The History of Only Fools and Horses - Part Four

Image Source: Joke

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Parts One, Two and Three charted the majority of the history of Only Fools and Horses. This final chapter looks at the intended final trilogy, as well as what would ultimately be a short series of comeback episodes from 2001-2003.

Christmas Specials 1996

Part one, Heroes & Villains, is remembered for one scene only: Del and Rodney running through the streets of Peckham dressed as Batman and Robin, en route to a fancy dress party. It has been played so often that, to be honest, it's lost some value to me, especially since they do little besides running to make the audience laugh. At the time, though, it was a massively funny moment, although to me it was funnier that they turned up at the party only to discover that it had now become a wake. In the meantime, we learn that Cassandra is pregnant with Rodney's first child. This was a good start to the 1996 Xmas trilogy, even if I still believe that the Batman and Robin scene is a bit overrated; it felt contrived, which was not normally the case for Sullivan's big comedy moments. Perhaps he wanted to ensure that the trilogy had at least one hugely memorable moment.

Part two, Modern Men, is a weird one. It's based around Del considering a vasectomy, in between Rodney trying to apply for a job that is ultimately his own in a fantastic scene. But then we suddenly jump to Cassandra finding out that she has had a miscarriage. Del's OTT reaction to this prevents the deeply sad occurrence being a depressing moment for viewers to watch, although we do witness genuine emotion between Rodney and Cassandra before Del flattens an unruly "patient" to at least end this episode on a positive note. I've often wondered why Sullivan felt the need to insert the miscarriage aspect, rather than allowing a birth to happen naturally. Maybe it was to give the Trotters a final setback, their biggest yet (besides Grandad's death, which was necessitated by real-life events), before going from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs in part three.

That part, Time On Our Hands, begins with Rodney breaking down in a very emotional and realistic fashion about the miscarriage before a disastrous dinner with Raquel's parents unexpectedly opens the door to Raquel's father James picking up a watch within the Trotter garage that he states has value. Little do Del and Rodney realise that the watch is valued at over £6 million, which after an auction finally makes them millionaires. These scenes are humorous yet touching, as a fifteen-year journey culminates in success for the wheeling-and-dealing Trotters. After making big purchases (Albert gets a ship, which he hilariously crashes once more), the Trotters reminisce on their life experiences before quite literally walking off into the sunset for the intended series climax.

The final chapter attracted 24.3 million viewers, an all-time record for a British sitcom, which illustrates how much OFAH meant to so many. As daft as it sounds, people were happy for the Trotters to finally reach their lifelong target, and the writing was superb; Del casually throws aside the watch early on, with not even the slightest hint that the item could be the one that makes him rich (he even makes a negative comment questioning how a watch like that would make him the millionaire he aspires to be). Only when researching this article did I discover that the seeds were planted in Heroes & Villains when Del potentially hints at the watch for the first time, which if true makes the writing even better. Best of all, with every key goal achieved for the Trotters, Only Fools could finish with dignity and be remembered as the greatest sitcom of all-time.

However, that wasn't quite the end of the story.

Christmas Special 2001

For unknown reasons (perhaps because the end of OFAH left a major gap in people's Christmas viewing schedules), by 2001 it was decided that Only Fools should be brought back. On the one hand, people felt that the 1996 trilogy provided the perfect finale, and resurrecting OFAH would tarnish its legacy. But on the other hand, some plotlines had yet to be completely resolved, and the 21st century episodes would have some more memorable moments to boast. Whatever the case, OFAH returned with If They Could See Us Now.

This episode had a lot to cover: the Trotters enjoying their new-found wealth before somehow losing it all via the Central American stock market crashing; the death of Uncle Albert (Buster Merryfield had died in 1999, whilst this new script was being written), which paradoxically leads to a humorous funeral mix-up; and the Trotters looking to bounce back when Del appears on a TV gameshow entitled Gold Rush, and hosted by Jonathan Ross, with the results being somewhat underwhelming for Del and co. (By the way, Kenneth McDonald, who played Mike, also died during the five-year gap; his absence was explained by the statement that he was in prison.)

With 21.3 million viewers representing the BBC's viewing peak for the 2000s, it was clear that there remained plenty of interest in Only Fools, but the episode still dismayed many fans. It felt unnecessary, because were we now hoping for a way in which the Trotters could become millionaires again? Meanwhile, the teenager Damien simply was not funny, and almost all of his scenes were embarrassing, whether it be down to the delivery by Ben Smith or for the material provided for a modern-day teenager (well, modern by 2001 standards), which flew in the face of the sort of dialogue used by the Trotters up until this point. Add to that how the actors and actresses had seemingly aged ten years in five (Rodney was now noticeably grey), and it's understandable why many view this as a low point for OFAH.

That all being said, the episode was still funny, and fortunately for the more critical fans, the journey wasn't over yet.

