Sir David Jason axed from much-loved BBC show after just 3 hours
Sir David Jason, treasured for his role as Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses, has shared some of the lesser-known struggles he faced on his path to fame.
At 84 years old, he recalls a significant early career disappointment, being let go from the cast of Dad's Army just hours into filming. Despite acing the audition for Lance Corporal Jones and gaining the approval of the show's creators, Jimmy Perry and David Croft, a decision by then BBC boss Bill Cotton led to his replacement by Clive Dunn.
Looking back at the experience, Sir David said, "I was cast at 12 O'clock and sacked by three."
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His pursuit of success was met with further obstacles when he narrowly missed out on portraying Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em after BBC executives doubted whether he had sufficient "star quality."
Nevertheless, Sir David's stellar trajectory ultimately launched with his performances as Del Boy and his earlier roles in Open All Hours and Porridge with legends such as Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale, reports the Mirror.
But long before the spotlight found him, few may be aware that his first job was far from glitzy. He was an apprentice electrician, a detail he revealed, noting the contrast from his later life: "When I first started work I was an apprentice electrician."
"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 shared how he secured 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."