Beloved ’90s UK sitcom star Richard Wilson’s rare TV appearance at 86

He played Victor Meldrew in the beloved sitcom One Foot In The Grave – now, decades later, actor Richard Wilson has made a rare TV appearance.

One Foot In The Grave star Richard Wilson is returning to TV screens, it has been revealed.

The actor, best known for playing Victor Meldrew in the much-loved ’90s UK sitcom, is going to appear in a major role on the British variety show, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

The 86-year-old will play the head of UK TV network ITV in this year’s mini-drama, called Murder At Bigwig Manor, which will air on the show most weeks, The Sun reports.

Wilson as Victor Meldrew in One Foot In The Grave.

The hilarious sitcom aired locally on the ABC.

Wilson’s TV appearance comes 23 years since his last appearance on One Foot In The Grave.

However, viewers may not have recognised him in the new role were it not for his “I don’t believe it” catchphrase.

He was seen sporting glasses, wearing a smoking jacket and being pushed in a chair during the brief clip.

I don’t believe it: Richard Wilson is back. Picture: ITV

The British sitcom star is now 86. Picture: ITV

Despite being famous for playing grumpy retiree Meldrew, Wilson was only 53 when he signed up to One Foot In The Grave in 1990.

The character was written for him by David Renwick and he was initially reluctant because he believed he wasn’t old enough to play the role. However the show proved a huge hit with sitcom audiences.

Wilson quickly became a major star, and was often greeted by viewers saying his catchphrase back to him – a fact which he parodied in an episode of Irish comedy series Father Ted in 1998.

One Foot In The Grave ran for six series and seven Christmas specials before ending in dramatic fashion in 2000 with Wilson’s character killed in a hit-and-run accident.

With One Foot In The Grave co-star Annette Crosbie.

He remained a big name on TV and had later roles in Duck Patrol and Merlin.

In 2016 he was left fighting for his life after he suffered a heart attack and serious head injury from falling from a balcony during the heart attack.

He told The Oldie magazine: “I do get quite tired about not being able to walk as I used to and having to use a stick, but that is frustration more than grumpiness.

“I fell off a small balcony while I was waiting to meet a writer for coffee outside Maison Blanc. As I did so, I hit my head, which caused a bleed in the brain.

“That’s why my memory has been destroyed a bit. As a result, I am more forgetful – but not more grumpy.”

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission