Only Fools and Horses episode named 'worst ever' by fans over Del Boy blunder


Only Fools and Horses continues to tickle the funny bone of comedy enthusiasts, with its timeless humour ensuring that it remains a staple on television screens.

Despite the years that have passed since its original airing, Only Fools and Horses still garners a massive following, with reruns attracting millions who adore the series.

Spanning seven seasons and comprising 64 episodes, Only Fools and Horses has left an indelible mark on British TV. Yet, there's one episode that has been singled out as the "worst" by fans.

The episode in question, A Royal Flush, drew criticism for Del Boy's (played by Sir David Jason) behaviour, which many found distasteful and offensive.

The plot revolves around Rodney Trotter (portrayed by Nicholas Lyndhurst) trying to impress Vicky during an upscale date at the opera, only to have his efforts thwarted by Del Boy's unwelcome interference, reports the Mirror.

This particular instalment didn't resonate well with viewers, with some expressing their disapproval on a Facebook fan page dedicated to the sitcom. One viewer commented: "Del was a plonker in this, really annoys me."

Another chimed in with: "Del was so unlikeable in this one. Just wasn't the Del we all know and love. The episode has funny moments but Del was horrible."

Meanwhile, another fan stated: "Worst episode ever, Del was always a rough diamond, in this episode he was a complete k***".

The initial cut of A Royal Flush ran for 76 minutes, but was eventually pared down to 59 minutes for DVD releases. This resulted in the episode undergoing substantial editing and the addition of 'canned' laughter.

Not only viewers have expressed their dislike for the episode, as writer John Sullivan and actor Sir David Jason also concurred that it is the worst episode. In a 2003 interview, John reportedly voiced his regret for creating the episode, and the show's producer is said to have contacted the BBC's Head of Comedy on Boxing Day to ask to step down from the series.

There were numerous hiccups during the filming of the episode as well, causing problems for both the cast and production team. Sir David lost his voice for three days.

Once he recovered, Nicholas Lyndhurst was struck with a bout of flu, which kept him out of action for some time.

These setbacks caused worry among the production team as they were almost forced to broadcast live on Christmas Day in 1986. Due to the shortage of time for editing, the episode couldn't be shown to the show's regular studio audience and had to be aired without a laughter track or music.

Once the episode was aired, it was clear to viewers that it didn't carry the same tone as previous episodes.