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 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