The show is among the greatest sitcoms of all time
The show is among the greatest sitcoms of all time
Only Fools and Horses has a special place in the heart of British comedy fans. The long-running sitcom produced national treasures, with the likes of David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst still being recognised for their comedy work decades after the show began.
Although the show ended in 2003, the many phrases which made it famous are still a part of everyday conversations. The classic sitcom is about the lives of Del Boy (Sir David) and Rodney Trotter (Lyndhurst) and their schemes to get rich.
However, the show became about much more than the storyline to viewers due to the relatable characters and famous phrases. It quickly became one of Britain’s greatest ever comedy series in the opinion of millions across the country.
The series received numerous awards, including recognition from BAFTA, the National Television Awards and the Royal Television Society. It was voted Britain’s Best Sitcom in a BBC poll.
The cast members will always be renowned for their roles in Only Fools and Horses, with the show still attracting new fans and old, tuning in when episodes are replayed on TV.
We have rounded up some of the most memorable characters and what happened to the stars who played them after the show ended. Unfortunately, some of them are no longer with us.
David Jason
Sir David Jason played the role of Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter from 1981 to 2003. Other roles Sir David is famous for include Detective Inspector Jack Frost in A Touch of Frost, Granville in Open All Hours and Still Open All Hours, and Pop Larkin in The Darling Buds of May.
His last acting role was in the Open All Hours reboot in 2019. He has since been focusing on voiceover work, particularly in animation, due to difficulties learning lines.
The legendary actor revealed last month that he will be taking to the stage this year for a one-man show that will see him reflect on his career and be joined by special guests.
Teasing the event, the promoter for Sir David said: “Relive some of the most unforgettable moments in British TV history, including the legendary Only Fools and Horses scenes—the bar fall, the chandelier disaster, Batman and Robin, and more.”
In 2001, Sir David became a father at the age of 61 when his girlfriend, Gill Hinchcliffe, gave birth to a girl. He and Gill married in 2005 and live in Buckinghamshire.
Nicholas Lyndhurst
Nicholas Lyndhurst is best known for playing Rodney Trotter on Only Fools and Horses. He has had other major roles in sitcoms including Gary Sparrow in Goodnight Sweetheart and Raymond Fletcher in Going Straight.
In more recent years, Nicholas has starred in the revival of the American sitcom Frasier, which started in 2023 and is still ongoing. Speaking about filming the show in the US, the actor told Radio Times: “I’m just here for the duration of the show and I’ll go home to the UK afterwards.
“But it is absolutely wonderful to be here for now.” Nicholas plays Alan Cornwall, Frasier’s old college friend and university professor.
The comedy icon married partner Lucy Jane Smith, a former ballet dancer in West Sussex in September 1999. Their only son Archie Bjorn Lyndhurst, was born in London on October 2, 2000.
Their son died in his sleep from a brain hemorrhage caused by acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2020. In a statement, he said he and his wife were “utterly grief stricken and respectfully request privacy.”
Nicholas now lives a quiet life in West Sussex with his wife. In his spare time, the 63-year-old enjoys underwater diving, beekeeping and piloting his own aeroplanes.
Tessa Peake-Jones
Tessa Peake-Jones played the role of Raquel Turner on Only Fools and Horses. She appeared in the show for a total of 11 years, first appearance being in 1988 and her last appearance being in 2003. The actress played the role of Derek Trotter’s partner, after initially appearing as a guest star.
The 67-year-old has a large number of acting roles to her name. Her other television appearances include Bergerac, The Demon Headmaster, Midsomer Murders, Casualty and Holby City. Tessa reprised her role as Mrs Chapman in the ninth series of Grantchester, which aired in January. The actress has played Mrs Chapman since the show’s inception in 2014.
During her tenure on the BBC sitcom, Tessa was in a long-term relationship with Douglas Hodge, who played her grown-up son for one episode of Only Fools. The two have since separated in 2013 after 29 year together, but share two children Charlie and Molly-Rose.
While Tessa has appeared on a lot of TV shows, she has starred in different roles over the years including In 2019, when she showcased her musical talents by appearing on the ITV show All Star Musicals, where she sang Abba’s Mamma Mia.
Gwyneth Strong
Gwyneth Strong is known for her role as Cassandra Parry in Only Fools and Horses. She played the partner of Rodney Trotter on the comedy. While her most recent TV appearances were in 2016 in EastEnders, she continues to work in theatre, most recently appearing as Mrs. Boyle in the 70th-anniversary staging of “The Mousetrap”.
Other role viewers may recognise her from includes the two-part drama serial The Missing Postman as WPC Rachel McMahon, the BBC drama Real Women from 1997 to 1998, as Hetty in ITV’s Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married (1999) and in the BBC drama Casualty in 2003 as Jim Brodie’s wife Elizabeth.
