Only Fools and Horses#Sid

Derek "Del Boy" Trotter (David Jason), a South London "fly" trader, lives in a council flat in Nelson Mandela House, a high-rise tower block in Peckham, South London, with his much younger brother, Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst), and their elderly grandfather, Grandad (Lennard Pearce). Their mother, Joan, died when Rodney was young, and their father Reg left soon afterwards, so Del became Rodney's surrogate father and the family leader. Despite their differences in age, personality and outlook, the brothers share a constant bond throughout.{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Darren|title=Only Fools and Horses (1981–96)|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/576679/|website=BFI Screenonline|access-date=4 July 2017}}

File:Reliant Regal as used in OFAH (cropped).jpg]]

The Trotters attempt to become millionaires through questionable get-rich-quick schemes and by buying and selling poor-quality and illegal goods. They have a three-wheeled Reliant Regal van and trade under the name of Trotters Independent Traders, mainly on the black market.

Initially, Del Boy, Rodney and Grandad were the only regulars, along with the occasional appearances of road sweeper Trigger (Roger Lloyd-Pack) and pretentious used car salesman Boycie (John Challis). Over time, the cast expanded, mostly in the form of regulars at the local pub The Nag's Head. These included pub landlord Mike Fisher (Kenneth MacDonald), lorry driver Denzil (Paul Barber), youthful spiv Mickey Pearce (Patrick Murray) and Boycie's flirtatious wife Marlene (Sue Holderness). After Grandad died following the death of actor Lennard Pearce, his younger brother Uncle Albert (Buster Merryfield) was introduced and moved in with Del and Rodney, becoming a main character.

The plots of many early episodes were primarily self-contained, with few plot-lines mentioned again, but the show developed a story arc and an ongoing episodic dimension in later series. Del and Rodney's quest for love is a recurring theme, which eventually resulted in them finding long-term love in the form of Raquel (Tessa Peake-Jones) and Cassandra (Gwyneth Strong), respectively; Del also has a son with Raquel, Damien (played by five actors, most recently Ben Smith), while Rodney has a daughter with Cassandra, Joan (named after his and Del's mother), born in the final episode. The Trotters finally become millionaires, lose their fortune, and then regain some of it.{{cite book|author=Clark| year=2011| title=The Official Inside Story| pages=290–316}}

{{Further|List of Only Fools and Horses characters}}

• Derek Edward "Del Boy" Trotter (David Jason) – Del is a smooth-talking South London market trader, willing to sell anything to anyone to make money. Possessing a quick wit and confidence that his younger brother mostly lacks, Del is devoted to his family, taking care of Rodney and Grandad on his own from the age of 16. Del is also known for his penchant for cultural faux pas, in particular his misuse of French phrases. Del never settled down with a woman until he met Raquel, with whom he had a son, Damien.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=211, 212}}{{cite web|title=Del's Lingo|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/lingo/euro.shtml|website=BBC|access-date=5 July 2017}}

:Sullivan recalled that he had always been fascinated by the unlicensed traders who sold goods from suitcases in markets, and he based Del Boy on them. David Jason added other elements to the part, including Del's cheap gold jewellery and his camel coat. The inspiration was taken from a similar man he had known when working as an electrician. Jason was a relatively late candidate for the part: Jim Broadbent{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/feb/20/jim-broadbent-i-like-the-idea-of-actors-being-anti-establishment|work=The Observer|title=Jim Broadbent: 'I like the idea of actors being anti-establishment'|first=Michael|last=Hogan|date=20 February 2022}} (who would later appear in a minor recurring role as DCI Roy Slater) and Enn Reitel were earlier preferences. At the time, Broadbent was appearing in Mike Leigh's play, "Goose-Pimples", at the Hampstead Theatre in north London. The play was due to transfer to the West End, and, consequently, Broadbent thought he would be unable to fit in with the filming schedule and turned down the part.{{cite book|author=Clark|title=Only Fools and Horses Story|url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar|year=1998|page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/18 18]|isbn=9780563384458 }} It was only when producer Ray Butt saw a repeat of Open All Hours that Jason was considered and, despite concerns that Jason had not previously had a leading television role and that he and Lyndhurst did not look like brothers, he was cast.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | chapter=History of the sitcom| pages=96–102}}

• Rodney Charlton Trotter (Nicholas Lyndhurst) – Rodney is Del's idealistic but socially awkward younger brother. Despite being more academically gifted than Del Boy (although only to the extent of two GCEs),{{cite web|title=Rodney|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/uncovered/rodney.shtml|website=BBC|access-date=6 July 2017}} Rodney lacks Del's charisma as well as the latter's duplicitous persona, and as such is confined to being Del's dogsbody and sidekick. Orphaned at a young age, Rodney was raised by Del, and much of the friction between the two comes from Rodney's annoyance about his dependency on his brother and his sometimes immoral schemes, usually resulting in unsuccessful attempts to gain greater independence through girlfriends or through setting up his own businesses; he was only partially successful after marrying Cassandra and briefly going to work for her father.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=215}} In contrast to Del, the part of Rodney was cast early, with Lyndhurst settled on quickly. Sullivan partly based Rodney on his own experiences: he, too, had a much older sibling and, like Rodney, claims to have been a dreamer and an idealist in his youth.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/14 14]| isbn=9780563384458 }}
• Edward Kitchener "Grandad" Trotter (Lennard Pearce) – Sullivan was fascinated by the idea of having a big age gap between Del Boy and his younger brother Rodney; the elderly character of Grandad, and later, Uncle Albert, gave the situation the voice of an "old man who had seen it all".{{Cite news|last=Rossiter|first=Huw|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19911224/109/0015|title=John Boy ... the scene shifter who's certainly no fool|date=24 December 1991|work=Reading Evening Post|access-date=5 March 2020|page=15}} {{subscription required}} In casting the role of Grandad, Sullivan had in mind an actor similar to Wilfrid Brambell, who had played Albert Steptoe in Steptoe and Son, but chose not to cast Brambell himself, thinking him too closely associated with Steptoe. After seeing Pearce's audition, Sullivan chose him immediately. Unkempt and absent-minded, although sometimes displaying a high intelligence, Grandad rarely left the flat or even moved from his armchair in front of two television sets. He was often assigned the job of cooking meals, despite his notoriously poor cooking skills, which Del describes as his "role in the family circle" to ensure he still "feels needed".{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=212, 213}} Pearce died in 1984 during the filming of the fourth series{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | pages=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/52 52], 104–106| isbn=9780563384458 }} and Sullivan wrote a new episode, "Strained Relations", to write Grandad's death into the series.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=185}}
• Albert Gladstone Trotter (Buster Merryfield) – Shortly after the death of Lennard Pearce, it was decided that a new older family member should be brought in, which eventually led to "Uncle Albert", Grandad's estranged younger brother. Merryfield was an inexperienced amateur actor at the time, but was selected because he appeared to fit the description of an old sailor, especially with his distinctive white "Captain Birdseye" beard.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | pages=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/102 102]–103| isbn=9780563384458 }} Albert first appeared at Grandad's funeral and soon moved in with Del and Rodney.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=209, 210}} His wartime experiences with the Royal Navy became one of the show's running gags, usually beginning with the words "During the war...".{{cite web|title=Uncle Albert|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/uncovered/albert.shtml|website=BBC|access-date=6 July 2017}} Merryfield died in 1999 and Albert's death was written into the next episode.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=136}}{{cite book|author=Clark| year=2011| title=The Official Inside Story| page=254}}
• Raquel Turner (Tessa Peake-Jones) – Raquel was introduced because Sullivan wanted more female characters and for Del to start meeting more mature women. Her first appearance, in "Dates", was intended to be a one-off, but she was written in again a year later and thereafter became a permanent cast member.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=102}} A trained singer and actress whose career never took off, she met Del through a dating agency, but they fell out over her part-time job as a stripper, before getting together again. This time, she moved in with Del, helping to calm him, and they had a son together named Damien. As the character developed, it was revealed that she was previously married to Del's nemesis, Roy Slater.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=217, 218}}{{cite web|title=Raquel|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/uncovered/raquel.shtml|website=BBC|access-date=6 July 2017}}
• Cassandra Trotter (née Parry) (Gwyneth Strong) – Cassandra first met Rodney in "Yuppy Love". Their relationship blossomed, and by the end of series six, the two had married. Cassandra's career-driven lifestyle caused fights with Rodney, and their marriage problems formed one of the main storylines in the seventh series.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=210}}

• Trigger (Roger Lloyd-Pack) – A dopey and slow-witted but good friend of Del, Trigger was initially portrayed as a small-time thief, supplying Del with dubious goods. In later episodes, he came to adopt the "village idiot" role and constantly calls Rodney "Dave", much to Rodney's annoyance.{{cite web

| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/uncovered/trigger.shtml

| title=Trigger

| work=BBC | access-date = 24 March 2013}} Trigger, apparently so called because he looks like a horse, was the principal supporting character earlier in the show's run, although his importance lessened as the series progressed.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=207, 208}} Lloyd-Pack was cast by pure chance: Ray Butt, who hired him to portray Trigger after seeing him in a stage play, had only attended that play to observe potential Del Boy actor Billy Murray.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/60 60]| isbn=9780563384458 }}

• Boycie (John Challis) – An untrustworthy used car salesman and a cultural elitist. Boycie, a freemason, was very selfish and prone to boasting about his wealth.{{cite web|title=Boycie|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/uncovered/boycie.shtml|website=BBC|access-date=6 July 2017}} Challis had played a similar character in an episode of Citizen Smith. Sullivan liked him, and promised to cast him in a future series, which led to Boycie.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=39, 40}} Boycie later featured in a spin-off series, The Green Green Grass, starting in 2005, in which he and his wife Marlene along with their son Tyler escaped from a criminal gang.{{cite book|author=Clark| year=2011| title=The Official Inside Story| pages=271, 273}}
• Denzil Tulser (Paul Barber) – An affable Liverpudlian lorry driver,{{cite web|title=Denzil|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/uncovered/denzil.shtml|website=BBC|access-date=6 July 2017}} Denzil was often the victim of Del's scams. His inability to say no to Del's business deals frequently led to arguments with his controlling wife, Corinne (Eva Mottley).{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=55, 56, 63, 64}}{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/98 98]| isbn=9780563384458 }} Corinne eventually walked out on him, leaving Denzil depressed but with more time to go along with Del's antics.
• Sid (Roy Heather) – Sid made sparse appearances throughout the show's run, mainly as the proprietor of the dirty and unhygienic local cafe. In the episode "The Jolly Boys' Outing", it is revealed that Sid fought in the Second World War. He was captured and imprisoned but escaped, only for the boat he was using to be hit and sunk by a Greek fishing trawler being steered by Uncle Albert. After Nag's Head landlord Mike was imprisoned, Sid took over and kept that role for the remainder of the series.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=176}}
• Michael "Mickey" Pearce (Patrick Murray) – Mickey was a young, arrogant spiv and friend of Rodney's, known for his exaggerated boasts about his success in business or with women. Despite their friendship, Mickey often took advantage of Rodney's inexperience by stealing his girlfriends or making off with all the money from their business partnership.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=155, 156}}
• Marlene Boyce (Sue Holderness) – Boycie's wife. Initially just an unseen character, Marlene was popular among the men and extremely flirtatious, having had implied sexual relations with all of Boycie's friends.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=38}} She and Del have a noticeably close friendship, dating back to when Marlene worked in a betting shop in Lewisham Grove. Despite their constant arguments and insults, she and Boycie are in love and eventually have a child, Tyler, after several years of trying{{cite web|title=Marlene|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/uncovered/marlene.shtml|website=BBC|access-date=6 July 2017}} although there are light-hearted rumours that Del may be the father.
• Mike Fisher (Kenneth MacDonald) – The landlord of the Nag's Head, although not from the very beginning; his predecessor was never seen, with just a succession of barmaids providing service. Friendly and gormless, he was often targeted by Del as a potential customer for any goods he was selling. When Kenneth MacDonald died in 2001, a storyline involving Mike's imprisonment for attempting to embezzle the brewery was written, and cafe owner Sid took over as the interim pub landlord.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=73,74,129–131}}
• Damien Trotter (various) – Damien was Del and Raquel's son. It was Rodney's mocking suggestion that he be named Damien. Uncle Albert raised concern that Damien's initials would read "DDT", as his full name is "Damien Derek Trotter", "DDT" being short for the chemical compound Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane DDT. Six actors played Damien: Patrick McManus (1991), Grant Stevens (1991), Robert Liddement (1992), Jamie Smith (1993–96), Douglas Hodge (1996, as adult) and Ben Smith (2001–03).

File:JimBroadbent07TIFF cropped.jpg, who was originally considered to play Del Boy, made three appearances as DCI Roy Slater.]]

The most frequent roles for guest actors in Only Fools and Horses were as Del or Rodney's one-time girlfriends, barmaids at the Nag's Head, or individuals the Trotters were doing business with. Del and Rodney's deceased mother, Joan, though never seen, was frequently mentioned in Del's embellished accounts of her final words or in his attempts to emotionally blackmail Rodney. Her grave, a flamboyant monument, was seen occasionally.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=214}} Their absent father, Reg, appeared once in "Thicker Than Water" (played by Peter Woodthorpe), before leaving under a cloud, never to be seen again.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=214, 215}} Other members of the Trotter family were rarely sighted, the exceptions being cousins Stan (Mike Kemp) and Jean (Maureen Sweeney), who attended Grandad's funeral.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=110, 184}} In "The Second Time Around",{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=169}} the woman they believed to be Auntie Rose (Beryl Cooke) turned out to be no relation at all but the woman who had moved into Rose's house some years earlier. After Rodney met Cassandra, her parents Alan (Denis Lill) and Pam (Wanda Ventham) became recurring characters.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=150}} Raquel's parents, James and Audrey (Michael Jayston and Ann Lynn), appeared in "Time On Our Hands", and it was James who discovered the antique watch which made the Trotters millionaires.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=217}}

In some episodes, a guest character was essential to the plot. Del's ex-fiancée Pauline (Jill Baker) dominated Del's libido in "The Second Time Around",{{Citation|last=BBC Comedy Greats|title=There's No Calories in Weed Killer – Only Fools and Horses – BBC|date=12 March 2010|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcSl_Snrzw0| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/AcSl_Snrzw0| archive-date=2021-10-30|access-date=13 May 2016}}{{cbignore}} prompting Rodney and Grandad to leave. In "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire", Del's old business partner Jumbo Mills (Nick Stringer) wanted Del to return to Australia with him and restore their partnership, forcing Del to make a decision.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=235, 236}} In "Happy Returns", Del stops a young boy from running into the road and takes him home to his mother to discover she is an old flame from nineteen years ago, June Snell (Diane Langton) and the episode revolves around whether her daughter Debby (Oona Kirsch) is actually Del's child, complicated by the fact that Rodney is dating her. June also appears in "A Royal Flush", attending an opera. An attempt by Lennox (Vas Blackwood) to rob a local supermarket set up the "hostage" situation in "The Longest Night".{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=126, 127}} Del and Rodney spent the whole of "Tea for Three" battling each other for the affections of Trigger's niece Lisa (Gerry Cowper), who briefly reappeared in "The Frog's Legacy".{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=192, 193}} Abdul (Tony Anholt) in "To Hull and Back" and Arnie (Philip McGough) in "Chain Gang" were responsible for setting up dubious enterprises involving the Trotters in their respective episodes.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=47,202,204}} Tony Angelino (Philip Pope), the "singing dustman" with a speech impediment, was the key to the humour and the storyline of "Stage Fright" and EastEnders actor Derek Martin guest starred in "Fatal Extraction".{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=71,182,183}}

Del's nemesis from his school days, corrupt policeman Roy Slater (played by Jim Broadbent), made three appearances, in "May The Force Be With You", "To Hull and Back" and "Class of '62".{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=178}} Feared local villains, Danny and Tony Driscoll (Roy Marsden and Christopher Ryan, respectively) featured once, in "Little Problems", but were mentioned in two previous episodes ("Video Nasty" and "The Frog's Legacy"),{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=66, 67}} and are important in the story of The Green Green Grass.{{cite web|title=Sue Holderness Interview|url=https://gold.uktv.co.uk/green-green-grass/article/sue-holderness-interview/|website=Gold|access-date=3 July 2017}} An adult Damien (Douglas Hodge) appeared in "Heroes and Villains".{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=103}} Rodney and Mickey's friends, the smooth-talking Jevon (Steven Woodcock) and then, briefly, Chris (Tony Marshall), a ladies' hairdresser, featured sporadically during the sixth and seventh series and the intervening Christmas specials.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=50,111}} The two-part 1991 Christmas special, "Miami Twice", saw Richard Branson and Barry Gibb make cameo appearances.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=137}} Mike Read appeared as himself, hosting an episode of Top Of The Pops, in "It's Only Rock and Roll" and Jonathan Ross appeared as himself in "If They Could See Us Now".{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=108}}

While their characters were less significant, well-known actors who played cameos in the programme included Joan Sims, best known for her numerous roles in the Carry On films, who guest-starred in the feature-length episode "The Frog's Legacy" as Reenie Turpin, an aunt of Trigger and old friend of Del's late mother; successful film actor David Thewlis, who played a young wannabe musician in "It's Only Rock and Roll";{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=194}} John Bardon, who played the role of Jim Branning in the soap opera EastEnders, appeared as the supermarket security officer Tom Clark in "The Longest Night".{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=30}} Walter Sparrow, who appeared as Dirty Barry in "Danger UXD", went on to appear in several Hollywood films.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=182}}

File:Only fools original cast.jpg

In 1980, John Sullivan, a scriptwriter under contract at the BBC, was already well known as the writer of the sitcom Citizen Smith. It came to an end that year and Sullivan was searching for a new project. An initial idea for a comedy set in the world of football was rejected by the BBC, as was his alternative idea, a sitcom centring on a cockney market trader in working class, modern-day London. The latter idea persisted.{{cite book| last = Clark| first = Steve| title = The Only Fools and Horses Story| url = https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar| year = 1998| pages = [https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/10 10]–11 | isbn = 9780563384458}} Through Ray Butt, a BBC producer and director whom Sullivan had met and become friends with when they were working on Citizen Smith, a draft script was shown to the BBC's Head of Comedy, John Howard Davies. Davies commissioned Sullivan to write a full series. Sullivan believed the key factor in its being accepted was the success of ITV's new drama, Minder, a series with a similar premise and also set in modern-day London.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/15 15]| isbn=9780563384458 }}

Sullivan had initially given the show the working title Readies. For the actual title he intended to use, as a reference to the protagonist's tax- and work-evading lifestyle, Only Fools and Horses. That name was based on a genuine, though very obscure, saying, "only fools and horses work for a living", which had its origins in 19th-century American vaudeville.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/12 12]| isbn=9780563384458 }} "Only Fools and Horses" had also been the title of an episode of Citizen Smith, and Sullivan liked the expression and thought it was suited to the new sitcom.{{cite book|author=McCann| year=2012| title= The Story of Britain's Favourite Comedy| page=52}} He also thought longer titles would attract attention. He was first overruled on the grounds that the audience would not understand the title, but he eventually got his way.{{cite book|author=McCann| year=2012| title= The Story of Britain's Favourite Comedy| pages=52–55}}

[[File:Only-fools-second-main-cast.jpg|thumb|right|200 px|The second Only Fools and Horses line-up of (left to right) Del Boy (David Jason), Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and Uncle Albert (Buster Merryfield) lasted from 1985 to 1996. Picture taken from the show's special

"Jolly Boys Outing" with the trio outside the Villa Bella in Margate.]]

