Only Fools and Horses

Only Fools and Horses star John Challis reveals if a reunion could take place and where that famous laugh came from

The Boycie star spoke to MyLondon about his Only Fools and Horses days and whether the cast would reunite one last time

TV star John Challis is a man who needs no introduction.

However, for those who have been living under a rock for the past few decades, we’ll let you into a secret.

He’s the legendary actor who graced our television screens with the part of Boycie in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, amongst other roles.

Boycie, a secondhand car dealer, is famed for his well-off arrogance and an extraordinarily funny, and infectious, laugh.

He’s a successful businessman, breeds tropical fish for a hobby, husband to ‘MARRRLLLEENNNEEE’, and is the long-standing friend of Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter.

Actor John Challis as Boycie (Image: BBC)

TV icon John, 78, starred as Boycie in Only Fools and Horses from the very first series back in 1981 until the last episode in 2003.

He also starred as Boiycie in the spin-off The Green Green Grass between 2005 and 2009.

So as the sitcom enters its 40th year, MyLondon had a chat with John Challis and got the low-down on all the Only Fools gossip.

Including if a reunion could ever take place, and we find out where that iconic laugh came from!

John Sullivan created Only Fools and Horses and it first aired on the BBC back in 1981. Sadly, John passed away in 2011 before a reunion episode was ever written.

Speaking about whether he would consider a reunion for one last time alongside the Boyce family and infamous Trotters, John Challis explains: “Yeah, I would certainly consider it.

“Whether or not it would happen is very difficult to say. I think everybody was concerned that if anything ever happens, it would have to be written to the standard that John Sullivan provided.

“That’s the difficulty because I don’t think anybody concerned with the series would want to come out with anything inferior to before as it’s so special to people.

John Challis along with the cast of Only Fools and Horses (Image: BBC)

“People really do care about it [the show], it’s not just a passing thing, people really love it.

“If a decent script came along I’m sure everyone would look at and decide from there.”

One memorable characteristic of Boycie is his contagious laugh and is the most iconic in British comedy history, but this happened by accident.

“If you look at earlier episodes Boycie doesn’t laugh like that at all”, explains John.

“There was a script in one episode and it just said ‘Boycie laughs’ at one of his own jokes or something and I just remembered a character in a pub I used to know in South London who had this extraordinary laugh.

“It was a woman, strangely, who sat on her own, looking a bit lonely and a bit fed-up, she would sit with a bottle of stout and wouldn’t say anything but occasionally she came out with this ‘hehehehehe’ sort of laugh.

“People used to come into the pub especially to hear her do this laugh.

“I just did it one day from this script and everybody just laughed at it and they kept it in the show, that’s how the laugh happened and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Given the current coronavirus pandemic, John has been keeping safe at his home in Herefordshire where he lives with his wife.

John Challis as Boycie in Only Fools and Horses (Image: BBC)

But in current times, what could we imagine Boycie and Marlene are doing with their lives.

John makes a prediction, and it’s hilarious!

He explains: “I suppose Boycie being Boycie would have found a way to sell his pukka motors.

“He would have found some deal from somewhere, where people come in probably illegally, and sell a few motors.

“He’s not a criminal, but you know I think he would be flirting with the law beyond the borderline, he would have found some way to do it I’m sure.

“But of course, he would be stuck at home, like me, because I’m the age I am considered vulnerable.”

He then joked Marlene wouldn’t be happy with not being able to go out to lunch and would have hoped Tyler Boyce would have left the family home by now, and maybe started a family of his own!

The success of Only Fools and Horses and the popularity of Bocyie’s character goes way beyond the UK.

John Challis features in new show Boycie in Belgrade (Image: Boycie in Belgrade)

In January 2020, television icon John set out to Belgrade to find out why the show is so adored in Serbia and his new show Boycie in Belgrade was born.

During his visit, John is welcomed to the Balkan country almost a national hero as he visits a Royal Palace and even gets invited to a private reception in his honour hosted by The British Ambassador amongst many interesting stops on his journey.

It was basically a ‘state visit’ and an unmissable watch for fans of the show.

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