Christmas Special 2002

Of the new millennium specials, the funniest was definitely Strangers On The Shore. A forgotten gem, this one saw Del and Rodney, who were now in the process of attempting to pay off a massive debt, represent Albert at a naval reunion in France. This allows Del to conduct business with the Nag's Head via Trigger, Denzil and a French beer store, but in the process they unexpectedly bring home a "tourist", who cannot speak English but simply says "Gary".

It's really funny; even if you don't care for the modern Only Fools episodes, you should check this out. It wasn't a classic, but it was the last OFAH episode which truly made me laugh from start to finish. There were also a few side-plots, such as Boycie's hair continuously smelling of onions thanks to tampering by Del, and some "revelations" from the naval reunion that Albert may have had some, shall we say, "relationships" with a number of women abroad.

Although it's never revealed in a grand fashion, we find out that Cassandra is pregnant again, which was a weird development. At the very least, shouldn't this have been a big moment, perhaps one to end the episode upon, after the miscarriage in 1996? Odd writing there; although it's possible that since a big deal was made of Cassandra originally announcing her first pregnancy only for it to go badly, it was perhaps better to make it more understated this time around.

Christmas Special 2003

The final ever episode of Only Fools (I don't count the Sport Relief mini-special in 2014 nor other brief versions of OFAH from previous years, because they simply weren't proper episodes), Sleepless In Peckham ties up a few loose ends with the Trotters' financial woes being rescued by Albert's savings, which allows them to recoup some of their lost fortunes; Rodney and Cassandra finally having their first child born successfully; and after revisiting an old plot through a recently-discovered archive photograph, the revelation that Freddie The Frog/Freddie Robdal was indeed Rodney's father, making him and Del half-brothers. We also get some side-plots like Trigger coming up with increasingly daft invention concepts, and unusual absences for Denzil and Marlene both having surprise explanations.

This was a worthy episode to go out on, since it tied up some remaining plot queries. And whilst the audience of 16.37 million viewers was smaller than that of its peak years, television had dramatically changed since the 1980s, and it still consisted of two-thirds of all British households watching TV that evening. That being said, there are still those who maintain that the show should have ended in 1996 when the Trotters became millionaires, and it's hard to disagree with them. Besides the Gary situation in the 2002 special, there was nothing in the final three episodes which was massively funny or which couldn't have been featured in the 1996 trilogy in some form or fashion. In addition, the Freddie-as-Rodney's dad revelation, which was hinted at back in the 1987 special, could have been the cliffhanger to end Modern Men on, so that Rodney and Cassandra could have had their successful child birth back in 1996, thus allowing everything to be tied up when it was originally intended. Or the situation concerning Rodney's true father could have been left open, since it still casts a bit of a shadow upon the end of the series that, in the end, Del and Rodney ultimately were only half-brothers (even if their physical differences should have been a red flag pointing towards that direction from the start).

Mind you, OFAH certainly didn't embarrass itself during its 2000s revival like some other shows have, and fortunately after the 2003 special, the door was finally closed on Only Fools and Horses, ensuring that its legacy remained intact as an all-time comedy classic. Yes, we've had the spin-offs like The Green Green Grass and Rock & Chips, and the Sport Relief special, but Only Fools in its original and true form officially ended in 2003, and it is not and should not be coming back. And it won't, because writer John Sullivan sadly died in 2011. Roger Lloyd-Pack, who played Trigger, also died in 2014, and with David Jason now approaching his late 70s, and even Nicholas Lyndhurst being in his mid-50s, the Trotter dynamic simply wouldn't work anyway. Any attempt to rekindle the magic now would prove unsuccessful, and what would be the point? There is nothing left for them to do, and adding further episodes to decreasing audiences would only hinder the show's amazing reputation.

Final Thoughts

After reliving the history of Only Fools and Horses, it's clear that there was never a complex formula into why the show was so great. The elements were simple: a strong cast of characters played by some magnificent performers who were perfect for their roles; a mixture of unpredictable comedy chaos mixed with a semblance of logic and a continuous chase for financial and romantic success; a never-ending salvo of great one-liners; some signature trademarks (the theme tune, the three-wheel van, the catch phrases or regular sayings), and an extremely careful and meticulous approach to writing, which makes the show a true titan based on the scripting alone. I enjoy the little details, like the Vicar being seen for a half-second when Del is talking to Aunt Renee about Freddie The Frog, only to offer his thoughts on Freddie later in the show; like the aforementioned flinging/discovery of the watch that would make the Trotters rich; like the deliberate patience shown before unleashing scenes designed to elicit huge laughter (such as Knock Knock, who only came to the Trotter's flat towards the end of the Albert-was-mugged episode, whereby Albert's question of "Who's there?" was unexpectedly yet logically responded with "Knock Knock"). Then there's the side-plots like Boycie and Marlene's own struggles to have a child which finally come true, like Denzil changing businesses and this never being rewritten, like the rumours about Marlene carrying on with Del that would never be proven. The show as a whole was simply brilliant. When you watch it, it's almost like you're watching family, as ridiculous as that may sound, because the nation simply fell in love with Peckham's finest.

