It’s been over four decades since we first met the characters of Grandad and Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter in the most iconic sitcom to ever hit British telly – Only Fools and Horses.
The programme ran for more than 20 years, and despite two decades having passed since its conclusion, it remains one of the most discussed and referenced shows in the UK.
The cast was brimming with unforgettable names and faces, many of whom had already established a solid acting career before embarking on their new roles in the BBC comedy, yet few shone as brightly as Grandad actor Lennard Pearce and Del Boy actor David Jason.
David, in particular, became one of Britain’s most cherished television personalities with his Cockney quips and catchphrases while portraying Del, the dodgy dealer from Peckham. Lennard, on the other hand, reached the zenith of his lengthy acting career, playing the role of Del and Rodney’s not-so-bright grandfather.
Regrettably, Lennard’s stint on the show only lasted three years, as he passed away in December 1984 at the age of 69. David, however, remained throughout the entire run of the show, which concluded in 2003.
While many of the cast members only met each other for the first time in 1981 when the show initially brought them together, Lennard and David had actually crossed paths some 15 years earlier.
In 1966, behind the scenes of the theatre production ‘The Rivals’, a comedic musical penned by 18th-century Irish political satirist Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the two actors crossed paths for the first time. The play was being performed in Bromley, South London, where both Lennard and David were cast in different roles.
At that time, Lennard, a well-established actor, took on the leading part of Sir Lucius O’Trigger, while David, still a budding actor in his mid-20s, portrayed a much smaller role.
In 1981, they didn’t initially recall their previous encounter and reintroduced themselves as if they were meeting for the first time. However, as they started to converse, they came to the realisation that their paths had indeed crossed before.
Reflecting on this revelation in his autobiography, ‘David Jason: My Life’, the actor renowned for playing Del Boy mentioned: “We only worked that out much later, when we started to reminisce.”
Similarly, it dawned on David that he had encountered Rodney Trotter actor Nicholas Lyndhurst priorly. Their first meeting took place in 1975 when Lyndhurst, then a teenager, participated in a children’s television programme where youngsters interviewed famous personalities with David appearing as a guest to discuss his role in the ITV sitcom ‘Lucky Feller’.
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