Only Fools and Horses

Here’s what happened to the cast of Only Fools and Horses since the iconic show ended

It has been 39 years since the BBC sitcom launch so where are the main cast members now?

Only Fools and Horses burst onto television screens in 1981 and has kept the nation laughing ever since.

Through to the final episode in 2003 the sitcom has remained one of Britain’s most-loved TV shows as we continue to watch the hilarious episodes to this very day.

Plus, the Christmas specials are the perfect viewing over the festive period.

John Sullivan OBE created the show which has become a national treasure.

So, nearly 40 years on since the first episode of the BBC sitcom was broadcast, let’s see what the regular characters are up to now.

“God bless Hooky Street!”.

Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter – David Jason

David Jason as Del Boy (Image: BBC)

Sir David Jason is a British television icon and undoubtedly one of the best actors of his generation.

Originally from Edmonton in North London, Sir David has continued to reign a very successful career in showbiz.

He’s entertained the nation in a number of other television roles including Pop Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, Granville in Open All Hours and Jack Frost in A Touch of Frost.

Tv star David Jason (Image: Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

Despite now being 80 years old he continues to feature in documentaries and has a number of books including A Del of A Life: Lessons I’ve Learned which was released in October 2020.

The TV legend has amassed more than £2.3million in the last two years alone, thanks to his non-stop work schedule, reports The Mirror.

Rodney Trotter – Nicholas Lyndhurst

Nicholas Lyndhurst plays Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses (Image: BBC)

Rodney Trotter was Del Boy’s younger brother and often squirmed at Del’s money making schemes.

Like Sir David, actor Nicholas Lyndhurst has also continued to star in other television series since his days in Only Fools.

The 59-year-old played time traveller Gary Sparrow in Goodnight Sweetheart, Dan Griffin in New Tricks, Dr. Graham Moss in Thin Ice and Uriah Heep in David Copperfireld – plus many more.

He also, of course, portrayed Rodney’s own father Freddie Robdal in the Only Fools and Horses prequel, Rock & Chips, back in 2010.

Nicholas Lyndhurst played Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses (Image: Ian West/PA Wire)

Grandad Trotter – Lennard Pearce

Lennard Pearce as Grandad in Only Fools and Horses (Image: BBC)

Famed for wanting an ‘Emperor burger’ rather than a cheese burger, Grandad wasn’t exactly the smartest card in the deck but he was very crafty and quite the comedian.

Ted Trotter aka Grandad was one of the original characters and starred in the first three series of Only Fools an Horses.

At the age of just 69 wonderful actor Lennard Pearce died unexpectedly following a heart attack in 1984.

Cast and crew were left devastated by Lennard’s death and filming had already kicked off for the Hole in One episode.

He was consequently written out of the BBC sitcom and Uncle Albert was introduced as his replacement. Grandad and Uncle Albert were estranged brothers.

Uncle Albert – Buster Merryfield

Buster Merryfield as Uncle Albert (Image: BBC)

Born in Battersea, Buster Merryfield served in the army and saw action in the Second World War.

He had been a bank manager and only took up acting when he retired from work.

Buster arrived in Peckham as Albert Gladstone Trotter, aka Uncle Albert, following the death of Grandad.

Buster died aged 78, in 1999, from a brain tumour. The character of Uncle Albert was written out of Only Fools during the If They Could See Us Now episode when Cassandra takes a phone call and is informed of his death.

Trigger – Roger Lloyd-Pack

Trigger (Image: BBC)

Trigger referring to Rodney Trotter as ‘Dave’ is an on-going joke that is still funny to this day!

Devoted road sweeper Colin Ball, better known as Trigger, was the a petty criminal who had a warm heart and slow sense of humour – ‘Why ask!’.

Roger Lloyd-Pack played Trigger from the very first epsiode of the show right up until the last.

Roger Lloyd-Pack played Trigger in Only Fools (Image: Mirrorpix)

Comedy fans will know he then played Owen Newitt in series the Vicar of Dibley between 1994 to 2007.

He also hit the big screen appearing as Barty Crouch in Harry Potter’s Goblet of Fire in 2005.

TV treasure Roger, the father of actress Emily Lloyd, sadly died in 2014, at the age of 69, following a battle with cancer.

Boycie – John Challis

(Image: BBC)

Boycie has one of the most infectious laughs ever heard in British TV.

He was a self-certified yuppy and thought of himself as a cut above the rest of his Peckham pals.

John Challis, 78, played Boycie from the second episode of Only Fools until the last.

Boycie and wife Marlene (Sue Holderness) also had their own spinoff series The Green Green Grass in which they fled to avoid the Driscoll brothers.

John Challis played Boycie in Only Fools (Image: Essex Chronicle)

John has endured a very successful career in television and has appeared in a long list of shows including The Bill, The Sweeney, Dixon of Dock Green, Coronation Street, My Family and so many more.

Between 2015 and 2018 John played Monty Staines in hit sitcom Benidorm where his famous saying included: “Chips and rice for us tonight, chips and rice!”.

He’s also starred in film Boycie in Belgrade which sees the actor travel to the Serbian capital to discover why Only Fools and Horses is so popular abroad.

You can keep up to date with John Challis by following him on Twitter here.

Marlene Boyce – Sue Holderness

(Image: BBC)

Sue Holderness, 71, also appeared in The Green Green Grass spin off reprising her role as Marlene Boyce alongside on screen husband John Challis.

Originally from Hampstead, Sue has continued to act; with roles including Mrs Rossi in Still Open All Hours and Gloria Davidson in Holby City.

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