Only Fools and Horses star Sir David Jason has brilliant social distancing idea involving Trigger’s broom
"Has anyone seen my broom?"
Only Fools and Horses fans will be more than familiar with the joke about Trigger’s broom!
During the Heroes and Villains episode, aired in 1996, proud road-sweeper Trigger (Roger LLoyd-Pack) tells Del Boy, Rodney and Boycie about a medal he’s received from the local council for using the same broom for twenty years.
As they dine in Sid’s Cafe, Trigger shows the lads a photo of himself pictured alongside Councillor Murray and innocently announces that his ‘well-looked after’ broom has had 17 new heads and 14 new handles.
Trigger’s ‘well-maintained broom’ of course is one of the most memorable jokes from the BBC sitcom created by John Sullivan.
Sir David Jason, who played Derek Trotter in Only Fools and Horses between 1981 and 2003, has written about the coronavirus pandemic within his new autobiography called Del of a Life: The Lessons I’ve Learned.
Along with keeping a diary of lockdown, he has also suggested a social distancing method to support the public with the two-metre rule, and it involves Trigger’s famous broom!
Genius idea!
In the book, David explains: “Imagine yourself holding Trigger’s broom in an out-stretched arm: that’s two meters, right there, or as close to it makes no difference.
“With ‘Trigger’s broom’ firmly established as the nationally endorsed unit of measurement for effective social distancing, people would also have an accessible and non-aggressive verbal tool with which to police the behaviour of others, vis-à-vis their personal space.
“Should anyone encroach upon your personal exclusion zone, you would be in a position to issue the friendly warning, ‘Trigger’s’, or simply ‘broom’, and allow them to adjust their distance.”
Taking the idea even further, David suggests: “I even devised a slogan – ‘Trigger’s broom: we’ll beat this soon’ – which was at least as comprehensible as any of the government’s jingles in this area, some of which we’ll have to cause to discuss shortly.”
So next time you’re shopping for essentials down at the local supermarket, just think of Trigger’s broom when your private space becomes compromised!
Lovely jubley!
