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Cushty! ‘Lost’ episode of Only Fools and Horses to be screened for the first time

<em>Licensed to Drill is set to be aired for the first time (SWNS)</em>
Licensed to Drill is set to be aired for the first time (SWNS)

Fans of Only Fools and Horses are set to be treated to a never-before-seen episode of the classic sitcom.

TV channel Gold are set to broadcast the ‘lost’ 1984 episode called ‘Licensed to Drill’ which has been found after lying on a “dusty shelf” for years.

Dubbed ‘the missing episode’, Licensed to Drill is in fact a 19-minute educational special that was produced exclusively for British schools.

And it is even more significant for being the final appearance of Lennard Pearce as Grandad before his death.

<em>The rare Only Fools and Horses episode was produced as an educational special (SWNS)</em>
The rare Only Fools and Horses episode was produced as an educational special (SWNS)

Set in the iconic Trotter living room in Mandela House, Del Boy, Rodney and Grandad are at the top of their game.

Del Boy once again thinks he’s on to a winner as he reveals his new get-rich-quick scheme – he’s bought an oil rig for the bargain price of £400.

Now all the Trotters need to do is extract “our own black gold”.

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Del grins: “We just lay low in our boat for a while and we wait for one of the big oil companies to move off the oil field and then we whip in a bit lively and use their hole.”

Unfortunately for Del Boy, Rodney – ever the voice of reason, explains that off-shore means hundreds of miles off the coast, the upshot being “there’s not much in the way of oil in Peckham”.

Del soon realises that yet again, he’s been conned.

<em>The episode is notable for being the final appearance of Lennard Pearce as Grandad before he died (SWNS)</em>
The episode is notable for being the final appearance of Lennard Pearce as Grandad before he died (SWNS)

As well as airing scenes from the forgotten episode, UKTV Gold’s The Story Of Only Fools And Horses also features interviews with the cast and some of the best outtakes.

In one blooper, Sir David Jason realised he’s messed up and says: ”We might as well start again because I’ve gone now.

In another, Nicholas Lyndhurst mispronounces his onscreen wife’s name as “Ker-sai” rather than Cassie, leading him and Sir David Jason to embark on a conversation of gibberish.

Gwyneth Strong, who played Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Trotter for 14 years said of the bloopers: “The outtakes brought back loads of memories for us, memories that you don’t even realise are there until you start seeing that material.

<em>Bloopers show Nicholas Lyndhurst mispronouncing his onscreen wife’s name (SWNS)</em>
Bloopers show Nicholas Lyndhurst mispronouncing his onscreen wife’s name (SWNS)

“I kept saying ‘Who knew!’ all the way through watching it.”

Steve North, General Manager for Gold said of the John Sullivan sitcom rarity: “I am so excited to be working with the Sullivan family to help celebrate Gold’s 25th birthday this year, and really delve into the archives one of the most loved shows on the channel.

“Gold viewers will get a real treat.”

Gold will air The Story of Only Fools And Horses on Tuesday 12 September and The Story of Only Fools And Horses feat. Licensed to Drill on Tuesday 3 October.