SO LONG HOOKY STREET (Only Fools and Horses)

Member Name: Ann J Sec

Product:	Only Fools and Horses
Date:	13/03/01 (554 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good clean innocent fun

Disadvantages: Can't go on forever

I'm on my computer rating and writing opinions so much these days that watching t.v. has become something of a novelty, but one programme I refuse to miss is the ever young and funny Only Fools and Horses.No matter how many times I've seen the repeats, I end up curled up laughing at the antics of Rodney, Del Boy and Grandad.

My appreciation has in fact increased tenfold since finding (thanks to a Dooyoo writer) a website on the BBC, giving would be writers helpful hints on how to put together a comedy script(www.BBC.writersroom u.k). John Sullivan is obviously a very gifted man who was able to draw from his memories the characters we have now come to know and love. He was however already quite successful before he wrote Only Fools, having written Citizen Smith previously. Apparently he is also responsible for writing and singing the two main signature tunes connected with the series, which have become famous in their own right.

Nicholas Lyndhurst was the first to be cast in the series as Rodney, the educated (one GCSE in Art) younger brother of Del-Boy. David Jason it seems was not the original choice for his now famous part, but was selected by John Sullivan who saw him playing his role as Granville in Open All Hours with Ronnie Barker. Del Boy is left to bring up Rodney after the death of their mother along with Grandad (Lennard Pearce) whose role is replaced by Uncle Albert (Buster Merryfield) when Lennard unfortunately dies.

Notwithstanding that the main characters are amazing, we also have an outstanding supporting cast, who could forget Trigger's comment on the naming of Del Boy's child........."If it's a girl they're calling it Sigourney and if it's a boy they're calling it Rodney........after Dave". Boycie's arrogant strutting and flash antics and his nagging wife in her leopard skin outfits. Then there's Mickey Pearce, Rodney's best friend , Cassandra, Rodney's wife and
Racquel the stripper who falls for Del Boy.I could go on and on because there isn't a character in any of the series who doesn't have a funny one liner or odd mannerism.

Interestingly, Only Fools and Horses was never actually filmed in Peckham, locations being Brighton and Bristol amongst others, indeed the famous Batman and Robin scene was actually filmed in Bristol's shopping arcade.

How many of us have jokingly insulted friends by calling them Plonkers or dipsticks or referred to something as being cushty or luvverly jubberly, all slangwords from the series now part of even the poshest people's everyday language.

It's difficult to believe that the series was first shown on T.V.back in l981 and since that time there have been at least 7 series and l6 Christmas Specials. Thankfully another series is in the pipeline and we can all enjoy the antics of Trotters Independent Trading Company again.

I have to ask myself though can the writers keep up the momentum and can any scenes live up to Damien's birth with the doctor's wig on his head, or the elusive butterfly that Del Boy claps to death after pushing Rodney into the lake to retrieve it and who can forget the famous fall in the wine bar when Del Boy is trying to impress the local yuppies.

If you're from another planet and have never bothered to watch this and believe it or not I actually know one or people who haven't......you don't know what you're missing. Good clean fun, no swearing for effect, innocence and laughter all wrapped into one.

I'll have to go now, there's somebody at the door......they're in a Yellow Robin Reliant and it looks as though there are some rubber dolls in the back...I wonder who it can be?
Only fools and horses call here......!

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