Only Fools and Horses - wikipedia Only Fools and Horses Only Fools and Horses Genre Sitcom Created by John Sullivan Written by John Sullivan Directed by Martin Shardlow ( 1981 ) Bernard Thompson ( 1981 ) Ray Butt ( 1982 -- 1983, 1985 -- 1987 ) Susan Belbin ( 1985 ) Mandie Fletcher ( 1986 ) Tony Dow ( 1988 -- 2003, 2014 ) Starring David Jason Nicholas Lyndhurst Lennard Pearce ( 1981 -- 1983 ) Buster Merryfield ( 1985 -- 1996 ) Theme music composer Ronnie Hazlehurst ( 1981 ) John Sullivan ( 1981 -- 2003, 2014 ) Opening theme `` Only Fools and Horses '' Ending theme `` Hooky Street '' Country of origin United Kingdom Original language ( s ) English No. of series 7 No. of episodes 64 ( + 16 specials ) ( list of episodes ) Production Executive producer ( s ) Ray Butt ( 1981 -- 1987 ) Bernard Thompson ( 1981 ) Gareth Gwenlan ( 1988 -- 1993, 1996, 2001 -- 2003 ) John Sullivan ( 1991 -- 2003 ) Location ( s ) Peckham, London, England ; ( main setting ) Bristol, England ; ( Nelson Mandela House and Market setting ) Weston - super-Mare, England ( specials only ) Malmesbury, Wiltshire Running time 20 - 40 minutes Regular episodes Series 1 -- 5 : 30 minutes per episode Series 6 & 7 : 50 minutes per episode Christmas specials 35 -- 95 minutes Production company ( s ) BBC Distributor BBC Worldwide 2Entertain Release Original network BBC One Picture format 576i ( 4 : 3 SDTV ) ( 1981 -- 1996 ) 576i ( 16 : 9 SDTV ) ( 2001 -- 2003 ) 1080i ( 16 : 9 HDTV ) ( 2014 ) Original release 8 September 1981 ( 1981 - 09 - 08 ) - 25 December 2003 Sport Relief special : 21 March 2014 ( 2014 - 03 - 21 ) Chronology Followed by The Green Green Grass ( 2005 -- 2009 ) Rock & Chips ( 2010 -- 2011 ) Only Fools and Horses ( stylised as Only Fools and Horses... ) is a British television sitcom created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom from 1981 to 1991, with sixteen sporadic Christmas specials aired until the end of the show in 2003. Episodes are regularly repeated on UKTV comedy channel Gold, Yesterday and occasionally repeated on BBC One. Set in Peckham in south - east London, it stars David Jason as ambitious market trader Derek `` Del Boy '' Trotter, Nicholas Lyndhurst as his younger brother Rodney Trotter, and Lennard Pearce as their elderly Grandad. After Pearce 's death in 1984, his character was replaced by Del and Rodney 's Uncle Albert ( Buster Merryfield ) who first appeared in February 1985. Backed by a strong supporting cast, the series follows the Trotters ' highs and lows in life, in particular their attempts to get rich. The show achieved consistently high ratings, and the 1996 episode `` Time on Our Hands '' ( the last episode to feature Uncle Albert ) holds the record for the highest UK audience for a sitcom episode, attracting over 24.3 million viewers. Critically and popularly acclaimed, the series received numerous awards, including recognition from BAFTA, the National Television Awards and the Royal Television Society, as well as winning individual accolades for both Sullivan and Jason. It was voted Britain 's Best Sitcom in a 2004 BBC poll. The series influenced British culture, contributing several words and phrases to the English language. It spawned an extensive range of merchandise, including books, videos, DVDs, toys, and board games. A spin - off series, The Green Green Grass, ran for four series in the UK from 2005 to 2009. A prequel, Rock & Chips, ran for three specials in 2010 and 2011. A special Sport Relief episode aired in March 2014, guest starring David Beckham. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast and characters 2.1 Main cast and characters 2.2 Supporting cast and characters 2.3 Minor cast and characters 3 Production 3.1 Development 3.2 Filming 3.3 Theme music and titles 3.4 Filming locations 4 Episodes 4.1 Documentaries 5 Spin - offs 5.1 The Green Green Grass 5.2 Rock & Chips 6 Home media 7 In other media 7.1 Audio 7.2 Theatre 7.3 Books 7.4 Board games 8 Reception 9 Cultural impact 10 International remakes 11 Notes 12 References 13 External links Plot Derek `` Del Boy '' Trotter ( played by David Jason ), a fast - talking, archetypal South London ' fly ' trader, lives in a council flat in a high - rise tower block, Nelson Mandela House, in Peckham, South London, with his much younger brother, Rodney Trotter ( Nicholas Lyndhurst ), and their elderly Grandad ( Lennard Pearce ). Their mother, Joan, died when Rodney was young, and their father Reg absconded soon afterwards, so Del became Rodney 's surrogate father and the family patriarch. Despite the difference in age, personality, and outlook, the brothers share a constant bond throughout. The situation focuses primarily on their attempts 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 roadsweeper 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 ). As the series progressed, the scope of the plots expanded. Many early episodes were largely self - contained, with few plot - lines mentioned again, but the show developed a story arc and an ongoing episodic dimension. After Grandad died following the death of actor Lennard Pearce, his younger brother Uncle Albert ( Buster Merryfield ) emerged and moved in with Del and Rodney. After years of searching, both Del and Rodney find 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 ). Rodney and Cassandra marry, separate and then get back together again. Cassandra miscarries, but then she and Rodney eventually have a baby. Rodney finds out who his real father was. The Trotters finally become millionaires, lose their fortune, and then regain some of it. Cast and characters Further information : List of Only Fools and Horses characters Main cast and characters Derek Edward `` Del Boy '' Trotter ( David Jason ) -- Del was an archetypal South London market trader, willing to sell anything to anyone to make money. Del was devoted to his family, taking care of Rodney and Grandad on his own from the age of 16. Del was also known for his penchant for his 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. 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 - hair 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 ( who would later appear in a minor recurring role as DCI Roy Slater ) and Enn Reitel were earlier preferences. Broadbent turned down the role, due to the play he was acting in had moved. 