Sir David Jason admitted he was fifth in line for his legendary role of Del Boy Trotter and nearly missed out because the Only Fools And Horses writer thought ‘he always plays a loser’
The actor, now 86, first played Peckham wheeler dealer Del Boy for the BBC show’s initial run from 1981 to 1996, followed by specials in 2001 and 2003.
However, the show and Sir David’s career could have both looked very different after he nearly lost out on landing the part.
Prior to Only Fools, creator and writer John Sullivan knew the actor for playing Granville in fellow BBC sitcom Open All Hours, opposite Ronnie Barker.
Sir David told Radio Times: ‘I just think, whatever show I was working on, that stimulated other people to say, “We could do with him in ours”‘.
He added: ‘Except John Sullivan, the writer of Only Fools, originally said, “Oh, we don’t want him. He always plays a loser”, because he’d seen me as little dreamy Granville.
Sir David Jason revealed the surprising reason he nearly missed out on the role of Del Boy Trotter
The actor, 86, starred in Only Fools and Horses from 1981 to 1996 – and reprised his role for specials in 2001 and 2003
‘In his mind, I couldn’t possibly play a clever, witty hustler, but the director convinced him to at least meet me.’
According to the star’s memoir A Del Of A Life, Sir David had been fifth choice for the role of Del Boy.
Earlier names considered were reportedly Enn Reitel and Jim Broadbent – the latter going on to play Del’s nemesis Roy Slater.
Other names in the fray were Billy Murray – who played EastEnders gangster Johnny Allen – as well as Robin Nedwell.
It comes as last year, Sir David revealed the surprising inspiration behind Del Boy’s iconic cockney accent in Only Fools And Horses.
He landed the part of Del Boy because he would mimic his former boss’ cockney accent while they both played Billiards Games.
While filming Open All Hours, he and the show’s assistant Ray Butt would spend their time away from filming playing billiards together.
Jason said he found Ray’s East End accent so funny that he would imitate it during their games.
And when Only Fools And Horses director John Sullivan was struggling to find someone to play Derek Trotter, he was told of Jason’s hilarious cockney impressions and invited him to try out the iconic part.
Prior to Only Fools, the actor played Granville in Open All Hours opposite Ronnie Barker as Arkwright
The cast of Only Fools also included Nicholas Lyndhurst as Del Boy’s younger brother, Rodney Trotter.
Throughout the series, the brothers were joined by an older male relative: first Grandad (Lennard Pearce) and after Pearce’s death, Buster Merryfield joined the show as Uncle Albert.
Other familiar faces include mates Trigger (Roger Lloyd-Pack), Boycie (John Challis), Denzil (Paul Barber), Mickey (Patrick Murray) and Mike (Kenneth Macdonald).
Last month, Tessa Peake-Jones admitted filming the comedy was anything but a barrel of laughs as she looked back ahead of its 45th anniversary.
The actress, 68, who played Del Boy’s partner Raquel, recalled the gruelling rehearsals before battling nerves to perform in front of the studio audience.
While fans have been left in stitches by the show, which debuted in 1981, Tessa confessed: ‘Usually [the actors have] seen it all in rehearsals so many times, it’s not that funny anymore anyway.’
When it came to facing the audience, she said comedy icons Sir David Jason, who played Del Boy, and Nicholas Lyndhurst, Rodney, were just as nervous as her.
‘If people had seen us backstage before the show, they’d have seen people pacing up and down the corridors with nerves, including David and Nick.’
Tessa told The Sun: ‘We cared so much, and we wanted to get it right, but one slip-up of a word could ruin that laugh.’
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