Ep 4. Warm Champagne

One Foot in the Grave is a British sitcom that aired from 1990 to 2000. The show stars Richard Wilson as Victor Meldrew, a retired office worker who finds himself in constant, often darkly humorous, misfortunes. Season 4 episode 4 of the show is titled "Warm Champagne."

In this episode, Victor's long-suffering wife Margaret (played by Annette Crosbie) is excited to attend a local charity auction. Victor, as usual, is less than thrilled. When they arrive, Margaret eagerly bids on a bottle of vintage champagne, which she wins for a sum that makes Victor even less pleased.

After the auction, Victor and Margaret stop by a supermarket on the way home to pick up some groceries. While there, they run into an old acquaintance who invites them to a party that evening. Margaret is thrilled at the prospect, but Victor is hesitant to accept the invitation. Margaret convinces him to go, however, reminding him that they already have a bottle of champagne to bring as a gift.

When they arrive at the party, Victor is immediately out of his element. He finds himself surrounded by snobbish, pretentious people who are more interested in discussing the merits of different types of wine than in getting to know him. Margaret, of course, is in her element, happily chatting away with the other partygoers.

As the evening wears on, things start to take a turn for the worse. Victor accidentally spills his drink on the hostess's new carpet, and then he and Margaret get separated. When he finally finds her, she is in the midst of a heated argument with one of the other guests. Victor tries to intervene, but things quickly escalate and the police are called.

The couple ends up spending the night in the local jail, and when they are released the next morning, they discover that their car has been towed. To make matters worse, the champagne they brought to the party has gone bad, leaving them with nothing to show for their disastrous evening.

As always, One Foot in the Grave delivers a clever and humorous take on the everyday frustrations of life. "Warm Champagne" is a standout episode, showcasing Richard Wilson's talent for physical comedy and Annette Crosbie's impeccable timing. Fans of the show will enjoy this installment, while newcomers will be instantly drawn in by the show's clever writing and relatable characters.