Richard Wilson rules out return to stage after heart attack in 2016

One Foot In The Grave star Richard Wilson has ruled out a return to the stage following a heart attack in 2016. Scottish actor, who played the curmudgeonly Victor Meldrew in the hit 1990s sitcom, said he was choosing his parts "more carefully now" and that long theatre runs were "too much".

The 84-year-old has told how the incident in London's Hampstead has affected his memory and that he would have died were it not for a medical professional walking past him as it happened.

Appearing on Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4, he said: "I fell off this tiny balcony and hit my head, and that is what caused the problem.

"I can't remember quite so much now. Sometimes I do remember bits which I had forgotten about.

"I choose more carefully now. Doing theatre work for example - eight shows a week is too much for me now."

Wilson, who is a supporter of the Stonewall charity, told host Lauren Laverne being outed in 2013 when Time Out magathe zine included him in a list of influential gay people had not been an wholly negative experience.

He said: "I was delighted that it had come out. I was a bit worried that my sister might find it difficult but it didn't seem to worry her at all."

The veteran actor also recalled trying to turn down his most famous role as the grumpy Meldrew in One Foot In The Grave.

"It was stupid to say but I didn't think I was ready to play old men," he said.

"I think I was 55 and Victor was 60.”