Actor AKA Victor Meldrew

Born Iain Colquhoun Wilson in Greenock on 9 July 1936, Richard Wilson had a long and unspectacular career as a TV comedy actor with hundreds of bit-part and supporting roles, before, in his mid 50's and probably much to his own surprise, being elevated to superstardom.

The transformation, after years of slogging away, came through his portrayal of the cantankerous Victor Meldrew in One Foot In The Grave and from being a recognisable face to which few viewers could put a name, Richard Wilson was suddenly an award-winning and greatly popular actor.

Richard Wilson became a star because of the role written for him, and because he perfectly captured the stupefied disbelief with which the Scotsman Meldrew confronted each and every surreal turn in his life. He was also blessed to be working with Annette Crosbie, who turned in a brilliant and underrated performance as Margaret, a Scotswoman whose expressions and eloquent silences could speak volumes.

By the third series, One Foot In The Grave was making the top 20 ratings with some episodes seen by more than 16 million viewers. Meldrew and Wilson had finally earned a place in the UK sitcom hall of fame.

The episodes maintained a mad momentum with seasonal specials faring particularly well: the Christmas 1993 edition topped 20 million viewers and the 1996 Boxing Day special was only beaten in the ratings by the record-breaking final series of Only Fools And Horses.