, Walkford, near New Milton in Hampshire. These later series make extensive use of specific street and garden locations in most episodes, particularly for scenes involving the Meldrew's neighbours.
Doreen Sloane Doreen Sloane Doreen Sloane (24 February 1934 in Birkenhead – 8 April 1990 in Liverpool) was an English actress, best known for playing Annabelle Collins, one of the original characters in the soap opera "Brookside" on Channel 4. She trained at the Elliott Clarke Theatre School in Liverpool and appeared in repertory theatres before being cast in the first of four roles in "Coronation Street". Sloane also appeared in the films "Yanks" and "Chariots of Fire". Other TV appearances include "Nearest and Dearest", "Last of the Summer Wine" and "How We Used To Live" and in the soap operas "Coronation