Only Fools and Horses legend David Jason was sacked from iconic BBC role

Sir David Jason
-Credit: (Image: PA)


Sir David Jason, fondly known as the iconic Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses, hasn't always had it plain-sailing throughout his TV career. At age 84, the celebrated actor recalled being dropped from Dad's Army just after filming had commenced due to a sudden decision by BBC executives.

Though he successfully auditioned for the part of Lance Corporal Jones and won over series creators Jimmy Perry and David Croft with his ability to portray senior characters, BBC head honcho Bill Cotton opted to replace him with Clive Dunn.

Reflecting on this twist of fate, Sir David shared: "I was cast at 12 o'clock and sacked by three."

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His pursuit of fame encountered another hurdle as he lost out on playing Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, with BBC leaders unsure about his "star quality", reports the Mirror.

Nonetheless, Sir David's fortunes turned dramatically when he secured the role of Del Boy. His rise followed earlier achievements in shows like Open All Hours and Porridge, where he starred with legends such as Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale, according to Leicestershire Live.

Before he dazzled audiences on screen, Sir David's first job was worlds apart from his future in entertainment; he started his working life as an apprentice electrician. The renowned actor reminisced: "When you are an apprentice to any trade, you have to absorb all sorts of traits you're bumping into people who are bricklayers, plasterers, pipe benders, plumbers. And if you're interested in making things, it leaves its mark. You get interested in how a plumber bends a piece of pipe, and that sort of thing is still with me, I still love bending pipes."

He also revealed how he bagged his role in Open All Hours after forming a close bond with co-star Ronnie Barker on set. Sir David said: "The reason I got to work with Ronnie on Open All Hours was because of the little bits that I had done in his other series.

"He played this wonderful, bumbling character, and I was playing this hundred-year-old gardener. It was just working with him and understanding how he approached things."