She also appeared in the “True Confessions” two-part episode of the series A Touch of Frost, reuniting on screen with her Only Fools and Horses co-star David Jason.
Gwyneth married her long-term partner, former Footballers’ Wives star Jesse Birdsall, in 2000. They have a son, Oscar, born 1988, and a daughter, Lottie who was born 1991. She also has two grandchildren.
Paul Barber
Paul Barber was born in Toxteth, he appeared in many episode of Only Fools and Horses and played the role of Denzil Tulser. He often appeared as part of Del Boy’s get rich quick schemes. Due to his gullible nature, Denzil often found it hard to say no and used to get conned by Del.
The actor has also had two small parts in Coronation Street, first as Nelson in 2004 then as Billy Arrowsmith in 2008. Paul was awarded an honorary doctorate from Liverpool John Moores University in July 2011 for ‘outstanding contribution to the performing arts’.
He has a number of acting roles, including in shows such as in To the Manor Born (1979) as a Jamaican steel band musician, Minder (1980) as Willie Reynolds in episode Don’t Tell Them Willie Boy was Here, Boys from the Blackstuff (1982) and as Malcolm in The Front Line.
Other roles in more recent years are as Fieldhouse in Home from Home in the 2016 pilot episode, and he appeared again in the 2018 series. The following year, he appeared in two episodes of as Ernest Maxwell, reprising the role in 2019.
He also appeared in the 2022 crime action thriller film Renegades and stars in the 2024 horror film The Baby in the Basket.
Buster Merryfield
Harry ‘Buster’ Merryfield was best known for his role an Uncle Albert in Only Fools and Horses. He was given the name “Buster” by his grandad as he weighed nine pounds at birth.
Buster became a professional actor aged 57, during the Second World War. He discovered his love of acting when he served as an entertainment officer staging shows for the troops.
The character was added to the cast of OFAH after Lennard Pearce, who played Grandad, died in December 1984. He joined as Grandad Trotter’s long-lost younger brother and was known for his catchphrase of “During the war…
The actor also appeared in pantomime during Christmas of 1997 and 1998 in the father role in Beauty and the Beast at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth.
The BBC star died at Poole General Hospital on June 23 1999, after a brain tumour battle. After marrying wife Iris in 1942, they had a daughter and two grandchildren. Iris died on November 5 2002 and was buried alongside Buster.
Lennard Pearce
The actor worked in theatre and television, notably playing the role of Grandad in Only Fools and Horses. He starred in the show from its first episode in 1981 until his death in December 1984.
He suffered a heart attack on December 12 ,1984 and was rushed by ambulance to Whittington Hospital, where his condition improved. However, the actor suffered a second heart attack on December 15 at his flat and died instantly, he was 69 years old.
Lennard’s television work included Dixon of Dock Green (1965), Dr. Finlay’s Casebook (1967), Sykes (1972) and Coronation Street in May 1969 and April 1977, along with The Wednesday Play (“Cathy Come Home”, 1966).
In the Only Fools and Horses episode “Strained Relations”, Grandad’s death leads to strained relations between Del Boy and Rodney. They grapple with his death, with the arrival of Uncle Albert helping matters.
John Challis
The actor was best known for playing “Boycie” in Only Fools and Horses. He was also an established stage actor and made appearances for companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.
Boycie appeared in Only Fools and Horses for 22 years, from 1981 until the show ended in 2003. However, he remained working closely with John Sullivan.
A role in the John Sullivan sitcom Citizen Smith led to John being cast as Herman Aubrey “Boycie” Boyce in OFAH. A spin-off show around the character of Boycie was also created by John Sullivan, called The Green Green Grass (2005-2009).
The comedy star was married four times, he married his fourth wife, Carol Davies, in Brighton in 1995. John died of cancer in his sleep on September 17, 2021, aged 79. Many tributes were left by his co-stars.
Roger Lloyd Pack
Roger was best known as the gormless Trigger in the BBC One comedy Only Fools and Horses. His acting breakthrough came in 1981, when he was cast as Colin “Trigger” Ball.
Initially seen as a supporting character, Trigger appeared in almost every episode of the long-running series, becoming very popular with the audience.
He also won over audiences for his part in The Vicar of Dibley. His character, Owen Newitt, a farmer with a personal hygiene problem, flirted unsuccessfully with Dawn French’s character throughout the series.
Roger also had experience acting in movies, and was cast in Harry Potter as Barty Crouch Snr, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Stage acting was also a huge part of his career achievements.
The comedy icon married Sheila Ball in 1968. They had a daughter, actress Emily Lloyd but soon separated. He later lived with the poet and Jehane Markham for 25 years before marrying her in 2000.
In January 2014, his agent, Maureen Vincent, said he had pancreatic cancer and “died at home surrounded by his family”. Tributes were paid from across the world.
