A Really Lovely Jubbly Programme!! (Only Fools and Horses)

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Product:	Only Fools and Horses
Date:	10/01/02 (2103 review reads)
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Advantages: One of the funniest tv series to hit the screens

Disadvantages: Not many more to come!

Stick a pony in me pocket,
I'll fetch the suitcase from the van.
Cos if you want the best 'uns,
But you don't ask questions,
Then brother, I'm your man.
Cos where it all comes from is a mystery,
It's like the changin' of the seasons,
And the tides of the sea.
But here's the one that's drivin' me berserk,
Why do only fools and horses work?
La-la-la
La-la-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la-la.
(Composed and performed by John Sullivan).


Ha!! Bet you were singing along before you got to the end of those words!! That catchy little ditty is the famous theme to one of the world's top comedy series, "Only Fools and Horses".

I have to confess, I'm not a huge fan of British comedy shows apart from this, Fawlty Towers, Absolutely Fabulous and Black Adder. These shows make you proud to be British, and are ranked as the cream of TV viewing.

Rather than the individual episodes, I'm going to concentrate on the characters and some of the stranger facts about the show (well you know me!!).


+++So what about Only Fools and Horses??+++

Only Fools and Horses was written by John Sullivan. The first series was broadcast in September 1981 featuring David Jason (Del Boy - the main character, a bit of a Jack the lad, would call himself an entrepreneur if he knew what it meant!!), Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney - Del's younger brother. He's a bit naïve and Del refers to him as a "plonker". He would do anything for Del, and often does!), the late Lennard Pearce (Grandad), who died in 1983. The programme then went on to star the late Buster Merryfield (Uncle Albert - professes to be a war hero and starts sentences with "when I was in the war") he made his first appearance in the episode Strained Relations at granddads funeral.

The rest of the main characters, who joined the programme at various stages in th
e series are Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra - Rodneys wife), Tessa Peak-Jones (Raquel - Del's "significant other"), John Challis (Boycie - car dealer), Roger Lloyd Pack (Trigger - the local roadsweeper, who for some bizarre reason insists on calling Rodney "Dave"), the late Kenneth McDonald (Mike - The Nag's Head landlord), Paul Barber (Denzil - lorry driver), Sue Holderness (Marlene - Boycie's wife) and Mickey Pearce (Patrick Murray - old friend of Rodneys).

Only Fools and Horses first hit British TV screens when Derek "Del-Boy" Trotter was introduced to the British public, trying to sell one-legged turkeys from the back of his van. Del's next venture was the purchase of 25 combination briefcases for £200 which had fallen off the back of a lorry. The briefcases had one draw back - they were all locked with the combination code inside! We later learn that this is typical of Del. I watched this episode on Sky gold again recently and it's a total classic, Del tries to sell the briefcases to a shop then discovers they're actually stolen from the same shop, a bit of nifty talking and Del's in the clear as usual!!



+++Some weird Facts (for the trivia buffs)+++


Writer John Sullivan used to be a 'Scene Mover' at the BBC before he made is name by writing the comedy series 'Citizen Smith'

Enn Reitel was the first person to be approached to play the part of 'Del Boy', but was too busy to take it on.
Jim Broadbent (Roy Slater) was the next choice, but he was also too busy in the theatre's at the time and didn't think he could juggle the two.
Then there were two other actor's who they felt would fit the role, Robin Nedwell ('Doctor at Large' fame) and Bill Murray (Sgt Beech 'The Bill'). They then saw David Jason and DelBoy was born!

John Sullivan wrote a part for Sir Anthony Hopkins when he found out that
he was a big fan of the show, the part was of Danny Driscoll in the episode 'Little Problems' but he was busy doing a blockbuster film called 'Silence of the Lambs'. Roy Marsden took over the role.

The Tower Blocks which are seen in the opening titles are:
Harlech Tower, Park Road East, Acton, London
From 1988 they then used Whitemead House, Duckmore Road, Bristol.
Not a Peckham building in sight!!

The "Nag's Head" was filmed at various pubs in Brighton, Bristol, Hull, Ipswich, London and Salisbury.
The street markets used in various episodes were located in Bristol, Hull, Ipswich and Salisbury.
The hospital used in "Three men, a woman and a baby" was Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge.
The famous "Batman and Robin" scene in "Heroes And Villains" was filmed in a shopping precinct in Bristol.

Boycies real Christian name was revealed in the episode 'Sickness & Wealth' when we found out it is 'AUBREY'. Which is as good as Rodders middle name!!

The Famous 3 Wheeler Van is a Reliant Regal Supervan III, which Reliant as not made for over 30 years.
One of the original Van's used in the show can be seen at 'Cars of the Stars Museum' at Keswick. Peter Nelson who owns the museum brought the van for £995.

Phillip Pope who played Triggers friend the singing dustman 'Tony Angelino' is one of the UK's top theme tune writers. Do you remember the 'Chicken Song' for the hit show 'Spitting Image'? - well Phillip is responsible for that! aggghhhhh.

"Only Fools and Horses" as been sold all around the world and as been dubbed into many languages.
In Holland they have made their own version of the show called
"Wat Schuift't" which means "What's it Worth"

An anagram of "Only Fools and Horses" is "O So Flashy Londoners&quo
t;.

Immediately after the end of Only Fools and Horses in 1996, viewers caused a 1,600 megawatt power surge as they switched on their kettles for cups of tea!

David Jason earned an average of £69,000 for each episode he filmed.

