The Meldrews returned several months later in a sketch for the Comic Relief telethon held on 16 March 2001. The seven-and-a-half minute sketch, titled "Visiting Uncle Dick", was written by Renwick and directed by Christine Gernon. It centred on Victor and Margaret's visit to an elderly relative in hospital. Although it initially appears to be set before the final episode, the scene concludes with Victor picking up a video of the 1999 thriller film "The Sixth Sense" and, while commenting that he saw the ending coming, notices that Margaret is totally ignoring him, making him realize he is actually dead. Spike Milligan, who had asked for a guest part in the series, was originally cast to play the patient, but he was too ill and the role was played by Eric Sykes. Renwick and Gernon were dissatisfied with the sketch because of the limited time they were allowed to write and film the piece.