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. Rodney Charlton Trotter ( Nicholas Lyndhurst ) -- Rodney is Del 's younger brother, and is more academically gifted, although only to the extent of two GCEs. Orphaned when young, Rodney was raised by Del. His principal role throughout the show was as Del 's lackey and sidekick. Much of the conflict between the two came from Rodney 's dislike of his reliance on Del, and his unsuccessful attempts to gain greater independence through girlfriends or by setting up his own businesses ; he was only partially successful after marrying Cassandra and briefly going to work for her father. In contrast to Del Boy, 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. Grandad ( Lennard Pearce ) -- Del and Rodney 's elderly grandad was added to the cast to balance the three distinct generations, adding the voice of experience to the situation. 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 use Brambell himself, thinking him too closely associated with Steptoe. After seeing Pearce 's audition, Sullivan settled on casting him immediately. Scruffy and daft, although sometimes displaying a razor sharp wit, Grandad rarely left the flat or even moved from his armchair in front of two television sets. Despite his age he was invariably treated as a dogsbody by Del and Rodney, often being assigned mundane jobs around the flat such as cooking meals. Pearce died in 1984 whilst filming the series four episode `` Hole in One '' ( several scenes were subsequently re-shot with Buster Merryfield ) and Sullivan wrote a new episode, `` Strained Relations '', which featured Grandad 's funeral. Uncle Albert ( 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 long - lost 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. Albert first appeared at Grandad 's funeral, and soon moved in with Del and Rodney. His wartime experiences with the Royal Navy became one of the show 's running gags, usually begun with the words `` During the war... ''. Merryfield died in 1999 and Albert 's death was written into the next episode. Supporting cast and characters Trigger ( Roger Lloyd - Pack ) -- 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. 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. A daft road sweeper most frequently seen in the Nag 's Head, 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 believes that Rodney 's real name is Dave. Boycie ( John Challis ) -- A shady used car salesman and a frightful snob. Boycie, a freemason, was very self - centred and prone to boasting about his high social status. 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. Boycie later featured in a spin - off series, The Green Green Grass, starting in 2005, in which he and his wife Marlene fled from a criminal gang. 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. An ambitious 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 mellow him, and they had a son together, named Damien. As the character unfolded, it was revealed that she was previously married to Del 's nemesis, DCI Roy Slater. Cassandra Trotter ( Gwyneth Strong ) -- Cassandra first met Rodney in `` Yuppy Love ''. Their relationship blossomed, and by the end of series six the two had married. But her high career ambitions caused conflict with Rodney, and their troubled marriage was one of the main storylines later in the show 's run. Marlene Boyce ( Sue Holderness ) -- Marlene was initially just an unseen character, occasionally mentioned by her husband, Boycie. She was a cheerful woman who desired a child. Details were occasionally revealed about Marlene 's prior reputation as being popular with the local men. She did finally have a son, Tyler. Denzil Tulser ( Paul Barber ) -- An easy - going Liverpudlian lorry driver, Denzil was often on the receiving end of Del 's scams. His inability to say no to Del 's business deals frequently led to conflict with his domineering wife, Corrine ( Eva Mottley ), who was only sighted once, in `` Who 's a Pretty Boy ? ''. Sullivan had planned to bring Corrine back for more episodes, but after Mottley 's death in 1985, he opted to make her an unseen character rather than use another actress. Mickey Pearce ( Patrick Murray ) -- Mickey was a young, obnoxious 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 gullibility by stealing his girlfriends or making off with all the money from their business partnership. 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. Good natured and somewhat gullible, 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 interim pub landlord. Damien Trotter ( various ) -- Damien was Del and Raquel 's son. It was Rodney 's mocking suggestion that he be named Damien. 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 ). Sid ( Roy Heather ) -- Sid made sporadic appearances throughout the show 's run, mainly as the proprietor of the run - down and unhygienic local cafe. Sid fought in the war and it is revealed in the episode `` The Jolly Boys ' Outing '' that he was captured and imprisoned. After Nag 's Head landlord Mike was imprisoned, Sid took over and kept that role for the remainder of the series. Minor cast and characters Jim Broadbent 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 once - seen 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, cropped up in Del 's embellished accounts of her, or in his attempts to emotionally blackmail Rodney. Her grave -- a flamboyant monument -- was seen occasionally. Their absent father, Reg, appeared once in `` Thicker Than Water '' ( played by Peter Woodthorpe ), before leaving under a cloud, never to be seen again. Other members of the Trotter family were rarely sighted, the exceptions being the woman they believe to be Auntie Rose ( Beryl Cooke ) in `` The Second Time Around '', and cousins Stan and Jean ( Mike Kemp and Maureen Sweeney ), who attended Grandad 's funeral. When Rodney met Cassandra, her father Alan Parry ( Denis Lill ) became a recurring character. 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. 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 '', 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. An attempt by Lennox ( Vas Blackwood ) to rob a local supermarket set - up the `` hostage '' situation in `` The Longest Night ''. Del and Rodney spent the whole of `` Tea for Three '' battling each other for the affections of Trigger 's niece Lisa ( Gerry Cowper ). 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. 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. Del 's nemesis from his school days, corrupt policeman DCI Roy Slater ( played by Jim Broadbent ), made three appearances, in `` May The Force Be With You '', `` To Hull and Back '' and `` Class of ' 62 ''. Feared local villains, the Driscoll Brothers ( Roy Marsden and Christopher Ryan ) featured once, in `` Little Problems '', but were mentioned in two previous episodes ( `` Video Nasty '' and `` The Frog 's Legacy '' ), and are important in the story of The Green Green Grass. A grown - up Damien ( Douglas Hodge ) appeared in `` Heroes and Villains ''. 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. The two - part 1991 Christmas special, `` Miami Twice '', saw Richard Branson and Barry Gibb make cameo appearances. 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 ''. 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 an aunt of Trigger and old friend of Del 's late mother ; Hollywood star David Thewlis, who played a young wannabe musician in `` It 's Only Rock and Roll '' ; John Bardon, who played the role of Jim Branning in the soap opera `` EastEnders '', as the supermarket security officer in `` The Longest Night ''. Walter Sparrow, who appeared as Dirty Barry in `` Danger UXD '', went on to appear in several Hollywood films. Production Development The original Only Fools and Horses line - up of ( left to right ) Grandad ( Lennard Pearce ), Del Boy ( David Jason ) and Rodney ( Nicholas Lyndhurst ) lasted from 1981 to 1984. In 1980, John Sullivan, a scriptwriter under contract at the BBC, was already well known as the writer of the successful 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. 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 Corporation '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. 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. 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. 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. Filming 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 and generally received a lukewarm response from critics. The viewing figures for the whole first series, which averaged at around 7 million, were considered mediocre. The costumes for the first series were designed by Phoebe De Gaye. Del 's attire was inspired by her going to car boot sales. The budget was limited, and she took David 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, usually had pyjamas underneath his clothes, which would be dirty. A second series was commissioned for 1982. The second series fared a little better. However, both the first and second series had a 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. From there, the show began to top the television ratings. Viewing figures for the fourth series were double those of the first. In early December 1984, during the filming of Series 4, Lennard Pearce suffered a heart attack and was taken to hospital. He died on 16 December, the day he was due to resume. Sullivan got to work with the episode `` Strained Relations '' which featured their goodbye to Grandad. 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. The scenes of `` Hole in One '' that featured Pearce were re-filmed with Merryfield. 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. Sullivan had a tendency to write scripts that were too long, meaning a lot of good material had to be 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. This required a 40 per cent increase in the show 's budget, and coincided with the show becoming one of the BBC 's most popular programmes, according to producer Gareth Gwenlan. 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 and Jones. His jewellery was replaced each series because it was very cheap ( the rings with `` D '' 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. 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. 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 to 2003. Despite rumours of further episodes, 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 ''. Though Sullivan died in 2011, it returned for a special Sport Relief episode in 2014. Theme music and titles The images peeling away was conceived as a metaphor for the Trotters ' lifestyle Only Fools and Horses has separate theme songs for the opening and closing credits, `` Only Fools and Horses '' and `` Hooky Street '', respectively. The original 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 ), and Hazlehurst conducted it. It was recorded at Lime Grove on 11 May 1982, with musicians John Horler, Dave Richmond, Bigden, and Proctor. Sullivan wanted the band Chas & Dave singing, but this was not possible due to their single Ai n't No Pleasing You being successful in the charts. Sullivan had intended for Chas & Dave to sing it because they had enjoyed success with the `` Rockney '' style, a mixture of rock n ' roll and traditional Cockney music. Sullivan was persuaded to do it himself by Ray Butt. 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 ''. Both songs are performed by Sullivan himself, and not -- as is sometimes thought -- by Nicholas Lyndhurst. 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 South 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 having 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. Clayton returned to the show when the titles 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. Filming locations The original `` Nelson Mandela House '' in the titles was Harlech Tower, Park Road East, Acton, London, and since 1988, was filmed at Whitemead House, Duckmoor Road, Ashton, Bristol. Episodes For more details on this topic, see List of Only Fools and Horses episodes. Sixty - three episodes of Only Fools and Horses, all written by John Sullivan, were broadcast on BBC1 between 8 September 1981 and 25 December 2003. The show was aired in seven series ( 1981 -- 83, 1985 -- 86, 1989 and 1990 -- 91 ), and thereafter in sporadic Christmas special editions ( 1991 -- 93, 1996, 2001 -- 03 ). All earlier episodes had a running time of 30 minutes, but this was extended after Series Six ( 1989 ), and all subsequent episodes had a running time ranging from 50 to 95 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 5 - minute spoof BBC documentary was shown on Breakfast Time on 24 December 1985, with Del being investigated by a BBC consumer expert. 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. A 5 - 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. 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. A Sport Relief special was aired on 21 March 2014. Only Fools and Horses had two producers : Ray Butt from 1981 to 1987, and Gareth Gwenlan thereafter. Seven directors were used : Martin Shardlow directed all episodes in series one, Bernard Thompson directed the 1981 Christmas special, Susan Belbin series four, and Mandie Fletcher series five. 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. John Sullivan was executive producer on seven of the final eight episodes. Documentaries A six - part documentary series 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 Trotter archives and specially re-created moments from Del Boy 's family and friends. Spin - offs Main articles : The Green Green Grass and Rock & Chips The Green Green Grass 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. 