An Only Fools and Horses superfan completed his own ‘Jolly Boys’s Outing’ – an epic 16-hour, 400-mile round trip to Margate. Jason Allen, 34, set off from his home in Bristol at 4am on August 25 and travelled all the way across the country to the Kent coast.
He visited nine different filming spots from the beloved British sitcom – and didn’t return home until 8pm. Although he was “shattered” after the trip, Jason, a recycling plant operator, said it was an “amazing” experience – and admitted he’s already planning which locations he’ll head to next.
He said: “My dad introduced me to Only Fools and Horses when I was younger and it’s stuck with me ever since. I’ve always been a huge fan. I just really enjoy the show and I find visiting different film locations fascinating.
“I think film and TV help put you in a world other than your own and visiting the locations puts you in that world too. It’s a great feeling when you’re there.
“I’d already visited some locations closer to me but I love the episode ‘The Jolly Boys’ Outing’ and so I really wanted to go to Margate.”
Jason woke up at 4am and set off on the long drive to the coastal town – making it to his first location by 8am. He had roughly mapped out the route he wanted to take but some places took a bit of digging, as certain buildings no longer existed.
He said: “You kind of have to find one spot that looks familiar and line everything up from there. This particular episode came out in 1989 so some things have been demolished or new things have been built.
“With one of the locations there was a school in place and buildings were gone but there was one house still there that I recognised. Sometimes it’s just a chimney.”
Jason’s favourite location from the trip was Cliftonville Coach Park, from the scene where a coach catches fire and explodes thanks to one of Del Boy’s “dodgy radio cassettes”. He also enjoyed his time spent at Margate Lighthouse, where he took a moment to reflect on the day.
He said: “My favourite spot was probably the Coach Park, because that’s the scene where the coach blows up because of Del’s dodgy radio cassette. I also liked being at Margate Harbour because that’s where Del Boy and Rodney have this brotherly love moment.
“I sat there in the sun with a pint of cider and a fish and chips and just reflected on the day. It had been tiring; I was shattered by the time I got home. But it was amazing.
“To visit these places from a show I’ve been watching all my life… I absolutely loved it. And others love it too. I posted some of the photos on Facebook and the amount of comments I got was crazy. I just think it’s a really iconic series. Everyone in Britain loves it.”
In addition to the Margate filming locations, Jason has also visited spots across Hampshire and Dorset. Next, he plans to visit some of the London locations – and even hopes to travel to Normandy in France and Miami in the US.
Jason said: “London’s next on my list but that will be a few different trips as there are hundreds of locations. One day, I’ll make it to Miami, but not anytime soon. But maybe I’ll go to France next year. I want to visit them all.”
You can follow more of Jason’s Only Fools and Horses outings on his Facebook ‘My Only Fools and Horses’, his Instagram @my_only_fools_and_horses, and his TikTok @myonlyfoolsandhorses
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