I don't think that there will ever be another comedy show that compares to OFAH for a few reasons. Comedy has changed nowadays; although John Sullivan wrote his shows for an older audience, the material was appropriate for the family to enjoy, and you actually had jokes and you had funny situations. Nowadays, the emphasis on swearing and sexual content amongst most comedy shows means that truly funny writing is something of a lost art. It's like the stand-up comedian who spends ten minutes discussing airport struggles rather than telling you simple yet equally humorous jokes. And in this age of social media, even the funniest episodes would probably be greeted by trolling Tweeters who spread something like #CancelOnlyFools. The BBC or whomever wouldn't have the patience to commission it for years on end, never mind the 22 years that it ultimately lasted for. And those who played key roles in the show were genuinely good actors, or genuinely good comedy actors, whereas nowadays comedians play comedy roles and try to get their own style of humour over, which weakens the show as a whole. (By the way, it's interesting how, with the exception of David Jason, none of the cast ever had a role as prominent as what they enjoyed in OFAH; they starred in other programmes and films, sure, but David Jason is the only one who has other works which he can compare to that of his character in Only Fools.) Besides, would any comedy writers have the attention span, the focus on detail and the flair for writing "big moments" like John Sullivan did?

It's probable that the show did peak in the late 1980s, and perhaps it should have called it a day in 1996, if not even earlier. But unlike The Simpsons, which has dragged on for so long that it is now almost two decades past its prime, Only Fools and Horses still has its legacy intact, with a wealth of classic episodes and dozens of other editions which were still really funny, along with providing many of British television's most hilarious moments of all-time. So long as no attempts are made to "relive the good old days", that will remain the case.

There will be many new comedies in future, and some may achieve greatness, but I doubt that there will ever, ever be a better television comedy than Only Fools and Horses. Some may try, but it's unlikely that they'll succeed. Mind you, if they do, then this time next year, they really should be millionaires.

Check back tomorrow for my ranking list of every episode of Only Fools and Horses!

The History of Only Fools and Horses - Part Three

Image Source: Joke

Written By: Mark Armstrong

In Parts One and Two, I charted the beginning and rise of Only Fools and Horses. In this third chapter, I will recap what was probably the greatest ever year for the series, along with some memorable Christmas specials and the final "proper" series.

Series Six - 1989

In the past, each series consisted of stand-alone episodes, with perhaps the odd reference to a previous show here and there. In series six, however, there was one constant plotline throughout, that being the development of Rodney's relationship with Cassandra, played by Gwyneth Strong. They meet at a computer class in the first episode of the series and, by the sixth and final episode of the series, they are getting married. In the meantime, however, we were treated to arguably the greatest OFAH series ever.

Yuppy Love features a ton of great moments, none more memorable than what is probably the funniest Only Fools scene ever, as Del Boy takes a surprising tumble through a space left behind by a now-upright bar flap. This was another testament to Sullivan's first-class writing, because absolutely nobody saw it coming; it was set up so subtly, so effectively, that not a single member of the audience was expecting him to fall in this fashion. Ironically, the basis of the scene was not Del's fall but Trigger's reaction because one moment he saw Del, and the next he didn't, but because of his stupid nature, he had no idea what had happened.

Then we had Danger UXD, which was another fantastic episode as the Trotters ended up with potentially dangerous blow-up dolls, and had a great scene in itself where the dolls began to unexpectedly inflate in the Trotters' flat. Chain Gang provided fewer laughs, but was another example of Sullivan's superb writing as Del and friends' deal with a crooked jewellery salesman is resolved in brilliant fashion, with some subtle yet crucial developments along the way. Another wonderful episode came in the form of The Unlucky Winner Is ..., as Rodney is entered into an art competition to win a holiday and triumphs, except that it's for under-15s only. Cue some truly hilarious situations as the Trotters handle the consequences.

Although this series has the strongest episodes on the whole, the next edition Sickness and Wealth is one of the less fondly-remembered episodes. The scenes where the gang believe the so-called spiritual medium Elsie Partridge are funny, but the possibility that Del is ill because he has possibly caught HIV gives the episode a bit of a depressing feel, even though it is eventually revealed that he is fine and just had stomach cramps. The reference to HIV/AIDS was a bit groundbreaking by late 1980s standards, but whilst Sullivan's writing was generally strong, I and many others feel that this episode is lacking something, and is a bit dark in places. The series rebounded with Little Problems, where Rodney and Cassandra get married. Perhaps its most memorable moment comes near the end where after the wedding, Del is left alone, with Rodney no longer his little sidekick, and with his own love life still unresolved. In fact, the scene (accompanied by Simply Red's Holding Back The Years) drew many in the audience to tears. It does end with a quick scene to remind Del that Rodney will always be a "plonker", even if he no longer lives with him and Albert.

