'Del Boy' Sir David Jason calls for Only Fools and Horses tower to be protected

Sir David Jason has said it would be a "shame" if the tower block featured in Only Fools And Horses is demolished and called for the building to be protected.

The actor, who played Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter in the classic comedy series, spoke out after it emerged plans are in place to knock it down as part of a regeneration project.

Speaking at the premiere of Cirque du Soleil's new show Totem at the Royal Albert Hall, Sir David the Harlech Tower in Acton, west London, was “of its time”.

According to The Sun, the 78-year-old said: "Of course I think it should be a listed building. What a shame. But they are not going to listen to me are they?

"It was a proper block of flats and it was of its time, which was fine and is probably why we used it. So that is why we used it. It was great."

Earlier this month it emerged plans are in place to demolish the tower as part of a £650 million regeneration of the area which will see more than 3,500 homes built.

Only Fools And Horses first aired on the BBC in 1981 and featured the colourful escapades of market trader Del Boy and his less streetwise younger brother Rodney, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst.

Its seventh regular series aired in 1991 and was followed by sporadic Christmas specials until the show ended in 2003.

Despite Harlech Tower being in Acton, Only Fools was set 13 miles away in Peckham, south-east London.