Filming of the first series began in May 1981, and the first episode, "Big Brother", was transmitted on BBC1 at 8:30 pm on 8 September that year. It attracted 9.2 million viewers{{cite web

| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/series1/bigbrother.shtml

| title=Big Brother

| work=BBC| access-date = 29 December 2006}} and generally received a lukewarm response from critics.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/78 78]| isbn=9780563384458 }} The viewing figures for the whole first series averaged at around 7 million viewers.{{cite web|last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/o/onlyfoolsandhors_7775005.shtml |title=Only Fools and Horses |work=BBC |access-date=13 September 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923201710/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/o/onlyfoolsandhors_7775005.shtml |archive-date=23 September 2006 }} According to an interview with John Challis in 2015, the viewing figure "today would be very good but in those days wasn't considered great at all, so it was sort of put on the back burner for a bit—no particular plans for a second series". The costumes for the first series were designed by Phoebe de Gaye. Del's attire was inspired by her going to car boot sales. She took Jason shopping in Oxford Street and had him try a variety of suits. De Gaye purchased some gaily coloured Gabicci shirts, which were fashionable at the time and she thought "horrible". Del's rings and bracelet were made of fake gold and came from Chapel Market. Rodney's combat jacket came from the BBC's Costume Department, and De Gaye added a Yasser Arafat scarf purchased from Shepherd's Bush Market. De Gaye used Vaseline, make-up and food to make Grandad's costume look dirty. The idea was that he never had his hat off, never dressed properly and usually wore dirty pyjamas underneath his clothes.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/84 84]| isbn=9780563384458 }}

A second series was commissioned for 1982. This fared a bit better, and the first and second series had a collective repeat run in June 1983 in a more low-key time slot, but attracted a high enough viewing figure for Davies to commission a third series.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | pages=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/92 92]–93| isbn=9780563384458 }} From there, the show began to top the television ratings. Viewing figures for the fourth series were double those of the first.{{cite book| last1=Webber |first1=Richard |last2=Sullivan |first2=John, Dr | title = The Complete A-Z of Only Fools and Horses| year = 2003| publisher = Orion| page = 28 }} In early December 1984,{{cite book|author=Clark| year=2011| title=The Official Inside Story| page=159}} during the filming of Series 4, Lennard Pearce suffered a heart attack and was taken to hospital.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/100 100]| isbn=9780563384458 }} He died on 15 December, the day before he was due to return. Sullivan wrote Grandad's death into the series with the episode "Strained Relations" which featured Del and Rodney's goodbye to Grandad.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/102 102]| isbn=9780563384458 }} According to Sullivan, recasting Grandad was considered disrespectful to Pearce by the team, so it was decided that another older family member was to be cast. Buster Merryfield was then cast as Grandad's brother Albert.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | pages=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/102 102]–104| isbn=9780563384458 }} The scenes from "Hole in One" that featured Pearce were re-filmed with Merryfield.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/104 104]| isbn=9780563384458 }}

Midway through the filming of the fifth series, Jason told Sullivan that he wished to leave the show in order to further his career elsewhere. Sullivan thus wrote "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", which was intended to be the final episode and would see Del accepting a friend's offer to set up business in Australia, leaving Rodney and Albert behind. Plans were made for a spin-off entitled Hot-Rod, which would have followed Rodney's attempts to survive on his own with help from Mickey Pearce but leaving open the prospect of Del's return. Jason then changed his mind, and the ending of the episode was changed to show Del rejecting the offer.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | pages=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/116 116]–118| isbn=9780563384458 }}

Sullivan had a tendency to write scripts that were too long, leading to material being cut. Shortly before filming of the sixth series began, he and Jason requested that the show's time slot be extended and it was agreed to extend its running time to 50 minutes.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | pages=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/120 120], 121| isbn=9780563384458 }} This required a 40 per cent increase in the show's budget,{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/121 121]| isbn=9780563384458 }} and coincided with the show becoming one of the BBC's most popular programmes.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=101}} Robin Stubbs became the costume designer for the sixth series and was responsible for getting Del's attire to match his new yuppy image. His new suits cost around £200 each and were purchased from Austin Reed in Regent Street. The rest came from stores such as Tie-Rack and Dickins & Jones. His jewellery was replaced in each series because it was very cheap (the "D" rings cost 50p each).

The seventh series aired in early 1991. Jason and Sullivan were involved with other projects, and it was confirmed that there were no plans for a new series.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | pages=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/136 136]–139| isbn=9780563384458 }} Despite this, the show continued in Christmas specials until 1993. Sullivan nonetheless wanted a final episode to tie up the show. In late 1996, three more one-hour episodes were filmed, to be broadcast over Christmas 1996. All three were well received and, due to the ending, were assumed to be the last.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | pages=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/140 140]–143| isbn=9780563384458 }} The show made a return in Christmas 2001 with the first of three new episodes which were shot together but ultimately broadcast over three consecutive Christmases from 2001 until 2003.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1479805.stm|title=Only Fools And Horses to return|publisher=BBC|date=6 August 2001|access-date=14 May 2012}} Despite rumours of further episodes,{{cite web

| url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000275/david_jason_only_fools_and_horses/

| title=David Jason suggests Only Fools and Horses could return

| work=British Comedy Guide| date=24 March 2010| access-date = 14 May 2012}} in a 2008 interview, Sullivan was quoted as saying: "There will not be another series of Only Fools And Horses. I can say that. We had our day, it was wonderful but it is best to leave it now".{{cite news|last=Lemanski|first=Dominik|url=http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/29097/DEL-BOY-IS-DEAD|title=Del Boy is Dead|publisher=Daily Star Sunday|date=10 February 2008|access-date=10 February 2008}} Though Sullivan died in 2011, it returned for a special Sport Relief episode in 2014.{{cite web|first=Heather|last=Saul|title=Del Boy and Rodney to return in Only Fools and Horses sketch|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/del-boy-and-rodney-to-return-in-only-fools-and-horses-sketch-9038677.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/del-boy-and-rodney-to-return-in-only-fools-and-horses-sketch-9038677.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The Independent|access-date=3 July 2017|date=4 January 2014}}

File:Only Fools Titles 2.jpg

From the second series, Only Fools and Horses has separate theme songs for the opening and closing credits: "Only Fools and Horses" and "Hooky Street", respectively.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/n97 2]| isbn=9780563384458 }} The series 1 theme tune was produced by Ronnie Hazlehurst and recorded on 6 August 1981 at Lime Grove Studios. Alf Bigden, Paul Westwood, Don Hunt, John Dean, Judd Proctor, Eddie Mordue and Rex Morris were hired to play the music. The tune was changed after the first series, and the new one was written by John Sullivan (he disliked the tune for the first series, and his new one explained the show's title{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/09_september/03/onlyfools_firstepisode.shtml|title=BBC ONE celebrates 21st birthday of Only Fools and Horses|publisher=BBC|date=3 September 2002|access-date=17 January 2007}}), and Hazlehurst conducted it. It was recorded at Lime Grove on 11 May 1982, with musicians John Horler, Dave Richmond, Bigden and Proctor. Sullivan had intended Chas & Dave to sing it because they had enjoyed success with the "Rockney" style, a mixture of rock n' roll and traditional Cockney music.{{cite news | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/rockney-geezers-a-kneesup-with-chas--dave-765966.html | title = Rockney geezers: A knees-up with Chas & Dave | date = 19 December 2007 | access-date = 15 March 2013 | work=The Independent |location=London}} Sullivan was persuaded to do it himself by Ray Butt.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | pages=193, 194}} Despite the creation of a new theme tune, the original one remained in occasional use. Chas & Dave did later contribute to the show, performing the closing credits song for the 1989 episode "The Jolly Boys' Outing".{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=112}} Both songs are performed by Sullivan himself, and not—as is sometimes thought—by Nicholas Lyndhurst.{{cite web|url=http://uktv.co.uk/gold/stepbystep/aid/592200/pageNo/4 |title=Trotter Trivia |work=UKTV Gold |access-date=5 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127090708/http://uktv.co.uk/gold/stepbystep/aid/592200/pageNo/4 |archive-date=27 November 2007 }}

The opening credits see images of the three principal actors peel on and off the screen sequentially. These appear over a background of still photographs of everyday life in London. The sequence was conceived by graphic designer Peter Clayton as a "metaphor for the vagaries of the Trotters' lifestyle", whereby money was earned and quickly lost again. Clayton had also considered using five-pound notes bearing Del's face. The action was shot manually frame by frame and took around six weeks to complete. Clayton knew that it was important to have the characters established in the titles and prepared a storyboard depicting his ideas using drawings. He photographed various locations with a photographer, and the titles were shot using a rostrum camera and not edited. Brian Stephens, a professional animator, was hired to create the labels' movement.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=202}}

Clayton returned to the show when the closing credits were changed for "Christmas Crackers". He re-cut the entire sequence and added Christmas items. Another change was made necessary by Lennard Pearce's death and Buster Merryfield joining the cast, so the pictures of David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst were updated too. The sequence was shot on motor drive.