If the previous years elevated Only Fools to legendary status, this series cemented the show as an all-time great. There were so many stand-out moments either for comedic effect or for providing real drama. The performances were magnificent, the writing flawless, the comedy timing immaculate. And yet it would still get even better.

Christmas Special 1989

To me, and a large number of diehard fans, no OFAH episode was better than The Jolly Boys' Outing. A masterpiece of a Christmas special based around a trip to Margate for a whole host of male characters, this had plenty of genuinely memorable moments, such as Rodney whacking a police officer with a football, a coach blowing up, a hotel from hell which saw its windows potted, two "love-defending" attacks that ultimately proved to be blunders, two other attacks being hilariously implied and plenty more. This was an absolute classic. In my opinion, it is the ultimate Christmas special - even if, ironically, it was set in the late summer.

The writing shone via the set-up of those big moments; for example, Rodney accidentally booting a football into a policeman's face was unpredictable right up until it happened. And it continued several existing plotlines, such as the Rodney-Cassandra marriage, whilst also revisiting an old situation, since Del unexpectedly bumps into Raquel again in Margate, which plants the seeds for what would become a permanent partnership.

Some would argue that Only Fools went into decline after this. I feel that such an opinion is unfair, because the series provided some real highlights later on. I would say, though, that purely from a comedic standpoint, the peak of OFAH came via The Jolly Boys' Outing.

Christmas Special 1990

Hmm, this is a tough one to analyse. Whilst Jolly Boys' was always going to be a tough act to follow, what we received was one of the more depressing episodes in OFAH history, as Rodney Come Home was based around the crumbling of the Rodney/Cassandra marriage, with Del's attempts to help ultimately proving fatal (although it was done good-naturedly, unlike his actions four years earlier). The split situation feels uncomfortable to watch at times, and although nobody has confirmed this, I believe that Cassandra even let the F-word slip out during one such scene (which may have been edited since then). The ending feels gloomy too, as the usually-jolly music is replaced with a tune which has a more sombre tone. That being said, there are still a good number of laughs to be found, and Albert trying to act surprised at Rodney dating another girl is so funny that even David Jason is visibly laughing.

As a Christmas special, it must have been a bit of a downer - but what John Sullivan was really doing was preparing the lead plotline for what would be the final proper series for the show.

Series Seven - 1991

The series-long storyline was of Rodney and Cassandra trying to rekindle their romance which, after several bumps in the road, they finally do in the last episode. Along the way, we have The Sky's The Limit (where Del finds ownership of a fairly important satellite dish), The Chance Of A Lunchtime (where Raquel auditions for a play), Stage Fright (Del has Raquel sing alongside a performer who, unbeknownst to Del, has a speech impediment), The Class Of '62 (where Slater reappears and, after surprisingly using the C-word to describe his father - although this is never audible on the show - it is revealed that he used to be married to Raquel), He Ain't Heavy, He's My Uncle (Albert is mugged, or so he tells the Trotters) and Three Men, A Woman and A Baby, where Raquel gives birth to Del's first child. Yes, Del becomes a father, with Raquel announcing her pregnancy in the second show (hence why she can't accept the acting role). The child is named Damien, which begins a recurring theme of Rodney being spooked by the potentially devilish child. Beforehand, Trigger hilariously suggests that the kid will be called "Rodney, after Dave".

By now, Rodney is no longer really part of Del's trading "team", although he loses his current role by accident and sees his life take a bit of a dip before properly reconciling with Cassandra. Del too focuses more on his personal life than business, although he keeps his business options open, for instance by selling doorbells that play multiple national anthems.

The standout episodes in this series are fewer, as the show now felt more like a soap, albeit a very funny one, and with the laugh-out-loud moments playing second fiddle to the relationship aspects. But there are still some memorable moments during this series, with the biggest (from a comedy standpoint) probably being the revelation that Tony Angelino can't pronounce his R's, which is only discovered during a live performance alongside Raquel. Another example of John Sullivan's fantastic writing, since his speech impediment isn't event hinted at beforehand, resulting in a greater impact when the truth comes out.

Christmas Specials 1991 

From a production standpoint, Only Fools peaked with the 1991 double-header Xmas special Miami Twice, with the first, more traditional episode (The American Dream) setting up a second show that has more in common with a movie (Oh To Be In England) which details the Trotters' adventures in America. Although this was all really entertaining, the latter part was definitely a bit drawn out, and whilst the concept that Del was being mistaken for a Mafia boss was humorous, was it a bit too far-fetched, and perhaps a sign that the show was losing some steam? After all, with the relationships now firmly established, the only remaining goal was financial glory, which wasn't even hinted at throughout Miami Twice. Maybe it's just me being a sucker for the more traditional episodes, but whilst they are unquestionably funny, the two parts here couldn't compare to, say, Jolly Boys' Outing or The Frog's Legacy from a comedic standpoint. Just my opinion.

