Only Fools and Horses stars Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst had 'huge row' on set
The Del Boy star has shared what it was like working on the set of the iconic BBC sitcom
by James Rodger, Mia O'Hare, Toby Codd · BristolLiveSir David Jason has recalled the time he and co-star Nicholas Lyndhurst caused a stir on set of Only Fools and Horses. The pair reportedly left bosses of the BBC sitcom "quaking in their boots".
Sir David is best known for playing Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter while Nicholas played his younger brother Rodney. The popular show ran from 1981 to 2003, and the iconic actor has shared what it was like working on the set.
As reported by The Mirror, Sir David said: "One day, Nick and I were in our very small caravan on location. We were all fed up because nothing was happening so Nick and I said 'Why don't we stage a huge row and you can storm out and say you're leaving and I can shout at you saying 'don't you ever come back again'."
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He added: "'I never want to work with you'. The whole crew went stiff.
"Five minutes went by and the producer and director came to see me and they were quaking in their boots. They asked what's going on and I told them to go see Nick.
"When they got to him, I couldn't contain myself any longer and roared with laughter. They went from white to purple in their faces. I don't think the producer was much impressed."
In a documentary about the making of the show, Sir David insisted: "You couldn't have had a better co-partner than Nick. We liked and respected each other so much, we were genuinely good friends."
He said the actors felt "there was magic in the room" from the very first script run-through. Last year, Nicholas wowed fans by coming back to acting with a part in the new version of the comedy show Frasier.
In 2022, David revealed that the pair didn't see each other as much as they'd like. He admitted: "He's much more – how can I say? – self-contained, perhaps, than he used to be. So, unfortunately, we don’t see each other as much as I would like to. But that’s how things work out sometimes."
In a recent interview, Sir David also recalled his emotions after acting out his last-ever scenes. He said: "We got a standing ovation in that studio for seven minutes. They wouldn’t let us go."
Director Tony Dow added: "I remember being in that studio and saying to the floor manager, ‘That’s it, that’s the end of Only Fools And Horses’. The whole place exploded, and the audience went potty."
David recently admitted he "would love" to reprise his iconic role. However, the show has little chance of a return due to the death of its creator, John Sullivan.
Sir David told The Sun: "I don’t think we could do another episode of Only Fools And Horses because the brains behind it, Mr John Sullivan, is unfortunately no longer with us." John passed away at the age of 64 in 2011 and he was also responsible for all 64 episodes of Only Fools And Horses that was aired between 1981 and 2003.