The closing credits for the programme varied series by series. The first series used peeling labels featuring the names of the cast and crew, mirroring the opening sequence, but these had to be updated with every new episode, making the process very time-consuming; from the second series, the credits switched to a standard rolling format. The third series featured additional symbols. For the fourth series, these designs were replaced with white lettering on a black background. The fifth series had a black and white background, but the sixth series reverted to the black one. For the seventh series, the credits scrolled against a freeze frame of the final scene.

The original "Nelson Mandela House" in the titles was Harlech Tower, Park Road East, Acton, London. From 1988 onwards, Whitemead House, Duckmoor Road, Ashton in Bristol was used. The tower block is located behind Ashton Gate, the home ground of both Bristol City Football Club and the Bristol Bears, with some scenes filmed in the stadium's car park.{{cite book| last = Clark| first = Steve| title = The Only Fools and Horses Story| url = https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar| year = 1998| pages = [https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/52 52] | isbn = 9780563384458}}

{{Further|List of Only Fools and Horses episodes}}

Sixty-four episodes of Only Fools and Horses, all written by John Sullivan, were broadcast on BBC1 from 8 September 1981 until 25 December 2003.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | pages=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/146 146]–158| isbn=9780563384458 }}{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=5}} The show was aired in seven series (1981–1983, 1985–1986, 1989 and 1990–1991), and thereafter in sporadic Christmas special editions (1991–1993, 1996, 2001–2003). The episodes from the first five series (excluding Christmas specials) had a running time of 30 minutes, but from series 6 (1989), the running time of the series episodes was extended to 50 minutes.

Several mini-episodes were produced. An eight-minute episode aired on 27 December 1982 as part of a show hosted by Frank Muir, The Funny Side of Christmas, and attracted 7.2 million viewers. A five-minute spoof BBC documentary was shown on Breakfast Time on 24 December 1985, with Del being investigated by a BBC consumer expert.{{cite book|author=McCann| year=2012| title= The Story of Britain's Favourite Comedy| page=312}} An educational episode named "Licensed to Drill", in which Del, Rodney and Grandad discuss oil drilling, was recorded in 1984 but only shown in schools.{{cite web

| url= http://thenagshead.tripod.com/specials.htm

| title=Specials

| work=The Nag's Head | access-date = 13 September 2006}} A five-minute 1990–91 Persian Gulf War special (dated 1 December 1990) has Del, Rodney and Albert convey a message to British troops serving in the conflict. It has never been broadcast commercially, but a copy exists at the Imperial War Museum, London.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=95}} A Comic Relief special showing Del, Rodney and Albert making an appeal for donations was shown on 14 March 1997, with 10.6 million viewers.{{cite book|author=McCann| year=2012| title= The Story of Britain's Favourite Comedy| pages=312, 313}} A Sport Relief special was aired on 21 March 2014 which featured retired footballer David Beckham.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportrelief.com/latest/news/sport-relief-tv-revealed |title=Sport Relief TV revealed |work=Sport Relief |access-date=20 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124192832/http://www.sportrelief.com/latest/news/sport-relief-tv-revealed |archive-date=24 January 2014 }}

Only Fools and Horses had two producers: Ray Butt from 1981 to 1987,{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=45}} and Gareth Gwenlan thereafter.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=85}} Seven directors were used: Martin Shardlow directed all episodes in series one,{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=175}} Bernard Thompson directed the 1981 Christmas special,{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=195}} Susan Belbin series four,{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=32}} and Mandie Fletcher series five.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=74}} Butt directed series three and five, as well as the 1985, 1986 and 1987 Christmas specials. Tony Dow became the established director after 1988, directing all subsequent episodes, bar the first part of Miami Twice, which was directed by Gareth Gwenlan.For the full production team, see Webber (2003), p. 161 John Sullivan was executive producer on seven of the final eight episodes.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=187}}

A BBC documentary titled "The Story of Only Fools and Horses" aired in December 2002.{{cite web|title=The Story of Only Fools and Horses|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-p9g09v/the-story-of-only-fools-and-horses/|work=Radio Times|access-date=24 February 2022}} A six-part documentary series also titled "The Story of Only Fools and Horses", began on 29 August 2017 on Gold and finished on 3 October 2017. The series features rare and unseen footage from the archives and specially re-created moments from Del Boy's family and friends.{{cite news | url=http://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/gold-commissions-two-sir-david-jason-specials/| title=Gold commissions two Sir David Jason Specials | work=UKTV | access-date = 19 January 2017}} On 27 December 2020, a special called "We Love Only Fools and Horses" was broadcast on Channel 5 in which various fans, actors and crew recalled the story of the series and why the show is still popular.{{cite news|title=We Love Only Fools and Horses|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/western-mail/20201226/282982517578890|work=Western Mail|page=34|date=26 December 2020|access-date=24 February 2022|via=PressReader|url-access=subscription}}

First broadcast on 24 December 2023 and repeated on 11 December 2024, Channel 5 aired the 2023 Studio Crook Production "Only Fools and Horses: Greatest Christmas Moments" in which the cast and fans share their favourite scenes from the Christmas specials.{{cite web |title=Only Fools And Horses: Greatest Christmas Moments |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only-fools-and-horses-at-christmas/ |website=British Comedy Guide |access-date=10 December 2024}}{{cite web |title=Channel 5 |url=https://www.tvguide.co.uk/channel/channel-5?date=2024-12-08 |website=tvguide |publisher=Digitalbox Publishing Ltd |access-date=9 December 2024}}

{{Main|The Green Green Grass|Rock & Chips}}

A spin-off of Only Fools and Horses entitled The Green Green Grass, also written by John Sullivan and directed by Tony Dow, was first aired in the UK in September 2005.{{cite web

| url=http://www.sitcom.co.uk/green_grass/series1.shtml

| title=The Green Green Grass Series 1

| work=The British Sitcom Guide

| access-date = 29 January 2007}} Sullivan had considered writing a sitcom around the popular characters of Boycie and Marlene (John Challis and Sue Holderness) since the mid-1980s, but it was not until Only Fools And Horses ended that the idea came to fruition. The Green Green Grass saw Boycie and Marlene forced to leave Peckham by one-time Only Fools and Horses villains, the Driscoll Brothers, and included guest appearances by Denzil (Paul Barber) and Sid (Roy Heather). A second series of The Green Green Grass was broadcast in the UK in October 2006,{{cite web | url=http://www.sitcom.co.uk/green_grass/series2.shtml | title=The Green Green Grass Series 2

| work=The British Sitcom Guide | access-date = 29 January 2007}} a third in November 2007{{cite web | url=http://www.sitcom.co.uk/green_grass/series3.shtml | title=The Green Green Grass Series 3

| work=The British Sitcom Guide | access-date = 29 April 2008}} and a fourth in January 2009.{{cite web | url=http://www.comedy.org.uk/guide/tv/the_green_green_grass/episodes/4/ | title=The Green Green Grass Series 4

| work=The British Sitcom Guide | access-date = 10 June 2009}}

In 2003, it was reported that Sullivan was developing a prequel to the original series, Once Upon a Time in Peckham, which would feature Del as a youngster in the 1960s and have a prominent role for his parents.{{cite news

| date=6 September 2003

| url=http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/indepth.asp?pt=e&id=5438

| title='Fools and Horses' to get 60s spin-off

| publisher=UK TV

| access-date=4 July 2017

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203055454/http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/indepth.asp?pt=e&id=5438

|archive-date=3 February 2008}} In 2009, it was again reported that the BBC were considering commissioning the show, although nothing was confirmed.{{cite news

| date=11 January 2009

| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/lovely-jubbly-del-boys-back-ndash-as-a-teenager-1299676.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/lovely-jubbly-del-boys-back-ndash-as-a-teenager-1299676.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live

| title=Lovely jubbly! Del Boy's back – as a teenager

| newspaper=The Independent

| access-date=23 March 2009

| location=London | first=Andrew | last=Johnson}} On 5 April 2009, Sullivan said that he was planning a prequel to Only Fools and Horses which would star Nicholas Lyndhurst as Freddie "The Frog" Robdal, a local criminal and Rodney's biological father; Robdal was the focus of the episode "The Frog's Legacy".{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a151880/only-fools-and-horses-prequel-planned.html?rss |title=Television – News – 'Only Fools and Horses' prequel planned |publisher=Digital Spy |access-date=6 April 2009|first=Sarah|last=Rollo|date=6 April 2009}}

On 3 July 2009, the BBC revealed that the title of the spin-off would be Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Chips, and would be a 90-minute comedy drama.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/07_july/03/chips.shtml |title=Press Office – BBC One brings back the Trotters in Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Chips |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 July 2009}} The title was subsequently changed to Rock & Chips.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2010/wk4/sun.shtml#sun_rock |title=Press Office – Network TV Programme Information BBC Week 4 Sunday 24 January 2010 |publisher=BBC |access-date=22 March 2012}} Filming began in August 2009, and it was shown on BBC One at 9pm on 24 January 2010.{{cite web|last=Parker |first=Robin |url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/commissioning/trotters-to-return-in-only-fools-and-horses-prequel/5003174.article?referrer=RSS |title=Trotters to return in Only Fools and Horses prequel |publisher=Broadcastnow.co.uk |access-date=3 July 2009|date=3 July 2009}}{{subscription required}} In October 2009 it was confirmed that Lyndhurst would star as Robdal. The Inbetweeners and Off The Hook actor James Buckley played the role of the young Del Boy.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8290293.stm | work=BBC News | title=Lyndhurst returns as Rodney's dad | date=5 October 2009 | access-date=28 March 2010}}