Christmas Special 1992

Perhaps my feelings were shared by others, because the following Christmas special (Mother Nature's Son) went back to basics, with a traditional episode structure based around Del's latest money-making scheme: via an old allotment owned by their late Grandad (nice hark back to the past there), Del finds a way to sell tap water in bottled form, under the name Peckham Spring. This is another episode where the story is funnier than any particularly big incidents, although there are a lot of laughs to be had from such moments as Trigger saying that a 24-hour depo was closed at night, and the bottled water turning a mysterious colour at night. It also includes Albert's funniest "During the War" story involving a kamikaze pilot.

Although the remaining episodes were far from poor, this was arguably the last truly great show in terms of consistently providing big laughs.

Christmas Special 1993

Fatal Extraction sees Del and Raquel temporarily split as a result of Del's increasing gambling habits. They later reconcile, but a planned date by Del with his dentist leads to a sticky situation as the episode ends. Like Mother Nature's Son, this has a series of funny moments rather than the leading plotline being massively hilarious, but although some instances are laugh-out-loud (like Del, under anaesthetic, remarking he'll "sit here", with his speech slurring to come out with something completely different), the episode as a whole feels too long, and feels a bit grim in places. To me, once Del and Raquel are back together, the episode should have ended; carrying on the dentist aspect was unnecessary and even at times creepy, leading to an unsatisfying conclusion. It's not without merit, but Fatal Extraction is not exactly considered to be a classic Christmas special by diehard fans.

Once again, Sullivan at this point had plans for this to mark the end of the series as a whole. It actually looked to be that way for a little while, with 1994 and 1995 not having any episodes (this was the longest gap between episodes since the series first began in 1981). Maybe the crew believed that the show had peaked in the late 1980s, and with the relationships having nowhere else to go from a comedic point of view, and with the actors aging (David Jason was in his 50s by this point, and he had only recently become a father in the show), some situations weren't quite as believable. No longer was Del Boy a young happy-go-lucky tradesman; he was getting old, not massively so but old nonetheless, and even Rodney was no longer the youthful figure that he was originally cast as. Mind you, could such a legendary series end with arguably the weakest Christmas special in seven years?

Fortunately, the decision was made to revisit Peckham in 1996 with a trio of specials, which would culminate in the Trotters finally achieving their lifelong dream.

Check back tomorrow for the final part!

The History of Only Fools and Horses - Part Two

Image Source: Joke

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Having tackled the first few years of Only Fools and Horses in Part One (which you can read by clicking here), next we move onto some of the greatest years in the history of Only Fools - although this period began on a sad note.

Series Four - 1985

Episode one - Happy Returns, where Rodney dates the daughter of one of Del's old flames - briefly refers to the Grandad character being in hospital. In reality, actor Lennard Pearce died during production of this series, with some scenes shot for a later episode (which would be refilmed). To handle the situation, John Sullivan wrote a moving yet ultimately funny and productive episode entitled Strained Relations, where the Trotters openly acknowledged the real-life death, albeit referring to Grandad the character rather than Lennard the actor. It was so effective that David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst were in tears filming the scenes, but there were still moments of laughter to be had, such as a priceless mix-up involving Grandad's hat and his coffin, and the humorous methods used for the introduction of Grandad's replacement, Uncle Albert (played by Buster Merryfield). Although Grandad provided great comic foil for Del and Rodney, Albert was arguably even funnier and certainly a more loveable figure in the long run, with his recounts from "During the War" being show highlights on their own at various points going forward. Of greater note, though, was how Sullivan managed to weave a real-life death into a situation comedy, and pull it off so well and so tastefully that the show never missed a beat, and paid a fitting tribute to Lennard in the process.

Hole In One is the first true post-Grandad episode, although as stated Lennard had filmed scenes for this prior to his death. This episode, where Albert falling down a hole at the Nag's Head provides a financial opening for the Trotters, had some great moments as did Happy Returns, to be fair. It's Only Rock and Roll (where Rodney joins an aspiring rock band), Sleeping Dogs Lie (where the Trotters babysit Boycie and Marlene's Great Dane dog Duke; this features the first appearance for Marlene, played by Sue Holderness), Watching The Girls Go By (where Mickey Pearce bets Rodney that he can't get a date for an upcoming party) and As One Door Closes (where the Trotters chase a rare butterfly) all have their moments, too; at this point, every episode was of a high standard, with either a major laugh-out moment (like Denzil crushing Del's butterfly in the final episode) or generally strong interplay between the characters in each edition. That the series had rebounded from Grandad's death and was arguably better than ever before is a testament to Sullivan's writing and the acting performances by all involved, perhaps none more so than Buster Merryfield, who easily filled the void left by the now-absent Grandad.

