Stage Fright

"**Stage Fright**" is an episode of the BBC sitcom *Only Fools and Horses*. It was the third episode of series 7, and first broadcast on 13 January 1991.

## Synopsis

Since Raquel is now pregnant, Del Boy finds another opportunity to be a millionaire when *The Starlight Rooms*, managed by an old acquaintance, Eric, needs a good act. Del believes that Raquel is perfect for the part, and they even talk about how her solicitors are trying to locate her ex-husband. Del then successfully convinces Raquel to marry him.

Later, at *The Down by the Riverside Club*, Del and Rodney meet Trigger's friend, Tony Angelino, the Singing Dustman, who has styled himself after Tom Jones and singing to various old women who lust for him. Del thinks that Tony would be the perfect singing partner for Raquel. He then gets Tony to sign a contract, as well as tell him all about the upcoming performance at the Starlight Rooms with Raquel. Tony agrees to do the performance, with Raquel as his partner, Del as their manager, and Rodney as their roadie. Tony warns Del that he can only sing certain songs, but Del reassures him that everything will be fine.

The next day at *The Nag's Head*, Del learns from Mike and Boycie that the Starlight Rooms are owned by a tough gangster named Eugene Macarthy, who nails people to doors when he isn't satisfied. And to make matters worse, tonight is his mother's birthday when Raquel and Tony sing.

That night, Del eventually makes it to the Starlight Rooms after being in court after being prosecuted for fly-pitching. Eric introduces Raquel, who starts singing "Crying" very well - at least until Tony takes the stage and sings along. Only then does it emerge why Tony only sings certain songs; he has a rhotacism, causing him to pronounce his R's incorrectly, making "Crying" sound more like "Cwying". Del quickly leaves after the song is over, while Rodney applauds politely.

Back at Nelson Mandela House, Del is worried about what Eugene will do to him, until a fuming Raquel and a sniggering Rodney both enter. Raquel admits that she and Tony carried on with the performance, singing "Please Welease Me", "Congwatulations", and the "Gween, Gween Gwass of Home", followed by a medley of wock and woll, so says Rodney.

Tony shows up for his money, and Del pays him, Raquel, and Rodney. Tony then talks about how his rhotacism prevents him from pronouncing his R's correctly, and that he only sings songs without any R's in them. With that said, Tony leaves, and Del gets a telephone call from Eugene. But it is not all bad news, as Eugene says that his mother thought Raquel and Tony's performance was the funniest thing she'd seen in her life, and he wants to book Tony and Raquel on a five-week contract.

Del quickly calls Tony back from the balcony and tells him, "Hang about, Tony. I've got you some more bookings. Stick with me, son, I'll make you wich!"

## Featured characters

* Del Boy
* Rodney
* Uncle Albert
* Raquel
* Mike Fisher
* Trigger
* Boycie
* Tony Angelino
* Eric
* Eugene Macarthy
* Mrs. Macarthy

## Other notes

### Story arc

* Despite Del's apparent success at the end of the episode, Tony is never mentioned again in the series and no details on any events which follow the episode in relation to Eugene's desire to secure Raquel on contract ever surface, but then again, isn't that what fan-fiction is for?

### Continuity errors

* While sat in the Nag's Head, Albert asks what Rodney did with his golden handshake after he accidentally quit working for *Parry Print Ltd* in "The Chance of a Lunchtime". Del says "He's kissed that all up the wall, ain't he?" But in "Miami Twice", Rodney receives his pension money from Alan.
* Del tells Raquel that his mother Joan died *after* his father Reg ran away, but in "A Losing Streak", Del told Rodney that Joan died *before* Reg ran away.
* While Del and Rodney are making their deal with Tony at the Down by the Riverside Club, Tony asks if Del will be at the hall for the rehearsal the next morning. Rodney says he wouldn't be as he is in court, and Del then says he is a witness for something. Tony then accidentally says "Oh right." pronouncing the R perfectly. All the other scenes including the classic "Crying" scene show his rhotacism.

### Production goofs

* When Del is in The Nag's Head and he's asking Mike for a drink, Raquel is sitting talking to Mike and she finishes her drink. Then, after a few moments, she's still got some drink left.

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"Cash and Curry" ·
"The Second Time Around" ·
"A Slow Bus To Chingford" ·
"Ashes to Ashes" ·
"A Losing Streak" ·
"No Greater Love" ·
"The Yellow Peril" ·
"It Never Rains..." ·
"Healthy Competition" ·
"Friday the 14th" ·
"Yesterday Never Comes" ·
"May the Force Be with You" ·
"Wanted" ·
"Strained Relations ·
"Hole in One" ·
"It's Only Rock and Roll" ·
"Sleeping Dogs Lie" ·
"Watching the Girls Go By" ·
"The Miracle of Peckham" ·
"The Longest Night" ·
"Tea for Three" ·
"Video Nasty" ·
"Danger UXD" ·
"Chain Gang" ·
"The Unlucky Winner Is..." ·
"Sickness and Wealth" ·
"The Chance of a Lunchtime" ·
"**Stage Fright**" ·
"The Class of '62" ·
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Uncle" ·
"Diamonds Are For Heather" (1982) ·
"Thicker than Water" (1983) ·
"Licensed to Drill" (1984) ·
"To Hull and Back" (1985) ·
"A Royal Flush" (1986) ·
"The Frog's Legacy" (1987) ·
"Dates" (1988) ·
"The Jolly Boys' Outing" (1989) ·
"Rodney Come Home" (1990) ·
"Miami Twice" (1991) ·
"Mother Nature's Son" (1992) ·
"Fatal Extraction" (1993) ·
"Heroes and Villains" (1996) ·
"Modern Men" (1996) ·
"Time On Our Hands" (1996) ·
"If They Could See Us Now" (2001) ·
"Strangers on the Shore" (2002) ·
"Sleepless in Peckham" (2003)
"Beckham in Peckham" (2014)