Sir David Jason, famous for his role as Del Boy in the beloved sitcom Only Fools and Horses, recently shared his thoughts on what he considers to be a “mistake” made by the show’s creator.
During a fan convention for the iconic BBC series, which first graced our screens in 1981, David Jason expressed his views on writer John Sullivan’s decision to make Del Boy and Rodney Trotter millionaires. According to The Mirror, David believes that this creative choice left the show with “nowhere to go.”
The pivotal moment in question occurred in the 1996 Christmas special when the Trotter brothers stumbled upon a rare 18th Century Harrison marine watch in Del’s garage. This discovery led to the watch being sold at auction for a staggering £6.2 million in the Time on Our Hands festive episode, fulfilling Del’s famous promise of becoming millionaires “this time next year.”
This storyline captivated a massive audience, with 24.3 million viewers tuning in to watch the special unfold. However, David Jason argues that this moment marked the conclusion of the Trotter family’s journey. He explained, “There was nowhere to go after the Trotters became millionaires and it all worked out. It was the end of a journey and the journey was that struggle for survival, the struggle for the family, the way that they behaved, that interaction and all of that stuff that made the Trotters ceased to exist once they had become millionaires, if you like.”
The 84-year-old actor further elaborated on Sullivan’s creative process, stating, “It wasn’t that John had run out of steam so much, but he was so used to working mentally with all of the characters, the style of the cut and thrust of learning to survive on the edge of disaster, as it were.”
Only Fools and Horses, which aired a total of 64 episodes across seven series on BBC One, became a beloved classic among viewers. The show’s success also spawned over 10 Christmas specials that continued until 2003, cementing its status as a cultural phenomenon.
Despite the show’s popularity, David Jason’s reflections on the creative direction taken in Only Fools and Horses offer fans a new perspective on the beloved characters and their journey. As viewers revisit the timeless episodes of the iconic sitcom, they may now see Del Boy and Rodney Trotter’s millionaire status in a different light, thanks to Sir David Jason’s insightful commentary.