The show has been released on VHS, DVD and audio CD in several guises. A DVD collection containing every episode was issued, along with various other special-edition box sets, such as a tin based on their Reliant Regal. Videos and DVDs of Only Fools and Horses continue to be among the BBC's biggest-selling items, having sold over 1 million VHS copies and 6 million DVD copies in the UK.{{cite news

| date=7 October 2003

| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2003/10_october/ofah_strangers.shtml

| title=Only Fools and Horses – Strangers on the Shore

| access-date=30 December 2006

}}{{cite news

| date=1 November 2003

| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2004/11_november/ofah.shtml

| title=Only Fools And Horses Lvly Jbly with 'text' generation

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

}}

The series made its debut on Blu-ray on 6 December 2021, with a three-disc set entitled Only Fools and Horses: The 80s Specials. It featured the five feature-length Christmas specials broadcast from 1985 to 1989, restored and remastered in high-definition. For the restoration process, the original 16 mm film elements were cleaned and rescanned, while the standard-definition videotape elements were "digitally reprocessed" and upscaled to HD.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-24|title=Only Fools & Horses on Blu-ray: how much will actually be HD?|url=https://conversation.which.co.uk/technology/only-fools-horses-blu-ray-restoration-high-definition-video/|access-date=2021-12-12|website=Which? Conversation|language=en-GB}} On the set, the episode "A Royal Flush" is featured both in its original and "writer's cut" versions; "The Jolly Boys' Outing" is fully uncut; and various photo galleries, a booklet and artcards are also included.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbcstudios.com/news/lovely-jubbly-only-fools-and-horses-the-80s-specials-on-blu-ray-for-the-first-time-ever/|title= Lovely jubbly! Only Fools and Horses: The 80s Specials on Blu-ray for the first time ever|date=1 November 2021|website=bbcstudios.com|accessdate=23 November 2021}}

It entered and peaked at #10 on the UK Official Blu-ray Chart the week ending 18 December 2021.{{cite web|url= https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/blu-ray-chart/20211212/252/|title=Official Blu-ray Chart Top 100|website=Official Charts |accessdate=8 March 2022}}

All seven series and the Christmas specials have been released on DVD in both individual and complete sets. The first three series each contained their Christmas specials from 1981, 1982 and 1983. The specials were omitted from all subsequent series sets but were instead released separately and not in chronological order. In addition, the documentary The Story of Only Fools and Horses was released in 2003.{{cite web| title=The Story of Only Fools and Horses [DVD]| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Only-Fools-Horses-DVD/dp/B00008N703/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3QCDJINLFRAKJ&keywords=the+only+fools+and+horses+story+dvd&qid=1688232489&sprefix=the+only+fools+and+horses+story+dvd%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1| website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

• 6 episodes
• & 1981 Christmas special
• 1 disc
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: PG
• ACB: PG
• No special features

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Series 1| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/566/the_complete_series_1/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}{{cite web| title=Only Fools and Horses Series 1| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/only-fools-and-horses/dvd/9397810082090.html| website=Booktopia| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Complete Series 2

| 29 March 2001

| 3 May 2004

|

{{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 7 episodes
• & 1982 Christmas special
• 1 disc
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: PG
• ACB: M
• No special features

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools and Horses - The Complete Series 2 [1982] [DVD]| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-Fools-Horses-Complete-DVD/dp/B000059YVT/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1963BOKMF6EB5&keywords=only+fools+and+horses+series+2+dvd&qid=1688227902&sprefix=only+fools+and+horses+series+2+dvd%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1| website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}{{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses Series 2| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/only-fools-and-horses/dvd/9397810082199.html| website=Booktopia| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Complete Series 3

| 4 June 2001

| 5 May 2005

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 7 episodes
• & 1983 Christmas special
• 1 disc
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: PG
• ACB: PG
• No special features

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Series 3| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1733/the_complete_series_3/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}{{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses Series 3| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/only-fools-and-horses/dvd/9397810094796.html| website=Booktopia| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Complete Series 4

| 1 October 2001

| 5 May 2005

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 7 episodes
• 1 disc
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: PG
• ACB: PG
• No special features

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Series 4| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1880/the_complete_series_4_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}{{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses Series 4| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/only-fools-and-horses/dvd/9397810094895.html| website=Booktopia| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Complete Series 5

| 30 September 2002

| 4 August 2005

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 6 episodes
• 1 disc
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: PG
• ACB: PG
• No special features

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Series 5| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1881/the_complete_series_5_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}{{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses Series 5| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/only-fools-and-horses/dvd/9397810099296.html| website=Booktopia| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Complete Series 6

| 22 September 2003

| 4 August 2005

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 6 episodes
• 2 disc
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: PG
• ACB: PG
• No special features

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Series 6| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1882/the_complete_series_6_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}{{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses Series 6| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/only-fools-and-horses/dvd/9397810099395.html| website=Booktopia| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Complete Series 7

| 6 September 2004

| 4 May 2006

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 6 episodes
• 2 disc
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: PG
• ACB: PG
• No special features

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Series 7| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1883/the_complete_series_7_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}{{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses Series 7| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/only-fools-and-horses/dvd/9397810110793.html| website=Booktopia| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Complete Series 1–7

| 15 November 2004

| {{N/a}}

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 45 episodes
• & 1981, 1982 and 1983 Christmas specials
• 9 disc
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: PG
• No special features

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Series 1-7| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1900/the_complete_series_17/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Complete Collection

| 16 October 2006

| 20 November 2019

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 64 episodes (including all Christmas specials)
• 26 discs (Region 2)
• 18 discs (Region 4)
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: 12
• ACB: M

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Collection| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/139/the_complete_collection/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}{{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses The Complete Collection| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/only-fools-and-horses/dvd/9317731156755.html| website=Booktopia| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Complete Series 1–7 {{small|(slimline reissue)}}

| 27 September 2010

| {{N/a}}

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 45 episodes
• & 1981, 1982 and 1983 Christmas specials
• 9 disc
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: PG
• No special features

}}

|

|-

| The Complete Collection {{small|(first reissue)}}

| 5 September 2011

| {{N/a}}

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• Repackaged version of original complete collection set
• 64 episodes (including all Christmas specials)
• 26 discs
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: 12

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools and Horses: The Complete Collection| url=https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/only-fools-and-horses-the-complete-col-dvd-dvd| website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Complete Collection {{small|(second reissue)}}

| 23 October 2017

| {{N/a}}

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• Slimline version of first reissued complete collection set
• 64 episodes (including all Christmas specials)
• 19 discs
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: 12

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools & Horses - The Complete Collection [DVD] [2017]| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-Fools-Horses-Complete-Collection/dp/B07CXGKZDY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=11U8085WBXZMW&keywords=only+fools+and+horses+the+complete+collection+dvd&qid=1688236710&sprefix=only+fools+and+horses+the+complete+collection+dvd%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-1| website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

! colspan="5"|Specials

|-

| The Jolly Boys' Outing

| 6 November 2000

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Jolly Boys' Outing| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1888/the_jolly_boys_outing_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Frog's Legacy

| 20 November 2000

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Frog's Legacy| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1886/the_frogs_legacy/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| To Hull and Back

| 12 November 2001

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - To Hull And Back| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1884/to_hull_and_back/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| Dates

| 6 May 2002

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - Dates| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1887/dates/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| If They Could See Us Now!

| 11 November 2002

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - If They Could See Us Now!| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1897/if_they_could_see_us_now_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| Miami Twice

| 19 May 2003

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - Miami Twice| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1890/miami_twice_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| Strangers on the Shore

| 17 November 2003

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - Strangers On The Shore| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1898/strangers_on_the_shore_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| Heroes and Villains

| 9 February 2004

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - Heroes And Villains| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1893/heroes_and_villains_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| Modern Men

| 9 February 2004

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - Modern Men| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1894/modern_men_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| Time on Our Hands

| 9 February 2004

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - Time On Our Hands| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1895/time_on_our_hands_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Christmas Trilogy

| 9 February 2004

| 3 October 2007

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 3 episodes: "Heroes and Villains", "Modern Men" and "Time on Our Hands"
• 3 discs
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: PG
• ACB: PG

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Christmas Trilogy| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1896/the_christmas_trilogy_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}{{cite web| title=Only Fools and Horses - The Christmas Trilogy [3 Discs] [Region Free]| url=https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Only-Fools-and-Horses-Christmas-Trilogy/9397810138490| website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=3 July 2023}}

|-

| Mother Nature's Son

| 24 May 2004

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - Mother Nature's Son| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1896/the_christmas_trilogy_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| Fatal Extraction

| 12 July 2004

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - Fatal Extraction| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1892/fatal_extraction_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| Sleepless in Peckham

| 4 October 2004

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - Sleepless In Peckham| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1899/sleepless_in_peckham_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The Christmas Specials

| 15 November 2004

| {{N/a}}

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 3 episodes: "If They Could See Us Now!", "Strangers on the Shore" and "Sleepless in Peckham"
• 3 discs
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: 12

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The Christmas Specials| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1901/the_christmas_specials_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| Rodney Come Home

| 14 February 2005

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - Rodney Come Home| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1889/rodney_come_home_dvd/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| A Royal Flush

| 9 May 2005

| {{N/a}}

|

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - A Royal Flush| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/1885/a_royal_flush/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|-

| The 80s Specials {{small|(Blu-ray)}}

| 22 November 2021

| {{N/a}}

| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

• 5 episodes: "To Hull and Back", "A Royal Flush", "The Frog's Legacy", "Dates" and "The Jolly Boys' Outing"
• 3 discs
• Subtitles: English SDH
• BBFC: PG
• Special features: collector's booklet, five exclusive art cards, behind-the-scenes photo galleries, original and writer's cut version of "A Royal Flush" and fully restored version of "The Jolly Boys' Outing