John Sullivan had an English teacher Jim Trowers who first sparked his love of writing. Mr Trowers' council flat in Farnham, with its wildly clashing colours on walls and carpets, provided John Sullivan with plenty of ideas when he was first describing Del's colourful home in Nelson Mandela House.


The UK's top celebrity look-alike (awarded on ITV by Des O'Connor) is Morris Canham who is Del Boy. Morris is EXACTLY like Del Boy in voice, mannerisms and that swagger!! He is also a very good friend of mine and a totally nice guy!!



+++Del's "Birds"+++

Del has been linked with various emmmmm....."ladies" during the series:


Pauline
Pauline is one of Del's first girlfriends, He meets up with her again in the Nags Head, Rodders and grandad are not at all impressed as Pauline as already gone through 2 husbands (who have died) and as Rodney says "One more and she'll keep the match ball!!". Del agrees to Pauline moving into the flat, but he soon finds out that he as made a big mistake.
Episode: The Second Time Around

Heather
Del Boy meets Heather during a Spanish Night in the Nags Head, Del Boy gets the singer to sing 'Old Shep' (typical Del!!), he then finds out Heather also likes the song, and love is in the air. He considers popping the question to Heather during a meal, but bad news for Del when she reveals her hubby wants to give their marriage another chance, so again Del is left heart broken!!.
Episode: Diamond Are For Heather

Miranda
Del buys what he thinks is a 'Queen Anne cabinet' and puts an advert in the local paper. Miranda an antique dealer
calls around to view it, but as usual Del's wrong, it's made out of Banana boxes!! However, she has an eye on a (valuable) picture hanging on the lounge wall, and of course Del fancies his chances with her. She casually asks about the picture and Del says he could not let it go so now she says that the cabinet may be worth something. She's trying to con Del, but after she agrees to out for a curry Del thinks he is on to a winner. Of course love never runs smooth for Del Boy does it?
Episode: Yesterday Never Comes

June
June is a girlfriend from Del Boy's youth, when Del meets up with June again he finds out that his brother Rodney is dating Junes Daughter Debbie. Del discovers that it's her daughters 19th birthday soon and he works it out that he must be the dad and that's why June ran off from him 19 years ago. He knows he must tell Rodney, and quickly!! Is Debbie really Del's daughter??
Episode: Happy Returns

June make's a return to the show when Del gets tickets for Rodney to take his new girlfriend to the Opera!! During the show June starts to feel unwell. Outside June say to Del "I don't know what came over me" with Del replying "Nor did the woman in the row in front!!"
Episode: A Royal Flush

Raquel
At long last Del finds the person who will be love of his life, but naturally things did not start too well, He meets Raquel on a blind date and starts to lie about his wealth and his name, she tells Del that she's an actress. On Uncle Albert's birthday Del books a strip-o-gram and surprise, surprise guess who's the stripper?? Yes Raquel!!. They meet again in Margate while the boys are on an outing, and she is now an assistant to a magician!! We all know they are still together and have a son called Damien.
Episodes: Jolly Boys Outing


++ The best of the quotes++

A few of the golden moments....

Del: "They
asked me what I thought about Hamlet. I said I preferred Castellas".
... after meeting some of Raquel's theatrical friends

Del: "I eat on the move - a mobile phone in one hand and a Pot Noodle in the other".

Del: "All right, Rodney, come on - what is it? What's really bothering you?"
Rodney: "I've got so many things worrying me ... the polar cap is melting, the continental shelves are shifting, the rain forest is dying, the sea is being poisoned ... and I ain't had a bit for months!"

Trigger: "If it's a girl, they're calling her Sigourney, after an actress. And if it's a boy, they're naming him Rodney ... after Dave".

Boycie: "A man like you needs something to reflect your image - I've got a lovely Skoda in the forecourt".
... trying to sell a used car to Del

"Why do they call him Trigger? Is it because he carries a gun?" "No its because he looks like a horse!"

"I didn't know Rodney's middle name was Charlton." "Yeah it was me Mum. She was a fan." "Of Charlton Heston?" "No Charlton Athletic!"

I have added this as it's so typically Del - and comes courtesy of Del_Boy on dooyoo....

It's Dels favourite drink...

A Caribbean stallion:

A shot of tequila
A shot of coconut rum
and one of creme de menthe
A smidgeon of Campari with the
merest suggestion of Angostura bitters
top that up with fresh grapefruit juice then you shake it
DO NOT STIR
Pour that slowly over broken ice
Garnish with a slice or orange
slice of lime
Your occasional seasonal fruits
Top that off with a decorative plastic umbrella, two
translucent straws and voila!
.....and according to our "Del_Boy" thats just the way Del likes it!! yeuk!!



.
.......So all I've got to say now is......Altogether, let's sing!!.....

We've got some half price cracked ice and miles and miles of carpet tiles,
T.V.s, deep freeze and David Bowie LPs
Ball games, gold chains, whatsnames, pictures frames and leather goods,
And Trevor Francis track suits from a mush in Shepherds Bush,
Bush, bush, bush, bush, bush, bush, bush ...
No income tax, no V.A.T.,
No money back, no guarantee,
Black or white, rich or poor,
We'll cut prices at a stroke......
God bless Hooky Street,
Viva Hooky Street,
Long live Hooky Street,
C'est magnifique, Hooky Street,
Magnifique, Hooky Street,
Hooky Street (to fade)


He, he, he, he...cushty!! ;o) Angie x

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