Christmas Special 1985

The first Christmas episode to have a significantly longer running time, To Hull and Back had a basic plot: the Trotters were helping Boycie and his associates to pull off a clandestine deal involving the smuggling of diamonds from Amsterdam. Due to its length and the lack of a laughter track from a studio audience, not everybody is a fan of this edition, which is understandable. For longtime fans, though, this is one of the stronger episodes due to the carefully-constructed plot which ties up several story arcs in an extended series of closing scenes, as well as some hilarious banter between the Trotters prior to and during their trip to the Netherlands. A side-plot where truck driver Denzil thinks that Del is following him across Europe is perfectly executed, as is a scene where the Trotter trio mistakenly believe that a secret policeman is chasing them through Amsterdam. This also includes the return of Slater, and his involvement has a surprise twist - or so he thinks. Hmm ...

This one is down to taste for the reasons mentioned earlier, but it stands as a perfect example of John Sullivan's well-planned writing of the show, with close attention to detail. As the first feature-length episode, this was the beginning of a new era for OFAH, where lengthy Xmas specials would become the norm and define Only Fools as the show to watch over Christmas.

Series Five - 1986

The fifth series contained some really funny episodes; on offer here were From Prussia With Love (Del looks to cash in on a pregnant German lady; incidentally, this was originally planned for series four but was postponed due to Grandad's death necessitating the Strained Relations episode), The Miracle Of Peckham (Del orchestrates a "miracle" at his local church"), The Longest Night (the Trotters are unexpectedly caught up in a shoplifting sting), Tea For Three (an apparent love triangle between Del, Rodney and Trigger's niece Lisa), Video Nasty (Rodney is writing a screenplay with Del looking to cash in), and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (not the quiz show; Del is offered a chance to achieve his financial dreams in Australia by old pal Jumbo Mills).

There were some absolute gems across this series, particularly Tea For Three which features the famous Del-Boy-forced-to-go-hang-gliding scenario and the resultant chaos that stems from it. The Longest Night was also a treat and a rare episode filmed away from Nelson Mandela House. In fact, the only low points were The Miracle and Video Nasty, which only provided occasional laughs, but even they were of a much higher standard than episodes from the first few series'. Only Fools had probably achieved legendary status already by this point, but it could have ended here: originally, David Jason planned to leave after series five, hence the plotline where he was going to start afresh in Australia. Only when he reconsidered was Del's last-minute decision to remain in the UK written into the story. Whilst the show continued, this would be the final "regular" series, as all episodes going forward would last 50 minutes or longer, in the case of Christmas specials.

Christmas Special 1986

A Royal Flush sees Rodney somehow end up dating a Duke's daughter, with Del "helping" him to fit in. This also played before no laughter track, although an edited version released in 2004 did include audience reactions to the on-screen happenings.

Although this episode has its moments (in particular, Del's unwittingly annoying behaviour at an opera show is hilarious), hardcore fans of the show do not like this one at all. This is mainly due to the final third, where Del, in a drunken state, humiliates Rodney at a posh dinner gathering. Whereas Del would occasionally dash Rodney's dreams without realising it or in a comedic fashion, here it felt a bit too cruel; as if he was out solely to ruin Rodney's chances. The Del character does explain the potential consequences of Rodney remaining in the relationship at the end, which perhaps justifies how he acted, but it wasn't enough to satisfy fans who felt that Del was just too nasty, leaving Rodney as a harshly-treated victim. In fact, even John Sullivan agreed; for the 2004 version, some of Del's dinner table behaviour was cut out, because it portrayed the character in a really negative light.

Not that the core audience minded: a whopping 18.8 million people watched A Royal Flush when it aired, almost double what the show was achieving in its early years. That being said, feedback was negative overall, at least compared to previous episodes.

Christmas Special 1987

For the next couple of years, Only Fools would only appear on our tellies as a Christmas special, and the next one was a true classic for longtime fans to savour. The Frog's Legacy revealed that there was hidden gold which would make the Trotters extremely wealthy, only for the chase to be much tougher than Del and folk had envisioned. There is also a side-plot where Rodney unknowingly gets a side job as a chief mourner, and it is implied that the brotherly bond between Del and Rodney is not so straightforward (although this wouldn't be addressed again for a very long time).

This is less about the laugh-out-loud moments (although the funeral march being led by Rodney is hilarious) and more about the one-liners and generally funny banter shared by almost all of the characters. The plot is easy to follow and takes some funny turns along the way. If anything, this episode is as strong an example of John Sullivan's writing as any, since a number of story arcs are handled with patience and care, and are effectively interwoven at various points. Even though the episode ultimately does not resolve the leading plotlines, the door is left open for the series to come back to said situations in future.

