Editing Victor Meldrew (section)

==Reception==

Phil Wickham of the [[University of Exeter]] observed that "the whole point of the series is that Meldrew is the only sane voice in a mad world".<ref>[cdn.cstonline.tv/assets/file/user_92/6.1reviewsCST.pdf Critical Studies in Television: Reviews]</ref>

Jonathan Bignell in his book ''Media Semiotics'' observes that the reason people laugh at Victor Meldrew is not simply that his behaviour is excessive, but that it contrasts with how all the other characters in the TV series are behaving.<ref>Jonathan Bignell. ''Media Semiotics, an Introduction''. Manchester University Press, 2nd Edition, 2002. Pages 166–167.</ref>

Meldrew's name is associated with aggression or grumpiness; the journal ''[[Age and Ageing]]'' notes that "Viewers of Victor Meldrew (''One Foot in the Grave'') would not be surprised that hostility contributes to mortality in grumpy old men."<ref>[http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/1/3.full Age and Ageing: News and Reviews]. ''Hostility, age and mortality in patients with cardiac disease''. Volume 35, Issue 1, January 2006. pages 3–4. doi:10.1093/ageing/afi213</ref> Similarly, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' uses Richard Wilson's Meldrew to refer to people who enjoy "a good moan",<ref>Richard Alleyne. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20100901204521/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7973276/The-Victor-Meldrew-effect-a-good-moan-makes-elderly-feel-better.html The Telegraph: The Victor Meldrew effect: a good moan makes elderly feel better]''. 31 August 2010.</ref> while Jenny Turner in the ''[[London Review of Books]]'' can observe that "the timing and rhythm (of Geoff Dyer's ''Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi'') have the flippancy of stand-up comedy. The voice has [[Eeyore]] in it, and [[Morrissey]] and Victor Meldrew, and could only be English and from that postwar, post-punk generation".<ref>[Jenny Turner. ''[http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n11/jenny-turner/how-dare-he How Dare He?]''. London Review of Books. Volume 31, Number 11. 11 June 2009, pages 24–25.</ref>

The [[BBC]] recalls first that "the role of Victor Meldrew transformed Scottish TV-actor Richard Wilson into a household name and award-winning comedy performer." In addition, "So popular was his character that 'Victor Meldrew' has endured as a cultural reference for any grumpy old man." And finally and more loosely, "many viewers identified with his rages at the irritants of modern life: litter, junk mail, traffic, rudeness, streetlamps and car mechanics and to some, Victor Meldrew was a champion of the people, albeit a very grumpy one."<ref name=beeb>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onefootinthegrave BBC: One Foot in the Grave]. Retrieved 2 June 2012.</ref>

Meldrew's persona is so powerful that Richard Wilson is perceived as "99 per cent Meldrew" by at least one critic, and when taking on a serious role as Malvolio in Shakespeare's ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', another critic felt that Wilson's "performance was overly influenced by his desire to 'shed the Victor Meldrew stereotype'".<ref>[http://www.whatsonstage.com/roundup/theatre/london/E8831263319562/Review+Round-up%3A+Wilson%27s+Festive+First+Night.html What's On Stage: Review Round-up]. ''Wilson's Festive First {{'}}Night{{'}}''. 12 January 2010.</ref>

In the modern series of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', after the debut of the [[Twelfth Doctor]], as portrayed by [[Peter Capaldi]], Alison Graham of the ''[[Radio Times]]'' compared Capaldi's Doctor to Meldrew, as both were "abrasive, acerbic and [have] no truck with modern life".

The third series of the [[Channel 4]] comedy ''[[Father Ted]]'' features Wilson playing a fictional version of himself, and the Meldrew character's catchphrase is repeated several times during one episode.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0578520/ | title=The Mainland | website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>