}}

| {{cite web| title=Only Fools And Horses - The 80s Specials| url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/only_fools_and_horses/shop/7351/the-80s-specials-blu-ray/| website=comedy.co.uk| access-date=1 July 2023}}

|}

A number of episodes were re-edited for audio purposes and released on either audio cassette or CD.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=28}} In total, there were five CDs released, with the first one being released on both CD and cassette.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/9450121-Only-Fools-And-Horses-2|title=Only Fools And Horses (2)|website=Discogs}}

An album was released in 2002. Only Fools and Horses: The Album featured songs used in the show, as well as John Sullivan performing the theme tune and Hookie Street.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/9823103-Various-Only-Fools-and-Horses-The-Album|title=Various - Only Fools and Horses: The Album|date=26 June 2002|via=discogs.com}} Apart from the physical CD release, the album has never been available digitally, meaning that the theme tune has never appeared on streaming or download services as of 2023. A single was released to support the album, which sampled the show's theme tune, titled Delboy's Tune.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/master/546911-Ginja-Featuring-Lee-O-Del-Boys-Tune|title=Ginja Featuring Lee-O - Del Boy's Tune|date=26 June 2002|via=discogs.com}} The music video features John Challis as Boycie and Patrick Murray as Mickey Pearce.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFL29atiHUA|title=Ginja Ft LeeO - Delboys tune|date=21 October 2007 |via=youtube.com}}

Before Euro 2004, an unofficial England song was released by Undercover. The track, titled Viva England!, sampled both the opening theme from Only Fools and Horses and Hookie Street—used with John Sullivan's blessing—and reached number 49 in the charts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/27974/undercover/|title=UNDERCOVER | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=officialcharts.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/7287853-Undercover-Viva-England|title=Undercover - Viva England!|date=26 June 2004|via=discogs.com}}

A four-minute show named "Royal Variety Performance" was shown on 27 November 1988 (viewed by 18.14 million people) and had Del, Rodney, and Albert appear on the Royal Variety Show. It was staged on 24 November 1986, and the plot saw David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst and Buster Merryfield appear on stage in character, thinking that they are delivering boxes of alcohol to an associate of Del's, only later realising where they actually are.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | pages=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/118 118], 119| isbn=9780563384458 }} They also mistake the Duchess of York for Del's associate.{{cite book|author=McCann| year=2012| title= The Story of Britain's Favourite Comedy| page=190}}

An idea of an Only Fools and Horses stage show was mooted by Ray Butt, following the success of other sitcom crossovers such as Dad's Army and Are You Being Served?. Sullivan was not keen, owing to his work on Just Good Friends as well as Only Fools and Horses, and inexperience with the theatre, so nothing came of it.

{{Main|Only Fools and Horses The Musical}}

In July 2018, John Sullivan's son, Jim Sullivan, announced that an Only Fools and Horses musical was nearing completion, with a script by Jim Sullivan and Paul Whitehouse. Jim Sullivan said, "Back in 2010 my Dad had been toying with the possibility of a stage show but sadly didn't get the chance to commit to it. In 2015 we met with the producer, Phil McIntyre, and agreed to develop the idea. Soon after that, Paul Whitehouse came on board and things have been bubbling away ever since. I am very pleased and excited to say that the show will be launching early next year." The musical launched on 9 February 2019 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London.

Only Fools and Horses spawned many merchandising spin-offs. Several books have been published, such as "The Only Fools and Horses Story" by Steve Clark{{cite web|author1=Steve Clark|title=A tribute to Only Fools and Horses producer Gareth Gwenlan|url=http://www.steveclark.co.uk/category/only-fools-and-horses/|website=Steve Clark|access-date=18 July 2017}} and "The Complete A-Z of Only Fools and Horses" by Richard Webber,{{cite web|title=Richard Webber|url=http://www.hilaryjohnson.com/richard-webber/|website=Hilary Johnson Authors' Advisory Service|access-date=18 July 2017}} both of which detail the history of the series. The scripts have been published in a three-volume compendium, "The Bible of Peckham".{{cite web|title=John Sullivan|url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/john-sullivan/1051056/|website=Penguin Books Limited|access-date=18 July 2017}}

In October 2015, He Who Dares..., a fictional autobiography, was published by Ebury Press. The book was written by John Sullivan's son, Jim Sullivan.{{cite web|last=Rigby|first=Sam|title=Del Boy is releasing his autobiography He Who Dares in October|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/comedy/news/a649734/del-boy-is-releasing-his-autobiography-he-who-dares-in-october/|website=Digital Spy|access-date=3 July 2017|date=28 May 2015}}{{Cite book|title=He Who Dares|url=https://archive.org/details/hewhodares0000trot|first=Derek 'Del Boy'|last=Trotter|date=8 October 2015|publisher=Ebury Press|id= {{ASIN|0091960037|country=uk}}}}

In August 2017, Only Fools and Horses: The Peckham Archives, was published by Ebury Press. The book was written by Rod Green, with the help of Jim Sullivan.{{cite web | url=http://shazamproductions.co.uk/the-peckham-archives-are-published/ | title=The Peckham Archives are Published| date=5 August 2017}}

In November 2018, You Know It Makes Sense, Lessons From The Derek Trotter School of Business (And Life), was published by Ebury Press. The book was written by John Sullivan's son, Jim Sullivan.{{cite web | url=http://shazamproductions.co.uk/derek-del-boy-trotter-has-only-gone-and-signed-another-book-deal/ | title=Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter has only gone and signed another book deal| date=13 July 2018}}

Two board games based on the show were released: a Monopoly-style game, the "Trotters Trading Game", in which participants attempt to emulate the Trotters and become millionaires,{{cite web|title=Only Fools and Horses Trotters Trading Game (1990)|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/140665/only-fools-and-horses-trotters-trading-game|website=BoardGameGeek|access-date=3 July 2017}} and another game set in their local pub, entitled the "Nag's Head Board Game".{{cite web|title=The Nags Head Board Game (Only Fools and Horses) (2004)|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16958/nags-head-board-game-only-fools-and-horses|website=BoardGameGeek|access-date=3 July 2017}}

A CD-ROM was released in August 2000 by BBC Multimedia. It featured a calendar, a calculator, a pub quiz, numerous clips from the show and a driving game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2fEX0oFWho|title=Only Fools And Horses - the Multimedia Experience.|date=9 February 2021 |via=youtube.com}}

An app was released for mobile phones in 2010. The Only Fools & Horses Plonker Test app included a quiz, mini-games and audio clips from the show. It has since been discontinued.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ofah.net/blog/win-only-fools-horses-plonker-test/|title=WIN 15 Only Fools & Horses Plonker Test|website=ofah.net}}

{{See also|List of awards and nominations received by Only Fools and Horses}}

File:Onlyfools del fall.png" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63rcdLeXiU8 BBC video clip]) is one of the show's best-known moments.]]

Only Fools and Horses is one of the UK's most popular sitcoms. It was among the ten most-watched television shows of the year in the UK in 1986,{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=1986&view=top10 |title=1986 |work=Barb.co.uk |access-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622023256/http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=1986&view=top10 |archive-date=22 June 2011 }} 1989,{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=1989&view=top10 |title=1989 |work=Barb.co.uk |access-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312095427/http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981/?year=1989&view=top10 |archive-date=12 March 2012 }} 1990,{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=1990&view=top10 |title=1990 |work=Barb.co.uk |access-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622023437/http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=1990&view=top10 |archive-date=22 June 2011 }} 1991,{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=1991&view=top10 |title=1991 |work=Barb.co.uk |access-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312095608/http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981/?year=1991&view=top10 |archive-date=12 March 2012 }} 1992,{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=1992&view=top10 |title=1992 |work=Barb.co.uk |access-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811001239/http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=1992&view=top10 |archive-date=11 August 2011 }} 1993,{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=1993&view=top10 |title=1993 |work=Barb.co.uk |access-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312095809/http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981/?year=1993&view=top10 |archive-date=12 March 2012 }} 1996,{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=1996&view=top10 |title=1996 |work=Barb.co.uk |access-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622023343/http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=1996&view=top10 |archive-date=22 June 2011 }} 2001,{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=2001&view=top10 |title=2001 |work=Barb.co.uk |access-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622023431/http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=2001&view=top10 |archive-date=22 June 2011 }} 2002{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=2002&view=top10 |title=2002 |work=Barb.co.uk |access-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312095840/http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981/?year=2002&view=top10 |archive-date=12 March 2012 }} and 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=2003&view=top10 |title=2003 |work=Barb.co.uk |access-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810145505/http://www.barb.co.uk/facts/since1981?year=2003&view=top10 |archive-date=10 August 2011 }} The 1996 Christmas trilogy of "Heroes and Villains", "Modern Men" and "Time on Our Hands" saw the show's peak. Twenty-one-point-three million viewers watched the first two installments{{cite web

| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/christmas/1996_1.shtml

| title=Heroes and Villains

| work=BBC | access-date = 29 December 2006}}{{cite web

| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/christmas/1996_2.shtml

| title=Modern Men

| work=BBC | access-date = 29 December 2006}} while the third (said to be the show's final episode at the time of broadcast) attracted 24.3 million,{{cite web

| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/christmas/1996_3.shtml

| title=Time On Our Hands

| work=BBC | access-date = 29 December 2006}} a record audience for a British sitcom.{{cite web|last=Desborough|first=James|title=Only Fools gold: When Del Boy and Rodney finally became 'million-nares' at last|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/only-fools-gold-del-boy-9528919|website=Mirror Online|access-date=3 July 2017|date=31 March 2017}} Repeat episodes also attract millions of viewers,{{cite news

| date=29 August 2005

| title=Only a fool would drop repeats of best shows, BBC is told

| url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/only-a-fool-would-drop-repeats-of-best-shows-bbc-is-told-mvvs2zk2x78

| work=The Times

| access-date=18 January 2025}} and the BBC has received criticism for repeating the show too often.{{cite news

| date=5 March 2005

| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/03/05/ndel05.xml

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203075220/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/03/05/ndel05.xml

| url-status=dead

| archive-date=3 February 2008

| title=David Jason calls for less of Del Boy

| newspaper=The Daily Telegraph

| access-date=30 December 2006

| location=London

| first=Charles

| last=Moore}}{{cite news

|date = 13 July 2004

|title = BBC told to cut repeats

|url = http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-11928858-bbc-told-to-cut-repeats.do

|publisher = ThisIsLondon

|access-date = 23 March 2011

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110311091633/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-11928858-bbc-told-to-cut-repeats.do

|archive-date = 11 March 2011

|df = dmy-all

}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/7019750/Censor-Del-Boy-for-being-racist-Dont-be-a-plonker.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/7019750/Censor-Del-Boy-for-being-racist-Dont-be-a-plonker.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=Censor del Boy for being racist? Don't be a plonker |work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}

