Only Fools and Horses’ forgotten barmaids from tragically young death to ITV rivalry
Which barmaid do you remember most?
While the Nag’s Head watering hole was a fixture of hit sitcom Only Fools and Horses, its staff were ever changing, with two landlords and a whopping six different barmaids appearing in the show over its 20 plus years on the nation’s screens.
Many of these young actors took the opportunity to use the iconic programme as a springboard to a whole career in TV, with differing levels of success and even tragedy for some.
The Nag’s Head’s first governor was never named and never appeared on screen despite presiding over the pub for three seasons. During this mysterious landlord’s tenure there were just two barmaids, Joyce and Julie.
READ MORE: Only Fools and Horses star Buster Merrifield’s very ordinary life from hilarious reason he was cast as Uncle Albert to tragic death
Joyce
Joyce appeared in two episodes of season one, Big Brother and the Second Time Around. Recognisable for her short blonde curls she was played by Peta Bernard. In a short career running from 1978 to 1985 Peta appeared in small roles in several other well known shows including Grange Hill and The Professionals.
Julie
Joyce was replaced by Julie in the second and third series of the show, played by Julie La Rousse. She appeared in five episodes in total over her run although La Rousse was only credited for one No Greater Love. The red haired Julie quit acting on screen after her run in Only Fools following a 15 year career that included appearances in The Avengers, Fawlty Towers, and The Professionals.
Karen
In 1983 new pub landlord and what would become a much loved side character Mike Fisher (Kenneth MacDonald) took over at the Nag’s Head. His tenure would see another four barmaids join the cast, starting with Karen, who appeared in four episodes of the fourth series.
Played by Michele Winstanley, 58, Karen even saw her dad get stitched up by Del Boy after he was gullible enough to buy a camel hair coat off him only to later find the coat had a lump in the back. After her Only Fools run Michele would go on to link up with David Jason again as she landed a minor role in A Touch of Frost. She was still acting as recently as 2018 when she starred in Shakespeare v Jack the Ripper.
Maureen
Maureen appeared in both the fourth and fifth series, popping up in five episodes in total, even once appearing in the same jumper as her predecessor Karen. She was played by actor Nula Conwell who you might recognise more from her nine year run as WPC Viv Martella in The Bill. She also played Kathleen the nurse in Oscar winning film The Elephant Man in 1980.
It was actually her role in the Bill that forced her out of the Nag’s Head, as ITV would no longer release her to work at rival channel the BBC, preventing her from starring in 1985 Christmas Special To Hull and Back. Now 63, Nula lives in London and most recently appeared in 2004 series 15 Storeys High.
Vicky
The next barmaid to appear came in the series four Christmas special To Hull and Back. This was the one and only appearance for Vicky, played by Kim Clifford. Kim was a child star appearing in the Bafta winning Bar Mitzvah Boy aged just 13 in 1961.
She would later appear in London’s Burning as Sandra, the wife of Sub Officer John Hallam for over a decade between 1986 and 1997. She lived in Kent with her husband Lee Galpin and their children Michelle and Jack until her death tragically young aged 58 in 2019.
Nerys
‘Nervous’ Nerys is perhaps the best remembered Nag’s Head barmaid as she had a slightly more significant role in the show despite only appearing in two episodes across seasons five and six in Dates and Sickness and Wealth. Played by Andrée Bernard, Nerys briefly dated main character Rodney Trotter, but earns her nickname after being terrified when a gang of yobs chases them in the van and then again when she interrupts the Trotters’ seance.
Actor Andrée has enjoyed a long successful career since her turn in Only Fools, with significant roles in Emmerdale and Casualty in the 90s as well as playing Liz Burton in Hollyoaks for three years in the 2000s and Dolly Bailey in 2007 Doctor Who episode The Shakespeare Code.
