One Foot in the Grave considered Les Dawson for the role, until Wilson changed his mind. The programmes invariably deal with Meldrew's battle against the problems he creates for himself. Set in a typical suburb in southern England, Victor takes involuntary early retirement. His various efforts to keep himself busy, while encountering various misfortunes and misunderstandings are the themes of the sitcom. Indoor scenes were filmed at BBC Television Centre with most exterior scenes filmed on Tresillian Way in Walkford on the Dorset/Hampshire border. Despite its traditional production, the series subverts its domestic sitcom setting with elements of black humour and surrealism. The series was
Doreen Mantle Lady", "Keep It in the Family", "The Seagull" and "Hamlet". She also toured Britain in "Billy Liar" in the role of Florence Boothroyd and performed at the National Theatre in "The Voysey Inheritance". In 1979 she was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in "Death of a Salesman". She has also done a great deal of radio work for BBC Radio 3 and BBC World Service. Mantle played the long suffering wife of the rabbi in BBC Radio 4's comedy series "The Attractive Young Rabbi". In 1983 Mantle played "Mrs Shaemen"