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 the series finally ended that the idea came to fruition. The Green Green Grass sees Boycie and Marlene forced to leave Peckham by one - time Only Fools and Horses villains, the Driscoll Brothers, and has 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, a third in November 2007 and a fourth in January 2009. Rock & Chips 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. In 2009, it was again reported that the BBC were considering commissioning the show, although nothing was confirmed. On 5 April 2009, Sullivan told The Mail on Sunday 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 ''. 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. The title was subsequently changed to Rock & Chips. Filming began in August 2009, and it was shown on BBC One at 9pm on 24 January 2010. 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. Home media Main articles : Only Fools and Horses DVDs and The Only Fools and Horses DVD Collection It 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 6 million VHS copies and 1 million DVDs in the UK. In other media Audio Four episodes ( `` The Long Legs of the Law '', `` A Losing Streak '', `` No Greater Love '' and `` The Yellow Peril '' ) were re-edited for audio purposes and released on audio cassette on 12 October 1998. The cassette was re-released in October 2000. Theatre A 4 - 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. They also mistake the Duchess of York for Del 's associate. An idea of an Only Fools and Horses stage show was mooted by Ray Butt, following the success of other sit - com crossovers such as Dad 's Army and Are You Being Served ?. Sullivan was n't 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. Books 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 and `` The Complete A-Z of Only Fools and Horses '' by Richard Webber, both of which detail the history of the series. The scripts have been published in a three - volume compendium, `` The Bible of Peckham ''. In October 2015, He Who Dares..., a fictional autobiography, was released by Ebury Press. The book was written with the backing of John Sullivan 's estate. Board games 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, and another game set in their local pub, entitled the `` Nag 's Head Board Game ''. Reception See also : List of awards and nominations received by Only Fools and Horses Del Boy 's fall through an open bar - flap in `` Yuppy Love '' ( BBC video clip ) became one of the show 's well - 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, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2002 and 2003. The 1996 Christmas trilogy of `` Heroes and Villains '', `` Modern Men '' and `` Time On Our Hands '' saw the show 's peak. The first two attracted 21.3 million viewers, while the third episode -- at the time believed to be the final one -- got 24.3 million, a record audience for a British sitcom. Repeat episodes also attract millions of viewers, and the BBC has received criticism for repeating the show too often. Only Fools and Horses won the BAFTA award for best comedy series in 1985, 1988 and 1996, was nominated in 1983, 1986, 1989, 1990 and 1991, and won the audience award in 2004. David Jason received individual BAFTAs for his portrayal of Del Boy in 1990 and 1996. The series won a National Television Award in 1997 for most popular comedy series ; Jason won two individual awards, in 1997 and 2002. At the British Comedy Awards, the show was named best BBC sitcom for 1990, and received the People 's Choice award in 1997. 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. John Sullivan received the Writers ' Guild of Great Britain comedy award in 1997. 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, and came 45th in the British Film Institute 's list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes. It was 3rd on a subsequent viewers ' poll on the BFI website. Empire magazine ranked Only Fools and Horses # 42 on their list of the 50 greatest television shows of all time. It was also named the funniest British sitcom of all time through a scientific formula, in a study by Gold. 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 '' have become recognisable British comedy moments, invariably topping polls of comedy viewers. Del Boy was voted the most popular British television character of all time in a survey by Open... and came fourth in a Channel 4 list of Britain 's best - loved television characters. A Onepoll survey found that Only Fools and Horses was the television series Britons would most like to see return. Cultural impact A replica of the Trotters ' Reliant Regal. Graffiti in Croatia made by HNK Rijeka supporters paraphrasing Del : `` This Time Next Year We 'll Be Champions ! '' In addition to its mainstream popularity, Only Fools and Horses has also developed a cult following. The Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society, established in 1993, has a membership of around 7,000, publishes a quarterly newsletter, Hookie Street, and organises annual conventions of fans, usually attended by cast members. The Society has also organised an Only Fools and Horses museum, containing props from the series, including Del 's camel - hair coat and the Trotters ' Ford Capri. It was named one of the top 20 cult television programmes of all - time by TV critic Jeff Evans. Evans spoke of : `` `` ( 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 '' '' Only Fools and Horses -- and consequently John Sullivan -- is credited with the popularisation in Britain of several words and phrases used by Del Boy regularly, particularly `` Plonker '', meaning a fool or an idiot, and two expressions of delight or approval : `` Cushty '' 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. Owing to its exposure on Only Fools and Horses, the Reliant Regal van is now often linked with the show in the British media. 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. Boxer Ricky Hatton, a fan of the show, purchased one of the original vans in 2004. Another of the vans used in the series was sold at auction in the UK for £ 44,000 in 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 ''. In the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, the Trotters ' yellow Reliant van appeared on stage, along with two characters dressed as Batman and Robin, a reference to the Only Fools and Horses episode `` Heroes and Villains ''. Rose Tyler 's Father Pete Tyler is referred to as `` a bit of a Del Boy '' in the Doctor Who episode `` Father 's Day ''. International re-makes 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. In all former Yugoslav countries in which Serbo - Croatian is spoken the title was Mućke ( or Мућке in Cyrillic script ), which can roughly be translated as `` shady deals. '' In Macedonia, it 's Spletki ( Сплетки in Cyrillic ). In Slovenia, however, the show was coined Samo bedaki in konji, which is a literal Slovenian translation of the original English title. The show has enjoyed particular popularity in the former Yugoslavia, and is regarded as a cult series in Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. 