<P> Over the show's history, it featured a number of notable comic actors in one - off roles . These included Susie Blake, John Bird, Tim Brooke - Taylor, Peter Cook, Diana Coupland, Phil Daniels, Edward de Souza, Hannah Gordon, Georgina Hale, Jimmy Jewel, Rula Lenska, Stephen Lewis, Brian Murphy, Christopher Ryan, Barbara Windsor, Joan Sims and Ray Winstone . Two of Angus Deayton's former Radio Active and KYTV co-stars, Geoffrey Perkins and Michael Fenton Stevens were cast, in separate episodes, as respectively the brother and brother - in - law of Deayton's character . A few actors little - known at the time also appeared in one - off roles before going on to greater fame, including Lucy Davis, Joanna Scanlan, Eamonn Walker and Arabella Weir . </P> <P> The show was produced with an aspect ratio of 4: 3 from 1990 to 1997 . Three years later, the show returned to television for its final series, which was produced with an aspect ratio of 16: 9 . All episodes are of Standard Definition 576i . </P> <P> The One Foot in the Grave theme song was written, composed and sung by Eric Idle . A longer version was produced for the special "One Foot in the Algarve", released as a single with five remixes and a karaoke version in November 1994 . Idle included a live version of the song on his album Eric Idle Sings Monty Python . It is preluded by a similar adaptation of "Bread of Heaven" to that used in the episode "The Beast in the Cage" by disgruntled car mechanics . The title music on the TV series is accompanied at the beginning and end of each episode by footage of Galapagos tortoises . The series also made extensive use of incidental music, composed by Ed Welch, which often hinted at a particular genre to fit the mood of the scenes, frequently incorporating well - known pieces of music such as "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" or Intermezzo from Jean Sibelius' Karelia Suite . In the Christmas special "Endgame" during Margaret's alleged death scene, a compilation of clips from past episodes are accompanied by the song "River Runs Deep" performed by J.J. Cale . The final episode ended with a montage of some of the mishaps Victor encountered, which were mentioned in the episode--backed by "End of the Line" by the Traveling Wilburys . </P> <P> The programme received a number of prestigious awards . In 1992, it won a BAFTA as Best Comedy (Programme or Series). During its ten - year run, the series was nominated a further six times . Richard Wilson also won Best Light Entertainment Performance in 1992 and 1994, and Annette Crosbie was nominated for the same award in 1994 . </P>

Who sings the theme tune to one foot in the grave