It's interesting that at one point the introduction of Freddie The Frog/Freddie Robdal, and his relationship with the Trotters, was meant to help bring OFAH to an end, the second time an exit strategy had been officially planned. Was Sullivan tired of writing or did he believe that the series had peaked? Or did he believe the original director Ray Butt, whose involvement ended with this episode, when he stated that the series had passed its best and should be brought to a climax? Whatever the case, it's fortunate that Only Fools continued, because its greatest moments were arguably still to come, even if the focus of the show would change in future.

Christmas Special 1988

Although it was always a running plot that the Trotter lads were unsuccessful with finding true love, it never cancelled out their chief aim of becoming millionaires. However, Dates marked the beginning of a new era for OFAH, whereby landing the loves of their lives was equally as important, if not more so, than achieving financial success. This subtle shift began here with an episode that saw both Trotters re-enter the dating game; Rodney, by dating barmaid Nervous Nerys, and Del by using a dating website after Trigger unexpectedly found success in the same way.

Neither brother achieved much in the long-run in that department here, but there were still plenty of laughs, from Rodney's daft tough-guy attire for his date with Nerys to Del's misguided belief that he had been set up in the Nag's Head by a strip-o-gram. Of greatest note was how Del's dating fling here with Raquel (Tessa Peake-Jones) would ultimately be the first step towards finding his permanent life partner, or his "significant other" as he would later put it. Although there are a lot of laughs to be found here, there is also a focus on drama, especially with the end being Raquel thinking that Del had no-showed a date (he was actually arrested for the Nag's Head incident). The soul of the show ensured, however, that viewers still left with a smile on their face, and the writing was of such a high standard that everything happened for a reason, and everything was written down to the fines detail to ensure the "correct" reaction was achieved.

Rodney's dating adventure was also unsuccessful, but his romantic fortunes would change in the next series, the first for several years.

Check back tomorrow for Part Three!

The History of Only Fools and Horses - Part One

Image Source: Joke

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Only Fools and Horses is probably the greatest British sitcom of all-time, if not the greatest comedy show ever period. A moderately-sized group of recurring characters with the central figures having a consistent and clear goal - to somehow become millionaires one day - along with topnotch comedy material, fantastic comedy acting and outstanding writing all combined for a superb television series. It was a slow starter, it has to be said, but it soon evolved into a real gem of a programme, and at its peak, OFAH was responsible for some of the greatest British television moments in history.

In the beginning of a multi-part series of articles, I'll have a closer look at the history of the series on-screen, reminiscing on the many highs and occasional lows of Only Fools and examining why it was just so damn good.

Series One - 1981

The first series consisted of half-hour episodes, broadcast just before prime time on BBC 1. Back then, there were only a small number of television channels, so the high ratings for this opening series should be taken into context. The series itself had the following episodes: Big Brother (where Del Boy and Rodney have a dispute concerning dodgy briefcases), Go West Young Man (the Trotters sell a used car, which comes back to bite them after they go clubbing and miss out on a potential double date), Cash and Curry (Del arranging a business deal at the expense of two disputing Indian businessmen), The Second Time Around (Del rekindles a romance with old flame with a nasty streak named Pauline), A Slow Bus To Chingford (Del sets up a tourist bus operation, with Rodney also employed as a night watchman) and The Russians Are Coming (where the Trotters prepare for a potential nuclear war). There was also the first Christmas special, Christmas Crackers, where a disastrous Christmas dinner cooked up by Grandad led to the Trotters going out on the town.

Ask any longtime OFAH fan, and they'll tell you that these were amongst the weakest episodes of the show's entire run. Which is no surprise: the show would come on leaps and bounds in the future, and certain integral characters were yet to be introduced. What's more, whilst David Jason quickly settled into the role of Del Boy - a wheeler and dealer not too dissimilar, but far funnier, than Harry Redknapp - the Rodney character played by Nicholas Lyndhurst was more annoying and confrontational at this point. Part of his charm was frequently disagreeing with Del, but at this point Rodney was clearly playing second fiddle to Del (as evidenced by the layout of each plot). Grandad (played by Lennard Pearce) played his understated role well, in the episodes where he featured (some early episodes only included Del and Rodney from the Trotter clan). But things were clearly still being ironed out for the show, as evidenced by the original instrumental theme being very different from the tune which would become the show's signature a little further down the line. Some aspects are put in place early on, though: for instance, the brilliantly dumb Trigger (played by Roger Lloyd-Pack) calls Rodney "Dave" from episode one onwards (which apparently stemmed from Roger getting names wrong during initial rehearsals). Incidentally, in a side note, David Jason was not the original choice to play Del Boy; Jim Broadbent was, who would later play Slater.

The main reason why these episodes are less fondly remembered, though, is that the plots weren't quite as funny as those which would come later, and some shows were a bit of a chore to sit through (like Cash and Curry and The Russians Are Coming). And while each episode usually has at least one truly funny moment, the memorable aspects of these early episodes were just highlights of those particular shows, rather than highlights of the series as a whole. Really, only the interplay between the Trotter brothers and the people they encountered in the various clubs in episode two and the verbal exchanges between the Trotter trio regarding the revived relationship between Del and Pauline are truly worth watching, at least from a comedy standpoint. The Christmas episode was the best of the bunch, but even this paled in comparison to later such editions. The episodes still had their moments besides these, but few people will go out of their way to watch these early shows for anything other than curiosity purposes.

