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Only Fools and Horses

"This time next year we'll be Millionaires!"

By Ruth Elizabeth StiffPublished 2 years ago 5 min read
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The Flat

We can relate to this so well and still laugh at every episode. Running from 8th September, 1981, until 25th December, 2003, we still love to watch the 64 episodes today in 2021, 40 years after it first aired. Two brothers who buy and sell (almost) everything, and their personal lives, have given us ‘generations’ of entertainment. I’m talking, of course, about “OFAH” or “Only Fools and Horses”.

12th floor flat, Nelson Mandela House, Nyerere Estate, Peckham --- and you really know it when the lifts break down. The Trotter family lived here from 1960 to 1996 and from 2001 until --- are they still there? If any of us have seen, visited or lived in a council estate, this is home from home. It was in these flats that Rodney (the younger brother) was born, and it was where the ‘dad’ walked out and the mum died, leaving Derek or “Del Boy” (the older brother) to look after grandad and little Rodney. Del Boy was barely a teenager himself. The flat had the ‘cheesy’ pictures on the walls, the ‘art nouveau’ decoration and curtains and it was filled with Del Boy’s ‘stock’, which he sold down the market (or anywhere he could). The flat is, of course, fictional, even as Del Boy and Rodney are. However, John Sullivan, who wrote “Only Fools and Horses” used many very real experiences as his inspiration.

"A Touch of Glass"

One such experience is seen in the episode “A Touch of Glass” which was aired on 2nd December, 1982. The episode attracted over 10 million viewers, and if you get the chance to watch it, you’ll understand why. The Trotters ‘offer’ to clean 2 priceless chandeliers, pretending they have generations of experience. Grandad works on one chandelier, Del Boy and Rodney work on the other chandelier. When grandad knocks the bolt out, the two brothers are under the wrong chandelier, and it smashes to pieces. “Well, I wish you’d said something, I was working on this chandelier” says grandad, pointing at the smashed pieces. Realizing the butler did not have their contact details, the three ‘tricksters’ run out of the mansion and disappear in their 3-wheel can. The comedy timing is spot on and I defy anyone who watches it not to laugh. The ‘story’ is actually a true one! John Sullivan’s father was a plumber, and working as a team, they were putting in a new heating system in a stately home and had to move chandeliers. There was a mix-up and one smashed. The ‘chandelier’ in the episode cost £6,000, and although it was a fake, there could only be one take! I do not know how the actors did not laugh when it smashed.

Del Boy’s 3-wheeled, yellow Reliant Regal van is its own character. Even when Del Boy and Rodney become millionaires, they still keep their faithful old motor. It had 2 passenger seats which meant that grandad or uncle Albert had to sit in the back with Del Boy’s ‘stock’. In the episode “Dates” Rodney is allowed to use the van to take “nervous Nerys” out. He puts his foot down realizing a ‘gang’ is chasing them and causes a minor accident, but driving on, passes a couple of police officers. “It shouldn’t be too hard to find a three-wheeled van”. The rest of the episode is priceless to watch, with Del Boy ripping open the police woman’s blouse, thinking she is a stripper. Thus, he is arrested. Yes, you have to watch it to believe it!

There was a very real concern in the early 1980’s of the Third World War. Interestingly, “Only Fools and Horses” showed the episode “The Russians are Coming” which actually brought to the fore what a lot of people were thinking about. After a ‘dodgy’ deal, Del Boy receives over £1,000 worth of lead. Rodney points out that the lead is, in fact, a DIY fallout shelter after reading the accompanying brochure. Being always ‘worried’ about the planet Earth and the future, Rodney talks about the threat of a nuclear holocaust. Del Boy puts a plan into action to see if they heard the 4 minute warning, would they get to grandad’s allotment in time? Speeding along, they are stopped by the police and never do find out if the plan would ever work. The real comedy is seeing them build the fallout shelter, with the three of them ‘attempting’ to live in it --- on the top of the flats!

Rodney, Del Boy and Grandad

Many of us know the characters in “Only Fools and Horses”, and who played who. For those of you who have never seen an episode, here is a list of the main characters:

Del Boy was played by David Jason, who has been ‘on the stage’ since 1963. Other programs he has been in are: A Touch of Frost / Open All Hours / The Darling Buds of May to name just 3 popular ones. David was knighted in 2005 “for services to acting and comedy” and he has won 4 BAFTAs and 7 National Television Awards.

Rodney was played by Nicholas Lyndhurst, who was a child actor before breaking into ‘show business’. Nicholas has been in Goodnight Sweetheart / Going Straight / The Two of Us / Butterflies to name 4 of the sitcoms he has been in. Nicholas won 2 National Television Awards for his role in Goodnight Sweetheart.

Grandad was played by Lennard Pearce who worked mainly in the theatre, starring in “Only Fools and Horses” until his death in 1984. Lennard studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Uncle Albert was played by Buster Merryfield who also worked in the theatre. Buster won the Best Actor trophy for his roles in The Entertainer and The World-My Canvas.

Boycie was played by John Challis whose whole career spanned the theatre and the television. John was an established actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. John died this year (2021) aged 71 years old after a fight with cancer.

"Boycie" (in the grey suit)

These are just 5 of the main characters, when there were well over 40!

Some of the quotes from “Only Fools and Horses” are memorable and priceless:

“Asking a Trotter if he knows anything about chandeliers is like asking Mr.Kipling if he knows anything about cakes.”

“Rodney, everything between you and I is split straight down the middle:60-40”.

“There’s no point running away. Running away only wears out your shoes”.

“He who dares wins. He who hesitates --- doesn’t”.

And yes, there are thousands more!

Rodney and Del Boy

So, if you do get a chance, watch “Only Fools and Horses”. It’s one of the best comedies to come along in the last 50 years and everyone of us can relate to it. “Lovely Jubbly”.

(If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to like / subscribe / leave a tip or go over to my website, where all my other articles are : https://sarah-s-story-book.webnode.co.uk/ )

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About the Creator

Ruth Elizabeth Stiff

I love all things Earthy and Self-Help

History is one of my favourite subjects and I love to write short fiction

Research is so interesting for me too

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