Del Boy was right! Why Only Fools and Horses brothers would be millionaires today

"This time next year, we'll be millionaires," Del Boy used to say.

And it turns out his prediction wasn't as far-fetched as viewers of Only Fools and Horses might have thought.

A financial expert believes the assets owned by Del Boy and brother Rodney would amount to an impressive £3m today.

Their three-bedroom flat in Peckham could today be worth around £850,000, thanks to rising prices in the rapidly gentrifying area.

In the show, the property was in Nelson Mandela House on Peckham's Nyere Estate, but it was filmed predominantly in Acton.

The garage lock-up, three-wheeled 1967 Reliant Regal Supervan III and Ford Capri that Del Boy and Rodney owned would be worth £55,000.

Most valuable, however, would be the pair of cut blue diamonds that Del Boy swapped for a pair of cufflinks in the episode To Hull and Back - estimated to be worth £2m today.

Only Fools and Horses remains one of the UK's best loved and most watched shows.

The sitcom revolved around the money-making efforts of the pair, who eventually made their fortune before losing it all.

Their schemes included monetising a supposedly weeping statue of the Virgin Mary and marketing bottled south London tap water under a luxury "Peckham Spring" brand.

Viewers of the show voted that idea most likely to lead to success in today's market, particularly given the trend for locally sourced food and drink in London.

"If you look at all the accumulated assets Del Boy and Rodney had over the seven series of Only Fools And Horses they would be millionaires today and living the luxury lifestyle they always aspired to," financial expert Jasmine Birtles said.

"A three-bedroom flat in Peckham would be worth a fortune in today's market, as the area is fast becoming one of London's most desirable neighbourhoods."

The research was commissioned by Gold to mark the channel's 25th birthday and two documentaries about the show and its star, David Jason.