The audience at the time agreed, since the viewing figures were disappointing, and the general feedback was only above average at best. In fact, the show was at danger of being cancelled, but strong ratings for repeat showings led to a second series, which ultimately set the show on the right track.

Series Two - 1982

Some of the early gems of OFAH came from series two, which featured the following episodes: The Long Legs Of The Law (Rodney dates a policewoman and brings her back to the flat, which contains all sorts of hooky gear), Ashes To Ashes (the Trotters end up with what appeared to be the ashes of Trigger's grandfather in an urn), A Losing Streak (Del consistently loses to Boycie, played by John Challis, in poker games, leading to a major game at the Trotters' flat in Nelson Mandela House), No Greater Love (Rodney tries the dating game again, this time dating an older lady whose husband is currently imprisoned), The Yellow Peril (the Trotters unwittingly paint the inside of a Chinese restaurant with illuminous paint), It Never Rains ... (the trio holiday in Benidorm before Grandad is unexpectedly arrested) and A Touch Of Glass (the Trotters are hired to clean chandeliers in a posh mansion).

The quality of the series was higher during this series, with the trademark wit of Del coming to the fore more often, especially when criticising Rodney for dating a woman in her 40s in episode four, as well as the increasingly-funny exchanges between the Trotter clan as a whole in such situations as Grandad explaining how he ended up in a Spanish prison for crimes apparently committed in the 1930s. Meanwhile, there were more "moments" to truly savour, not least the "chandelier" drop in the final episode, often considered one of the very best OFAH moments ever. As well as establishing certain characters as integral figures, such as Boycie, we also had signs of writer John Sullivan's attention to detail and his excellent foreshadowing of upcoming incidents; for instance, the two-headed coin in A Losing Streak leads to funny results on its own, but then provides a hilarious conclusion.

The only downer was the Christmas special Diamonds Are For Heather, which saw Del pursue his own romantic wishes. It wasn't terrible, but it featured less comedy and more drama as it marked the first of several episodes where John Sullivan demonstrated how he could create genuine emotion in a comedy setting; however, it wasn't quite as effective here as it would be in future editions. This was only a minor issue, though, as the ratings were higher for series two across the board, as was the general feedback as a whole.

Only Fools and Horses would definitely be sticking around, then - but few realised just how legendary it would become.

Series Three - 1983

The third series also had some pretty memorable moments. Homesick (Rodney becomes chairman of the Tenants Association, which Del tries to exploit to earn a new home; this, by the way, is the only episode where Trigger calls Rodney by his proper name, albeit only after Rodney corrects him), Healthy Competition (Del and Rodney compete for business, only to eventually reunite; this includes the debut of Mickey Pearce, Rodney's on-off friend, played by Patrick Murray), Friday The 14th (the Trotters' fishing trip takes an unforeseen turn when they learn that an axe murderer is on the loose), Yesterday Never Comes (Del dates an antique dealer, whose true intentions are unknown to Del), May The Force Be With You (old enemy, but series debutant, DCI Roy Slater - played by the aforementioned Jim Broadbent - arrests the Trotters for stealing a microwave), Wanted (where Del leads Rodney to believe that he'll be prosecuted after an incident with a lady, nicknaming him the "Peckham Pouncer"), Who's A Pretty Boy? (the Trotters think they've killed a pet canary for Denzil, played by Paul Barber and making his first appearance here, when decorating his kitchen; Mike, the Nags Head barman played by Kenneth MacDonald, also debuts here) and the Xmas special which was shown only days after the series ended, Thicker Than Water (where the Trotters' estranged father Reg reappears for one episode only).

By now, the formula of slowly building to a big laugh-out moment and/or a major climax was firmly in place, from the revelation that Rodney squandered his set-up business deal in episode two, to the reveal of who really stole the microwave in episode four, to the clearing up of the canary incident in episode seven. The one-liners and quick wit by all were now a series trademark, including that of Rodney whose character was now an asset rather than the nuisance it initially was. Good examples included the scaremongering between the Trotters concerning the axe murderer and the dialogue between Del and Reg and his reactions to the father's return in the Christmas show. Grandad's "Wendy House" crack in episode two was intended to be a quick one-liner in the second episode of the series, but the audience reaction was so loud and prolonged that this became one of the highlights of the third series.

The series had now become a BBC favourite for viewers, as evidenced by viewing figures and overall feedback. But tragedy would strike prior to series four, which would strangely provide John Sullivan with a chance to make a groundbreaking episode.

Check back tomorrow for Part Two!