Only Fools and Horses won the BAFTA award for best comedy series in 1985,{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1985&category=Television&award=Comedy+Series| title=Comedy Series 1985| work=Bafta.org | access-date=15 January 2012}} 1988{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1988&category=Television&award=Comedy+Series| title=Comedy Series 1988| work=Bafta.org | access-date=15 January 2012}} and 1996,{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1996&category=Television&award=Best+Comedy+%28Programme+or+Series%29| title=Comedy Series 1996| work=Bafta.org | access-date=15 January 2012}} was nominated in 1983,{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1983&category=Television&award=Comedy+Series| title=Comedy Series 1983| work=Bafta.org | access-date=15 January 2012}} 1986,{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1986&category=Television&award=Comedy+Series| title=Comedy Series 1986| work=Bafta.org | access-date=15 January 2012}} 1989,{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1989&category=Television&award=Best+Comedy+Series| title=Comedy Series 1989| work=Bafta.org | access-date=15 January 2012}} 1990{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1990&category=Television&award=Best+Comedy+Series| title=Comedy Series 1990| work=Bafta.org | access-date=15 January 2012}} and 1991,{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1991&category=Television&award=Best+Comedy+%28Programme+or+Series%29| title=Comedy Series 1991| work=Bafta.org | access-date=15 January 2012}} and won the audience award in 2004. David Jason received individual BAFTAs for his portrayal of Del Boy in 1990{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1990&category=Television&award=Best+Light+Entertainment+Performance| title=Best Light Entertainment Performance 1990| work=Bafta.org | access-date=15 January 2012}} and 1996.{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1996&category=Television&award=Best+Comedy+Performance| title=Best Comedy Performance 1996| work=Bafta.org | access-date=15 January 2012}} The series won a National Television Award in 1997 for most popular comedy series;{{cite web | url=http://www.nationaltvawards.com/winners| title=Roll call of NTA winners| work=National Television Awards| access-date=16 January 2012}} Jason won two individual awards, in 1997 and 2002. At the British Comedy Awards, the show was named best BBC sitcom for 1990,{{cite web | url=http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/1990.aspx| title=Past Winners 1990| work=British Comedy Awards| access-date=16 January 2012}} and received the People's Choice award in 1997.{{cite web | url=http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/1997.aspx| title=Past Winners 1997| work=British Comedy Awards| access-date=16 January 2012}} It also won the Royal Television Society best comedy award in 1997 and two Television and Radio Industries Club Awards for comedy programme of the year, in 1984 and 1997.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/26 26]| isbn=9780563384458 }} John Sullivan received the Writers' Guild of Great Britain comedy award in 1997.{{cite web|last=Hayward|first=Anthony|title=John Sullivan: Writer who created the classic sitcom 'Only Fools and Horses', as well as 'Citizen Smith' and 'Just Good Friends'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-sullivan-writer-who-created-the-classic-sitcom-only-fools-and-horses-as-well-as-citizen-smith-2274354.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-sullivan-writer-who-created-the-classic-sitcom-only-fools-and-horses-as-well-as-citizen-smith-2274354.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The Independent|access-date=3 July 2017|date=24 April 2011}}

The show regularly features in polls to find the most popular comedy series, moments and characters. It was voted Britain's best sitcom in a 2004 BBC poll,{{cite news | url=http://www.bbcattic.org/sitcom/ | title=Britain's Best Sitcom | work=BBC | access-date=13 September 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707040750/http://bbcattic.org/sitcom/ | archive-date=7 July 2017 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }} and came 45th in the British Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes.{{cite web

| url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/tv/100/list/list.php

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051130005501/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/tv/100/list/list.php

| url-status=dead

| archive-date=30 November 2005

| title=BFI TV100

| work=BFI | access-date = 14 September 2006}} It was third on a subsequent viewers' poll on the BFI website.{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/tv/100/poll/ |title=Your favourite programme: poll results |work=BFI |access-date=13 September 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827155709/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/tv/100/poll/ |archive-date=27 August 2006 }} Empire magazine ranked Only Fools and Horses #42 on their list of the 50 greatest television shows of all time.{{cite web

| url=http://www.empireonline.com/50greatesttv/default.asp?tv=42

| title=The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time

| work=Empire magazine | access-date = 31 July 2008| date=15 June 2016

}} It was also named the funniest British sitcom of all time through a scientific formula, in a study by Gold.{{cite news

| date=6 June 2005

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4613457.stm

| title=Fools tops 'sitcom formula' test

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

}} Scenes such as Del Boy's fall through a bar flap in "Yuppy Love" and the Trotters accidentally smashing a priceless chandelier in "A Touch of Glass" are recognisable comedy moments, invariably topping polls of comedy viewers.{{cite news

|url = http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_871624.html?menu=

|title = Del Boy's wine bar fall is favourite television pub scene

|publisher = Ananova

|access-date = 30 December 2006

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927193436/http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_871624.html?menu=

|archive-date = 27 September 2007

|df = dmy-all

}}{{cite news

| date=13 August 2000

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/878457.stm

| title=Comedy greats

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

}}{{cite news

| date=7 December 2001

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1697048.stm

| title=Del tops Christmas TV poll

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

}}{{cite news

| date=28 August 1999

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/08/99/edinburgh_festival_99/432123.stm

| title=Del Boy rivals moon landing for top TV

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

}} Del Boy was voted the most popular British TV character of all time in a survey by Open....{{cite news

| date=19 April 2000

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/719488.stm

| title=Del Boy tops popularity poll

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

}} and in a 2001 Channel 4 poll he ranked fourth on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/tv_characters/results.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531160558/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/tv_characters/results.html |archive-date=31 May 2009 |title=100 Greatest TV Characters |access-date=26 May 2019 |publisher=Channel 4}}{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/tv_characters/results.html |title=100 Greatest TV Characters |work=Channel 4 |access-date=13 September 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829214334/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/tv_characters/results.html |archive-date=29 August 2006 }} A Onepoll survey found that Only Fools and Horses was the television series Britons would most like to see return.{{cite news

| date=11 January 2008

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7184075.stm

| title=Britons 'want Del Boy TV return'

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=24 April 2008

}}

File:Trotters.jpg]]

File:Only Fools And Horses Graffiti in Rijeka 2.jpg supporters paraphrasing Del: "This Time Next Year We'll Be Champions!"]]

In addition to its mainstream popularity, Only Fools and Horses has developed a cult following. The Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society, established in 1993, has a membership of around 7,000,{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=148}} published 45 issues of a quarterly newsletter, Hookie Street, and organises annual conventions of fans, often attended by cast members. The Society has also organised an Only Fools and Horses museum, containing props from the series, including Del's camel coat and the Trotters' Ford Capri.{{cite news

| date=19 July 2001

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/1447335.stm

| title=Del Boy museum planned

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

}} It was named one of the top 20 cult television programmes of all time by TV critic Jeff Evans. Evans spoke of:

{{Blockquote|[shows] such as Only Fools and Horses, which gets tremendous viewing figures but does inspire conventions of fans who meet in pubs called the Nag's Head and wander round dressed as their favourite characters{{cite news

| date=7 August 2001

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1477234.stm

| title=Doctor Who named cult favourite

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

}}}}

Only Fools and Horses—and consequently John Sullivan—is credited with the popularisation in Britain of several words and phrases used by Del Boy, particularly "Plonker", meaning a fool or an idiot, and two expressions of delight or approval: "Cushty" (from the Roma word for "good"){{cite news

| date=29 July 2001

| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/screen/story/0,,529158,00.html

| title=Del's back: you'd be a plonker to miss it

| work=The Observer

| access-date=30 December 2006

| author=Vanessa Thorpe | location=London}} and "Lovely jubbly". The latter was borrowed from an advertising slogan for a popular 1960s orange juice drink, called Jubbly, which was packaged in a pyramid-shaped, waxed-paper carton. Sullivan remembered it and thought it was an expression Del Boy would use; in 2003, the phrase was incorporated into the new Oxford English Dictionary.{{cite news

| date=20 August 2003

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3166815.stm

| title=TV provides new dictionary entries

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

}}

Owing to its exposure on Only Fools and Horses, the Reliant Regal van is often linked with the show in the British media.{{cite news |last=Wollaston |first=Sam |date=27 August 1999 |title=Reliant Robin reborn |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/aug/27/samwollaston |access-date=29 November 2023}}{{cite news|date=21 July 2001 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2001/07/24/emnrob21.xml |title='Axed' Reliant Robin is given a second wind |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=30 December 2006 |location=London |first=Charles |last=Moore |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013220749/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fmotoring%2F2001%2F07%2F24%2Femnrob21.xml |archive-date=13 October 2007 }}{{cite news

