David Renwick found writing the fifth series and the 1997 Christmas special "Endgame" difficult, and he was becoming increasingly busy with his detective series "Jonathan Creek". In early 1998, his concerns appeared in the national press. The "Evening Standard" quoted him: "I have no new ideas for Victor Meldrew ... I know that if I tried to write another series it would be even harder than the Christmas one. I don't want the standard to drop there would be no point in doing something I didn't believe in." A year later, Renwick agreed to write a final series of "One Foot in the Grave", having found the four-year break after writing the fifth series fruitful. Renwick decided that Victor should die in the final episode because he did not want to be persuaded to write another series. He cites the final episode of the "Only Fools and Horses" 1996 Christmas specials "where the fantastic closing scenes of the Trilogy saw the Trotters walking up the Yellow Brick Road, only for them to return a five years later". He did not want to be constantly asked by journalists and fans when Victor was coming back to their screens.