The 1983 Christmas special sees the appearance of Del and Rodney's Father, Reg, who claims to be suffering from a hereditary blood disorder. After trying to make Del think he isn't his real son, as his blood group is different, he departs once more. His is investigating a diamond smuggling operation, which Del and Rodney get wound up in. The Trotters are required to travel to Amsterdam, and meet with a man called Van Cleef, while avoiding the police at the stations and ports, so after Del is accidentally trapped in a lorry travelling to Hull, they eventually decide to sail a boat, themselves. In the end they are caught, and it turns out that Slater is one of the brains behind the operation.
Slater is arrested and sent to prison.
They are parted later after a disagreement, Raquel's departure for an acting tour, and Del's brief arrest. This time, it was during an outing with Rodney, Albert, and friends, and while they were stranded in Margate, after their coach exploded. Raquel is found to be working with a magician, the Great Raymondo, but leaves with Del in the end. He initial appears to be trying to make friends with everyone, after the way he's treated them in the past, but it turns out that he's only back in the area to see his wife, Raquel. He was named Damien, after Rodney suggested it, having privately joked with Cassandra, that the baby will become the anti-Christ.