| date=27 September 2000

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/945083.stm

| title=End of the road for Reliant Robin

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

}} The one used by the Trotters has attained cult status and is currently on display at the Cars of the Stars exhibition at the National Motor Museum, alongside many other vehicles from British and American television and movies, such as the Batmobile and the DeLorean from Back to the Future.{{cite web

| url=http://www.carsofthestars.com/

| title=Cars of the Stars

| work=carsofthestars.com | access-date = 17 September 2006}} Boxer Ricky Hatton, a fan of the show, purchased one of the original vans in 2004.{{cite news

| date=29 September 2004

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/3700220.stm

| title=Ricky's one Del of a fighter

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

| author=Chris Charles}} Another of the vans used in the series was sold at auction in the UK for £44,000 in February 2007.{{cite news

| date=27 February 2007

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6402669.stm

| title=Del Boy's Reliant makes a killing

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=28 February 2007

}}

During the media frenzy surrounding The Independent{{'}}s revelations that the new bottled water Dasani, marketed by Coca-Cola, was in fact just purified tap water from Sidcup, mocking parallels were made with the Only Fools and Horses episode, "Mother Nature's Son", in which Del sells tap water as "Peckham Spring".{{cite news

| date=16 June 2004

| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3809539.stm

| title=Coke's water bomb

| publisher=BBC

| access-date=30 December 2006

| author=Bill Garrett}}

Rose Tyler's father Pete Tyler is referred to as "a bit of a Del Boy" in the 2005 Doctor Who episode "Father's Day".{{cite web|title=108. Father's Day|url=http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/episodes/series-1-2005/108-fathers-day|website=Doctor Who TV|access-date=4 July 2017|date=21 September 2009}}

In the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, the Trotters' yellow Reliant van appeared on stage, along with Del Boy and Rodney body doubles dressed as Batman and Robin, a reference to the Only Fools and Horses episode "Heroes and Villains".{{cite web|last=Wiggins|first=Dan|title=The time Only Fools and Horses' Del Boy and Rodney featured in the Olympics|url=https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/whats-on-news/time-only-fools-horses-del-20981338|publisher=MyLondon|date=7 July 2021|access-date=23 February 2022}}

Only Fools and Horses was sold to countries throughout the world. Australia, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Malta, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Yugoslavia are among those who purchased it.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/25 25]| isbn=9780563384458 }} In all former Yugoslav countries in which Serbian or Croatian is spoken the title was Mućke (or Мућке in Cyrillic script), which can roughly be translated as "shady deals". This translation was also used in Macedonia, where the show was titled Spletki (Сплетки in Cyrillic). In Slovenia, however, the show was titled Samo bedaki in konji, which is a literal Slovenian translation of the original English title. The show has enjoyed particular popularity in Serbia and Croatia where it has achieved cult status.{{cite news | date=25 January 2010 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/jan/25/only-fools-and-horses-serbia | title=Only Fools and Horses: a 'triffic' hit in Serbia | access-date=11 March 2013 | work=The Guardian | location=London}} In Hungary, the first three series were on air on Danube TV channel with title: Csak kötözött bolondoknak.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

A number of overseas re-makes have also been produced. A Dutch version aired for one series in 1995, entitled Wat schuift 't? ("What's it good for?"). The Trotters were renamed the Aarsmans and it starred Johnny Kraaykamp jnr. as Stef (Del), Sacco Van der Made as Grandad and Kasper van Kooten as Robbie (Rodney), and was shown on RTL 4.{{cite book | author=Webber | year=2003 | title=A-Z of Only Fools and Horses | page=234}} A Portuguese re-make, O Fura-Vidas, a local expression for someone who lives outside the law, ran for three series from 1999 to 2001. It was a literal translation of the British version, with all episodes based on the originals. It centred on the Fintas family, who live in Sapadores, a neighbourhood in Lisbon, and starred Miguel Guilherme as Quim (Del), Canto e Castro as Grandad, and Ivo Canelas as Joca (Rodney). In this Portuguese version the Reliant's equivalent was a 1988 Suzuki Super Carry.For more details of O Fura-Vidas, see {{cite web | url=http://www.waitenet.co.uk/

| title=Chris' fools and horses page

| work=waitenet.co.uk | access-date = 17 September 2006}} A Slovenian re-make, called Brat bratu (Brother to Brother), was broadcast from 2008 to 2009. All episodes were based on the original British storylines, and it was made in co-operation with John Sullivan. It featured brothers Brane (Brane Šturbej) and Bine (Jure Drevenšek), who moved from Maribor to Ljubljana. The series also stars Peter Ternovšek as Grandad. It was directed by Branko Đurić. The series was cancelled after thirteen episodes due to poor ratings.{{cite news

| date=19 August 2008

| url=http://www.rtvslo.si/kultura/film/durov-humor-se-zdruzi-z-britanskim/156253

| title=Đurov humor se združi z britanskim | access-date=30 January 2012 | work=RTV | language=sl}}

There have been several plans to produce an American version. One was to be a star vehicle for former M*A*S*H actor Harry Morgan, with Grandad rather than Del becoming the lead character.{{cite book | author=Clark | year=1998 | title=Only Fools and Horses Story | url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar | page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar/page/90 90]| isbn=9780563384458 }} The other, entitled This Time Next Year..., would have seen the Trotters renamed the Flannagans. A draft script was written for the latter,See Webber (2003), pp. 259–63 for the draft script but neither show materialised. In 2010, Steve Carell, star of the American version of The Office, expressed an interest in making an American version of the series, with him to star as Del Boy.{{cite news

| date=1 February 2010

| url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/feb/01/steve-carell-pass-notes

| title=Pass notes 2,720: Steve Carell | access-date=10 February 2010 | work=The Guardian | location=London}} In January 2012 US network ABC commissioned a pilot of an Only Fools and Horses remake titled "King of Van Nuys", written by Scrubs writers Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley.{{cite news|date=27 January 2012 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/abc-picks-up-3-comedy-pilots-idUSTRE80R07C/ |title=ABC picks up 3 comedy pilots |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=Chicago Times }} It was developed, rejected and then redeveloped, only to be rejected again later in the year. The pilot starred John Leguizamo as Del, Dustin Ybarra as his brother Rodney and Christopher Lloyd as Grandad.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/news/a444310/only-fools-and-horses-us-remake-rejected-for-second-time-by-abc.html|title='Only Fools and Horses' US remake rejected for second time by ABC|work=Digital Spy|access-date=25 October 2015|date=10 December 2012}} The unreleased pilot was released onto YouTube in August 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5onJwTNonxc | title=- YouTube | website=YouTube }}

A parody of American adaptations of British shows called Only Jerks and Horses was written by David Walliams and Matt Lucas and directed by Edgar Wright in 1997.{{cite web|title=Only Jerks and Horses (1997)|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8055d6f2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215171348/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8055d6f2|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 December 2018|website=British Film Institute|access-date=3 July 2017}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book| last = Clark| first = Steve| title = The Only Fools and Horses Story| url = https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000clar| year = 1998| publisher = BBC Worldwide| location = London|isbn = 978-0563-384-458 }}
• {{cite book| last1 = Webber| first1 = Richard| last2 = Sullivan| first2 = John| title = Only Fools and Horses: Bible of Peckham Vol 1| url = https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorses0000unse| year = 2000| publisher = BBC Worldwide| isbn = 978-0563-538-189| location = London}}
• {{cite book| last1 = Sullivan| first1 = John| last2 = Clark| first2 = Steve| title = Only Fools and Horses: Bible of Peckham Vol 2| year = 2000| publisher = BBC Worldwide| isbn = 978-0563-551-775| location = London }}
• {{cite book| last=Sullivan |first=John| title = Only Fools and Horses: Bible of Peckham Vol 3| year = 2001| publisher = BBC Worldwide| isbn = 978-0563-537-458| location = London }}
• {{cite book| last1=Webber |first1=Richard |last2=Sullivan |first2=John, Dr| title = The Complete A-Z of Only Fools and Horses| year = 2003| publisher = Orion books|location=London| isbn = 978-0752-860-251 }}
• {{cite book|last=Clark|first=Steve|title=Only Fools and Horses : The Official Inside Story|date=2011|publisher=Splendid Books Limited|location=Droxford|isbn=978-0955-891-694}}
• {{cite book|last=McCann|first=Graham|title=Only Fools and Horses : The Story of Britain's Favourite Comedy|url=https://archive.org/details/onlyfoolshorsess0000mcca_e2j1|date=2012|publisher=Canongate Books|location=Edinburgh|isbn=978-0857-860-569|edition=Paperback}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{BBC programme}}
• {{British Comedy Guide|tv|only_fools_and_horses}}
• [https://www.facebook.com/onlyfoolsandhorses?rf=106188666079188 Only Fools and Horses] at Facebook
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081001190609/http://uktv.co.uk/Gold/homepage/sid/5092 Only Fools and Horses] at UKTV Gold
• {{Screenonline TV title|576679|Only Fools and Horses}}
• {{IMDb title|0081912|Only Fools and Horses}}
• {{epguides|OnlyFoolsandHorses|Only Fools and Horses}}
• [http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/fools/index.html Only Fools and Horses] at British TV Comedy Guide
• [http://www.ofah.net Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society]
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2004/09/04/ofah_day_feature.shtml Audio interviews with the cast, and photos from an Only Fools and Horses Day in Swindon in 2004] at ***[https://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire BBC Wiltshire]
• [http://www.findthatlocation.com/Television-Show/Only-Fools-and-Horses Filming locations from Only Fools and Horses]

{{Only Fools and Horses}}

{{Only Fools and Horses episodes}}

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{{BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy (Programme or Series)}}

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Category:1981 British television series debuts

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