‘He’s more self-contained than he used to be’: Sir David Jason says he has ‘drifted apart’ from Nicholas Lyndhurst after years playing inseparable brothers in Only Fools And Horses – with former co-star still grieving the death of son Archie
As Del Boy and Rodney they were one of the most loved and enduring comedy partnerships on television.
But Sir David Jason has revealed he and his Only Fools And Horses co-star Nicholas Lyndhurst have drifted apart.
The actor, 82, says his long-time friend is now more ‘self-contained’ than he once was and that he doesn’t get to see him as often as he would like to.
Distance: Sir David Jason, left, has revealed he and his Only Fools And Horses co-star Nicholas Lyndhurst, right, have drifted apart
The pair played the wheeler-dealer Trotter brothers in the hit BBC sitcom for more than 20 years until 2003.
Two years ago, Sir David stepped in to comfort Lyndhurst, 61, following the death of his actor son Archie, 19, from a brain haemorrhage caused by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Now the veteran, who also starred in Open All Hours, The Darling Buds Of May and A Touch Of Frost, says he rarely sees the co-star he affectionately used to call a ‘plonker’ on screen.
Old times: The actor says his long-time friend is now more ‘self-contained’ than he once was and that he doesn’t get to see him as often as he would like to
Speaking of Lyndhurst, Sir David told Radio Times: ‘He’s much more – how can I say? – self- contained, perhaps, than he used to be. So, unfortunately, we don’t see each other as much as I would like to. But that’s how things work out sometimes.’
He has previously referred to Lyndhurst, who also starred in Butterflies, Goodnight Sweetheart and New Tricks, as someone who keeps to himself.
Speaking after Archie’s death in September 2020, Sir David said: ‘That was very, very, very tragic. I have been in touch with him but he keeps a very low profile.’
Close: The pair played the Trotter brothers in the hit BBC sitcom for more than 20 years until 2003
Private: Sir David has previously referred to Lyndhurst as someone who likes to keep to himself
He misses working with Lyndhurst and tells Radio Times: ‘I miss it [Only Fools] terribly. It wasn’t like going to work; it was going to have some fun with your mates. We loved each other.’
While the actor has moved on, he still own’s Del Boy’s famous oxblood leather bomber jacket, and admits he’s still prone to dusting off the character for his friends’ entertainment.
He said: ‘I do morph into Del sometimes to make people laugh. I enjoy it. I realise it’s a pretty low shot, but it makes life easier for me on occasion. When I meet people sometimes, they’re a bit stiff and awkward to get on with!’
The full interview is available to read in the latest edition of Radio Times, out now.
