Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst want Only Fools and Horses doc

Mary Gallagher

Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst are to reunite for an ‘Only Fools and Horses’ documentary.

Only Fools and Horses (from left to right) Raquel (Tessa Peake-Jones), Del (David Jason), Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and Cassandra (Gwyneth Strong) in a Christmas Only Fools and Horses special, which is on a new chart of the most-watched programmes in the 80-year history of British television.
Only Fools and Horses (from left to right) Raquel (Tessa Peake-Jones), Del (David Jason), Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and Cassandra (Gwyneth Strong) in a Christmas Only Fools and Horses special, which is one of the most-watched programmes in the 80-year history of British television.

The pair starred as wheeler dealer market trader Del Boy and his plonker brother Rodney Trotter in the long-running sitcom and are said to be keen to team up again for a look back at the popular show’s seven-series run.

A source told The Sun newspaper: “David and Nicholas are really keen to do the documentary and it’s all coming together now.

“The show is a cult sitcom and they have fans all around the world.”

‘Only Fools’ fans are hoping there will be another Christmas special one day to add to the previous 19 festive episodes, including 1996’s ‘Time on Our Hands’ which pulled in a sitcom record 24.3 million viewers.

Nicholas Lyndhurst, David Jason and Buster Merryfield as Rodney Trotter, Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter and Uncle Albert
Nicholas Lyndhurst, David Jason and Buster Merryfield as Rodney Trotter, Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter and Uncle Albert

The source added: “Although it hasn’t run for 13 years, fans are still hopeful they will do another Christmas special.”

David and Nicholas last reprised their roles as Del and Rodney in 2014 for a sketch in aid of Sport Relief starring former England football captain David Beckham.

The skit was well-loved by ‘Only Fools’ fans and culminated with the footballer comically mimicking the famous scene when Del Boy fell through a bar in 1989 episode ‘Yuppy Love’.

There were rumours the series could make a one-off return but such talk went quiet after creator and writer John Sullivan passed away aged 64 in April 2011.

David Beckham joins the cast of 'Only Fools and Horses' for a special sketch to raise money for 'Sport Relief'., Shown on ITV1 HD Featuring: David Beckham,Sir David Jason,Nicholas Lyndhurst When: 21 Mar 2014 Credit: Supplied by WENN **WENN does not claim any ownership including but not limited to Copyright or License in the attached material. Fees charged by WENN are for WENN's services only, and do not, nor are they intended to, convey to the user any ownership of Copyright or License in the material. By publishing this material you expressly agree to indemnify and to hold WENN and its directors, shareholders and employees harmless from any loss, claims, damages, demands, expenses (including legal fees), or any causes of action or allegation against WENN arising out of or connected in any way with publication of the material.**
David Beckham joins the cast of ‘Only Fools and Horses’ for a special sketch to raise money for ‘Sport Relief’. (WENN)

Tessa Peake-Jones, who played Del Boy’s partner Raquel, recently admitted she cannot see the show – which also starred Buster Merryfield as Uncle Albert, and Lennard Pearce as Granddad – coming back.

She said: “The show’s legacy is remarkable but it was John’s baby.

“He was the most amazing writer. I can’t see it coming back.”

The programme ran for seven series from September 1981 to December 2003, culminating in final episode ‘Sleepless in Peckham’, which attracted a TV audience of 16.3 million.

‘Only Fools’ has also spawned two spin-offs, prequel ‘Rock & Chips’, which starred James Buckley as a young Del and Nicholas as Rodney’s biological father Freddie “The Frog” Robdal, and ‘The Green Green Grass’ about Boycie and Marlene’s (John Challis and Sue Holderness) new life in the countryside.

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