The Only Fools and Horses scene where cocky Del Boy Trotter made viewers cry with serious speech about death
Regardless of how many times we have watched the same episode of Only Fools and Horses, we’re always left laughing at the same old jokes. Del Boy Trotter (David Jason) dropped some incredible one-liners throughout the sitcom thanks to the show’s creator and writer John Sullivan.
Del’s French phrases that make no sense still give us a chuckle and his “this time next year we’ll be millionaires” will go down in history as one the famous quotes from any sitcom, or TV show for that matter.
Not to mention Del calling younger brother Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) a “plonker” is absolutely legendary. But despite all of the jokes and dry humour there are scenes where the mood turns to a more serious vibe, and some of the comedy disappears.
During these sadder moments, we see characters like Del become more humanised and we want to reach into the TV and give him a hug, even if the particular episode is decades old. And there’s only a particularly sad scene where Del Boy really pulled on our heartstrings.
Following the funeral of Grandad (Lennard Pearce) during the Strained Relations episode, Del Boy sits alone with his arm draped over Grandad’s empty armchair as he contemplates his loss. Rodney enters the living room and accuses Del of being ‘over’ the death and grief of losing Grandad as he’s kept an upbeat throughout the wake.
Feeling emotional, Rodney has some stern words for his older brother, he states: “Last night you were laughing and drinking. I mean why didn’t you just put your Boney M record on Del, we could have had knees u., It was Grandad’s [funeral].”
He then asks: “How could you get over it so easily?”. In response, Del delivers a powerful speech and it never fails to make your eyes well up with water and give a lump in your throat.
He says: “Get over it? What a plonker you really are Rodney. Get over it! I ain’t even started yet! I ain’t started bruv!
“Do you know why? I don’t know how to. That’s why. I’ve survived all my life with a smile and a prayer. I’m Del Boy, good old Del Boy got more bounce than Zebedee. Hello pal what are you drinking? Have one for luck darling. That’s me, that’s Del Boy innit!
“Nothing ever upsets Del Boy. I’ve always played the tough guy, I didn’t want to but I had to! And I’ve played it for so long now I don’t know how to be anything else. Oh, it doesn’t matter.”
Del heartbreakingly continues: “Bloody families, I’m finished with them. What do they do to you eh? Hold you back, drag you down, then they break your bloody heart.”
Del boy then sits back down in his chair as he strokes Grandad’s armchair, his bottom lip can be seen twitching as he stares downwards looking like he’s about to burst into tears. Rodney says he’s sorry and leaves Del alone to grieve.
Below the surface, the scene is even sadder as actor Lennard Pearce, who played Grandad, had died in real life and Del’s emotion was very much authentic.