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 worth ? ). 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. 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. 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. 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. The other, entitled This Time Next Year..., would have seen the Trotters renamed the Flannagans. A draft script was written for the latter, but neither show materialised. In 2010 Steve Carell, star of the US version of The Office, expressed an interest in making an American version of the series, with him to star as Del Boy. 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. 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. A parody called Only Jerks and Horses was written by David Walliams and Matt Lucas and directed by Edgar Wright in 1997. Notes ^ Jump up to : Lewisohn, Mark. `` Only Fools and Horses ''. BBC. Archived from the original on 23 September 2006. Retrieved 13 September 2006. ^ Jump up to : Lee, Darren. `` Only Fools and Horses ( 1981 - 96 ) ''. BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 4 July 2017. ^ Jump up to : Clark ( 2011 ). The Official Inside Story. pp. 290 -- 316. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 211, 212. Jump up ^ `` Del 's Lingo ''. BBC. Retrieved 5 July 2017. ^ Jump up to : Webber ( 2003 ). `` History of the sitcom ''. A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 96 -- 102. Jump up ^ Brooks, Xan ( 26 November 2014 ). `` Jim Broadbent -- the actor who rejected an OBE. And Only Fools and Horses ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 October 2015. Jump up ^ `` Rodney ''. BBC. Retrieved 6 July 2017. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 215. ^ Jump up to : Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 14. ^ Jump up to : Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 15. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 212, 213. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. pp. 52, 104 -- 106. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 185. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. pp. 102 -- 103. ^ Jump up to : Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 209, 210. Jump up ^ `` Uncle Albert ''. BBC. Retrieved 6 July 2017. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 136. Jump up ^ Clark ( 2011 ). The Official Inside Story. p. 254. ^ Jump up to : Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 207, 208. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 60. Jump up ^ `` Trigger ''. BBC. Retrieved 24 March 2013. ^ Jump up to : Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 39, 40. Jump up ^ `` Boycie ''. BBC. Retrieved 6 July 2017. Jump up ^ Clark ( 2011 ). The Official Inside Story. pp. 271, 273. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 102. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 217, 218. Jump up ^ `` Raquel ''. BBC. Retrieved 6 July 2017. ^ Jump up to : Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 210. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 38. Jump up ^ `` Marlene ''. BBC. Retrieved 6 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` Denzil ''. BBC. Retrieved 6 July 2017. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 55, 56, 63, 64. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 98. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 155, 156. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 73, 74,129 -- 131. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 176. ^ Jump up to : Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 214. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 214, 215. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 169. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 110, 184. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 150. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 217. Jump up ^ BBC Comedy Greats ( 12 March 2010 ), There 's No Calories in Weed Killer -- Only Fools and Horses -- BBC, retrieved 13 May 2016 Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 235, 236. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 126, 127. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 192, 193. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 47,202,204. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 71,182,183. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 178. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 66, 67. Jump up ^ `` Sue Holderness Interview ''. Gold. Retrieved 3 July 2017. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 103. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 50,111. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 137. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 108. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 194. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 30. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 182. Jump up ^ Clark, Steve ( 1998 ). The Only Fools and Horses Story. pp. 10 -- 11. ^ Jump up to : Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 12. Jump up ^ McCann ( 2012 ). The Story of Britain 's Favourite Comedy. p. 52. Jump up ^ McCann ( 2012 ). The Story of Britain 's Favourite Comedy. pp. 52 -- 55. Jump up ^ `` Big Brother ''. BBC. Retrieved 29 December 2006. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 78. ^ Jump up to : Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 84. ^ Jump up to : Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. pp. 92 -- 93. Jump up ^ Webber, Richard ; Dr John Sullivan ( 2003 ). The Complete A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. Orion. p. 28. Jump up ^ Clark ( 2011 ). The Official Inside Story. p. 159. ^ Jump up to : Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 100. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 102. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. pp. 102 -- 104. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 104. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. pp. 116 -- 118. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. pp. 120, 121. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 121. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 101. ^ Jump up to : Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. pp. 136 -- 139. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. pp. 140 -- 143. Jump up ^ `` Only Fools And Horses to return ''. BBC. 6 August 2001. Retrieved 14 May 2012. Jump up ^ `` David Jason suggests Only Fools and Horses could return ''. British Comedy Guide. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2012. Jump up ^ Lemanski, Dominik ( 10 February 2008 ). `` Del Boy is Dead ''. Daily Star Sunday. Retrieved 10 February 2008. Jump up ^ Saul, Heather ( 4 January 2014 ). `` Del Boy and Rodney to return in Only Fools and Horses sketch ''. The Independent. Retrieved 3 July 2017. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 2. ^ Jump up to : `` BBC ONE celebrates 21st birthday of Only Fools and Horses ''. BBC. 3 September 2002. Retrieved 17 January 2007. ^ Jump up to : Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. pp. 193, 194. Jump up ^ `` Rockney geezers : A knees - up with Chas & Dave ''. The Independent. London. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2013. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 112. Jump up ^ `` Trotter Trivia ''. UKTV Gold. Archived from the original on 27 November 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2008. ^ Jump up to : Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 202. Jump up ^ Clark, Steve ( 1998 ). The Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 52. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. pp. 146 -- 158. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 5. ^ Jump up to : McCann ( 2012 ). The Story of Britain 's Favourite Comedy. p. 312. Jump up ^ `` Specials ''. The Nag 's Head. Retrieved 13 September 2006. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 95. Jump up ^ McCann ( 2012 ). The Story of Britain 's Favourite Comedy. pp. 312, 313. Jump up ^ `` Sport Relief TV revealed ''. Sport Relief. Archived from the original on 24 January 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2012. ^ Jump up to : Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 45. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 85. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 175. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 195. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 32. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 74. Jump up ^ For the full production team, see Webber ( 2003 ), p. 161 Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 187. Jump up ^ `` Gold commissions two Sir David Jason Specials ''. UKTV. Retrieved 19 January 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Green Green Grass Series 1 ''. The British Sitcom Guide. Retrieved 29 January 2007. Jump up ^ `` The Green Green Grass Series 2 ''. The British Sitcom Guide. Retrieved 29 January 2007. Jump up ^ `` The Green Green Grass Series 3 ''. The British Sitcom Guide. Retrieved 29 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` The Green Green Grass Series 4 ''. The British Sitcom Guide. Retrieved 10 June 2009. Jump up ^ `` ' Fools and Horses ' to get 60s spin - off ''. UK TV. 6 September 2003. Archived from the original on 3 February 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2017. Jump up ^ Johnson, Andrew ( 11 January 2009 ). `` Lovely jubbly ! Del Boy 's back -- as a teenager ''. The Independent. London. Retrieved 23 March 2009. Jump up ^ Rollo, Sarah ( 6 April 2009 ). `` Television -- News -- ' Only Fools and Horses ' prequel planned ''. Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 April 2009. Jump up ^ `` Press Office -- BBC One brings back the Trotters in Sex, Drugs & Rock ' n ' Chips ''. BBC. Retrieved 3 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` Press Office -- Network TV Programme Information BBC Week 4 Sunday 24 January 2010 ''. BBC. Retrieved 22 March 2012. Jump up ^ Parker, Robin ( 3 July 2009 ). `` Trotters to return in Only Fools and Horses prequel ''. Broadcastnow.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2009. ( subscription required ) ^ Jump up to : `` Lyndhurst returns as Rodney 's dad ''. BBC News. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2010. Jump up ^ `` Only Fools and Horses -- Strangers on the Shore ''. 7 October 2003. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Only Fools And Horses Lvly Jbly with ' text ' generation ''. BBC. 1 November 2003. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 28. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. pp. 118, 119. Jump up ^ McCann ( 2012 ). The Story of Britain 's Favourite Comedy. p. 190. Jump up ^ Steve Clark. `` A tribute to Only Fools and Horses producer Gareth Gwenlan ''. Steve Clark. Retrieved 18 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` Richard Webber ''. Hilary Johnson Authors ' Advisory Service. Retrieved 18 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` John Sullivan ''. Penguin Books Limited. Retrieved 18 July 2017. Jump up ^ Rigby, Sam ( 28 May 2015 ). `` Del Boy is releasing his autobiography He Who Dares in October ''. Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 July 2017. Jump up ^ Myall, Steve ( 12 October 2015 ). `` ' Del Boy ' Trotter 's autobiography released : `` It 's got everything : pictures, words, birds, violence, adventure '' ``. Mirror Online. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017. Jump up ^ Trotter, Derek ' Del Boy ' ( 8 October 2015 ). `` He Who Dares ''. Ebury Press -- via Amazon. Jump up ^ `` Only Fools and Horses Trotters Trading Game ( 1990 ) ''. BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 3 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Nags Head Board Game ( Only Fools and Horses ) ( 2004 ) ''. BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 3 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` 1986 ''. Barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` 1989 ''. Barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` 1990 ''. Barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` 1991 ''. Barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` 1992 ''. Barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` 1993 ''. Barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` 1996 ''. Barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2001 ''. Barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2002 ''. Barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2003 ''. Barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` Heroes and Villains ''. BBC. Retrieved 29 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Modern Men ''. BBC. Retrieved 29 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Time On Our Hands ''. BBC. Retrieved 29 December 2006. Jump up ^ Desborough, James ( 31 March 2017 ). `` Only Fools gold : When Del Boy and Rodney finally became ' million - nares ' at last ''. Mirror Online. Retrieved 3 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` Only a fool would drop repeats of best shows, BBC is told ''. The Times. 29 August 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ Moore, Charles ( 5 March 2005 ). `` David Jason calls for less of Del Boy ''. The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` BBC told to cut repeats ''. ThisIsLondon. 13 July 2004. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` Comedy Series 1985 ''. Bafta.org. Retrieved 15 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Comedy Series 1988 ''. Bafta.org. Retrieved 15 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Comedy Series 1996 ''. Bafta.org. Retrieved 15 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Comedy Series 1983 ''. Bafta.org. Retrieved 15 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Comedy Series 1986 ''. Bafta.org. Retrieved 15 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Comedy Series 1989 ''. Bafta.org. Retrieved 15 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Comedy Series 1990 ''. Bafta.org. Retrieved 15 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Comedy Series 1991 ''. Bafta.org. Retrieved 15 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Best Light Entertainment Performance 1990 ''. Bafta.org. Retrieved 15 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Best Comedy Performance 1996 ''. Bafta.org. Retrieved 15 January 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Roll call of NTA winners ''. National Television Awards. Retrieved 16 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Past Winners 1990 ''. British Comedy Awards. Retrieved 16 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Past Winners 1997 ''. British Comedy Awards. Retrieved 16 January 2012. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 26. Jump up ^ Hayward, Anthony ( 24 April 2011 ). `` John Sullivan : Writer who created the classic sitcom ' Only Fools and Horses ', as well as ' Citizen Smith ' and ' Just Good Friends ' ''. The Independent. Retrieved 3 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` Britain 's Best Sitcom ''. BBC. Retrieved 13 September 2006. Jump up ^ `` BFI TV100 ''. BFI. Retrieved 14 September 2006. Jump up ^ `` Your favourite programme : poll results ''. BFI. Archived from the original on 27 August 2006. Retrieved 13 September 2006. Jump up ^ `` The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time ''. Empire magazine. Retrieved 31 July 2008. Jump up ^ `` Fools tops ' sitcom formula ' test ''. BBC. 6 June 2005. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Del Boy 's wine bar fall is favourite television pub scene ''. Ananova. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Comedy greats ''. BBC. 13 August 2000. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Del tops Christmas TV poll ''. BBC. 7 December 2001. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Del Boy rivals moon landing for top TV ''. BBC. 28 August 1999. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Del Boy tops popularity poll ''. BBC. 19 April 2000. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` 100 Greatest TV Characters ''. Channel 4. Archived from the original on 29 August 2006. Retrieved 13 September 2006. Jump up ^ `` Britons ' want Del Boy TV return ' ''. BBC. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2008. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 148. Jump up ^ `` Del Boy museum planned ''. BBC. 19 July 2001. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Doctor Who named cult favourite ''. BBC. 7 August 2001. Retrieved 30 December 2006. ^ Jump up to : Vanessa Thorpe ( 29 July 2001 ). `` Del 's back : you 'd be a plonker to miss it ''. The Observer. London. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` TV provides new dictionary entries ''. BBC. 20 August 2003. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ Wollaston, Sam ( 27 August 1999 ). `` Reliant Robin reborn ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ Moore, Charles ( 21 July 2001 ). `` ' Axed ' Reliant Robin is given a second wind ''. The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` End of the road for Reliant Robin ''. BBC. 27 September 2000. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Cars of the Stars ''. carsofthestars.com. Retrieved 17 September 2006. Jump up ^ Chris Charles ( 29 September 2004 ). `` Ricky 's one Del of a fighter ''. BBC. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Del Boy 's Reliant makes a killing ''. BBC. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2007. Jump up ^ Bill Garrett ( 16 June 2004 ). `` Coke 's water bomb ''. BBC. Retrieved 30 December 2006. Jump up ^ Suzannah Hills ( 12 August 2012 ). `` The Peckham Job ! ''. Daily Mail. Retrieved 24 August 2012. Jump up ^ `` 108. Father 's Day ''. Doctor Who TV. Retrieved 4 July 2017. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 25. Jump up ^ `` Only Fools and Horses : a ' triffic ' hit in Serbia ''. The Guardian. London. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2013. Jump up ^ Webber ( 2003 ). A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. p. 234. Jump up ^ For more details of O Fura - Vidas, see `` Chris ' fools and horses page ''. waitenet.co.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2006. Jump up ^ `` Đurov humor se združi z britanskim ''. RTV ( in Slovenian ). 19 August 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2012. Jump up ^ Clark ( 1998 ). Only Fools and Horses Story. p. 90. Jump up ^ See Webber ( 2003 ), pp. 259 -- 63 for the draft script Jump up ^ `` Pass notes 2,720 : Steve Carell ''. The Guardian. London. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2010. Jump up ^ `` ABC picks up 3 comedy pilots ''. Chicago Times. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` ' Only Fools and Horses ' US remake rejected for second time by ABC ''. Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 October 2015. Jump up ^ `` Only Jerks and Horses ( 1997 ) ''. British Film Institute. Retrieved 3 July 2017. References Clark, Steve ( 1998 ). The Only Fools and Horses Story. London : BBC Worldwide. ISBN 978 - 0563 - 384 - 458. Weber, Richard ; Sullivan, John ( 2000 ). Only Fools and Horses : Bible of Peckham Vol 1. London : BBC Worldwide. ISBN 978 - 0563 - 538 - 189. Sullivan, John ; Clark, Steve ( 2000 ). Only Fools and Horses : Bible of Peckham Vol 2. London : BBC Worldwide. ISBN 978 - 0563 - 551 - 775. Sullivan, John ( 2001 ). Only Fools and Horses : Bible of Peckham Vol 3. London : BBC Worldwide. ISBN 978 - 0563 - 537 - 458. Webber, Richard ; Dr John Sullivan ( 2003 ). The Complete A-Z of Only Fools and Horses. London : Orion books. ISBN 978 - 0752 - 860 - 251. Clark, Steve ( 2011 ). Only Fools and Horses : The Official Inside Story. Droxford : Splendid Books Limited. ISBN 978 - 0955 - 891 - 694. McCann, Graham ( 2012 ). Only Fools and Horses : The Story of Britain 's Favourite Comedy ( Paperback ed. ). Edinburgh : Canongate Books. ISBN 978 - 0857 - 860 - 569. External links Wikiquote has quotations related to : Only Fools and Horses Wikimedia Commons has media related to Only Fools and Horses. Only Fools and Horses at BBC Programmes Only Fools and Horses at British Comedy Guide Only Fools and Horses at Facebook Only Fools and Horses at UKTV Gold Only Fools and Horses at the BFI 's Screenonline Only Fools and Horses on IMDb Only Fools and Horses at British TV Comedy Guide Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society Audio interviews with the cast, and photos from an Only Fools and Horses Day in Swindon in 2004 at * * * BBC Wiltshire Filming locations from Only Fools and Horses Only Fools and Horses List of episodes Characters Derek Trotter Rodney Trotter Grandad Uncle Albert Trigger Boycie Marlene Mike Raquel Cassandra Damien Denzil Mickey Pearce Roy Slater Merchandise Home video DVD Collection See also Awards The Green Green Grass Rock & Chips Only Fools and Horses episodes Series 1 `` Big Brother '' `` Go West Young Man '' `` Cash and Curry '' `` The Second Time Around '' `` A Slow Bus to Chingford '' `` The Russians Are Coming '' Series 2 `` The Long Legs of the Law '' `` Ashes to Ashes '' `` A Losing Streak '' `` No Greater Love '' `` The Yellow Peril '' `` It Never Rains... '' `` A Touch of Glass '' Series 3 `` Homesick '' `` Healthy Competition '' `` Friday the 14th '' `` Yesterday Never Comes '' `` May the Force Be with You '' `` Wanted '' `` Who 's a Pretty Boy ? '' Series 4 `` Happy Returns '' `` Strained Relations '' `` Hole in One '' `` It 's Only Rock and Roll '' `` Sleeping Dogs Lie '' `` Watching the Girls Go By '' `` As One Door Closes '' Series 5 `` From Prussia with Love '' `` The Miracle of Peckham '' `` The Longest Night '' `` Tea for Three '' `` Video Nasty '' `` Who Wants to Be a Millionaire ? '' Series 6 `` Yuppy Love '' `` Danger UXD '' `` Chain Gang '' `` The Unlucky Winner Is... '' `` Sickness and Wealth '' `` Little Problems '' Series 7 `` The Sky 's the Limit '' `` The Chance of a Lunchtime '' `` Stage Fright '' `` The Class of ' 62 '' `` He Ai n't Heavy, He 's My Uncle '' `` Three Men, a Woman and a Baby '' Specials 1980s `` Christmas Crackers '' `` Diamonds Are for Heather '' `` Thicker than Water '' `` To Hull and Back '' `` A Royal Flush '' `` The Frog 's Legacy '' `` Dates '' `` The Jolly Boys ' Outing '' 1990s `` Rodney Come Home '' `` Miami Twice '' `` Mother Nature 's Son '' `` Fatal Extraction '' `` Heroes and Villains '' `` Modern Men '' `` Time on Our Hands '' 2000s `` If They Could See Us Now '' `` Strangers on the Shore '' `` Sleepless in Peckham '' Miscellaneous `` Christmas Trees '' `` Licensed to Drill '' `` White Mice '' `` Royal Variety Show '' `` The Robin Flies at Dawn '' `` Comic Relief Special '' `` Beckham in Peckham '' The Green Green Grass Characters Boycie Episodes Series 1 `` Keep On Running '' `` A Rocky Start '' `` The Country Wife '' `` Hay Fever '' `` Pillow Talk '' `` Sex and the Country '' `` One Flew Over the Cuckoo Clock '' Series 2 `` Testing Times '' `` Here 's to You, Mrs Boyce '' `` Bothered and Bewildered '' `` Mother Earth '' `` Schoolboy French '' `` More Questions Than Answers '' `` Brothers and Sisters '' `` From Here to Paternity '' Series 3 `` But is it Art ? '' `` The Lonely Herdsman '' `` If You Go Down to the Woods '' `` Sweet Sorrow '' `` Fifteen Minutes '' `` The Final Curtain '' `` Lust in Translation '' `` The Special Relationship '' Series 4 `` The Path of True Love '' `` Home Brew '' `` Calendar Boys '' `` Animal Instincts '' `` Your Cheating Art '' `` The Departed '' `` I Done It My Way '' `` One Man 's Junk '' `` For Richer For Poorer '' See also Only Fools and Horses Rock & Chips John Sullivan Jim Sullivan Rock & Chips Regular characters Del Boy Grandad Trigger Boycie Denzil List of episodes Pilot Five Gold Rings The Frog and the Pussycat See also Only Fools and Horses The Green Green Grass John Sullivan Works by John Sullivan Sitcoms Citizen Smith ( 1977 -- 80 ) Only Fools and Horses ( 1981 -- 2003 ) Just Good Friends ( 1983 -- 86 ) Dear John ( UK TV series ) ( 1986 -- 87 ) Dear John ( U.S. TV series ) ( 1988 -- 92 ) Sitting Pretty ( 1992 -- 93 ) Roger Roger ( 1996 -- 2003 ) Heartburn Hotel ( 1998 -- 2000 ) The Green Green Grass ( 2005 -- 09 ) Other Over Here ( 1996 ) Micawber ( 2001 ) Rock & Chips ( 2010 -- 11 ) BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy Series Yes Minister ( 1981 ) Yes Minister ( 1982 ) Yes Minister ( 1983 ) Hi - de-Hi ! ( 1984 ) The Young Ones ( 1985 ) Only Fools and Horses ( 1986 ) Just Good Friends ( 1987 ) Blackadder the Third ( 1988 ) Only Fools and Horses ( 1989 ) Blackadder Goes Forth ( 1990 ) The New Statesman ( 1991 ) One Foot in the Grave ( 1992 ) Absolutely Fabulous ( 1993 ) Drop the Dead Donkey ( 1994 ) Three Fights, Two Weddings and a Funeral ( 1995 ) Father Ted ( 1996 ) Only Fools and Horses ( 1997 ) I 'm Alan Partridge ( 1998 ) Father Ted ( 1999 ) The League of Gentlemen ( 2000 ) Da Ali G Show ( 2001 ) The Sketch Show ( 2002 ) Alistair McGowan 's Big Impression ( 2003 ) Little Britain ( 2004 ) Little Britain ( 2005 ) Help ( 2006 ) That Mitchell and Webb Look ( 2007 ) Fonejacker ( 2008 ) Harry & Paul ( 2009 ) The Armstrong & Miller Show ( 2010 ) Harry & Paul ( 2011 ) Stewart Lee 's Comedy Vehicle ( 2012 ) The Revolution Will Be Televised ( 2013 ) A League of Their Own ( 2014 ) The Graham Norton Show ( 2015 ) Have I Got News for You ( 2016 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Only_Fools_and_Horses&oldid=817010107 '' Categories : 1981 British television programme debuts 2003 British television programme endings 1980s British comedy television series 1990s British comedy television series 2000s British comedy television series BAFTA winners ( television series ) BBC Radio comedy programmes BBC television sitcoms Comedy in London English - language television programs Only Fools and Horses Television programmes shot in Bristol Television series about dysfunctional families Television shows set in London Peckham Hidden categories : Pages containing links to subscription - only content CS1 Slovenian - language sources ( sl ) All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from June 2016 Use British English from August 2010 Use dmy dates from March 2015 Talk Contents Help About Wikipedia Wikiquote Bosanski Cymraeg Deutsch Français Gaeilge Hrvatski Italiano עברית Македонски Nederlands Русский Simple English Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 25 December 2017, at 11 : 48. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: when was only fools and horses first shown
Answer: 1981