It’s not very often old episodes of Only Fools and Horses get discovered. In fact it was many years ago a fan on this site managed to track down the long lost 1984 educational episode “Licensed to Drill” shown in schools/colleges. Where Del, Rodney, and Grandad discuss oil drilling and fossil fuels.

With this in mind, Only Fools fan Paul Bazen has a small memory from the mid 1990s of an episode involving Rodney and a paintball scene.

Nicolas Lyndhurst or Rodney paintballing

He says, “Which episode do the guys all go paint-balling? The scene where Rodders appears to have not one hit, but then turns round and is covered in paintballs slays me every time, but can’t seem to find the episode!. It’s somewhat of a childhood memory, probably something in the early to mid 90′s? I don’t think the whole episode was based on the paintballing, but was some part of it.”

I must admit i have no memories of it. I wondered whether he was thinking of the episode A Royal Flush. The scene when Rodney goes clay pigeon shooting with a posh family and Del and Albert turn up maybe?

But Paul tells us, “No, definitely a paintball thing. I’m starting to think that perhaps I’ve mixed it up with another comedy shown around that time… but my memory is pretty vivid of Nicolas Lyndhurst being the usual lanky one in the line up at the end of a paintball game, seeing who won. Everyone had some paint on them, but Rodders being completely paint-free, then he turns around and his back is totally covered in paintball shots.”

So is this a missing episode or just another comedy starring Nicolas Lyndhurst?

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‘Strained Relations’ – Del’s Speech

Aired Feb 1985

“I’ve always played the tough guy – I didn’t want to, but I had to. I’ve played it for so
long now; I don’t know how to be anything else”

With the series becoming established and into its fourth year, the death of Lennard
Pearce has often been cited as a pivotal moment in the history of the show. At a
time when the show could have ended entirely and feelings amongst the cast still
raw over the loss of their colleague and friend, the resulting episode, ‘Strained
Relations’, laid new ground for a sit-com containing as it did the death of a major
cast member.

‘Strained Relations’ – Del’s Speech

It has generally been acknowledged that the quality of John Sullivan’s writing within
this episode in particular was to the highest quality. The ability to turn tears of
sorrow to those of laughter has been used ever since as a benchmark of how it
should be done and paved the way for writers such as David Renwick to regularly
employ such techniques within ‘One Foot in the Grave’ a decade later.

Whilst the episode is generally acknowledged for the key comedic moment in which
the vicar’s hat is mistaken for Grandad’s and thrown into the grave, the episode also
contains one of the greatest moments for other reasons.

As the reality of life without Grandad begins to sink in, Del Boy reveals (for the first
time in the series) what it means to be him. In a moment of high emotion we see
revealed much of the reasoning which made ‘Only Fools’ so successful thereafter.

When challenged by Rodney as to how Del could get over the death so quickly, Del
delivers a powerful, emotional defence of who he is and what makes him tick.

In one of David Jason’s finest performances as Del Boy, we see that much of what
Del is and does is a front put on to survive in the world he inhabits. The absence
of such strong underlying themes from many modern sitcoms is what makes ‘Only
Fools’ stand out as a class apart.

The Trotters are striving to improve, tapping into the entrepreneurial spirit so
prevalent in the country at the time. Underlying all is the family bond, held together
by the memory of their late mother and the responsibility for Del to take the lead
role as head of the family – a role not without its consequences as we see later on in
the series.

Paul Howe
August 2011

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We all are fully aware of the cuts that Only Fools and Horses have suffered, whether on the recent BBC repeats or more annoyingly on the DVD releases.

This week (5 Sep 2011) we see the very latest release from the BBC – Every episode in a very smart 26 disc boxset celebrating the 30 years.

Amazon has it here with free delivery Only Fools and Horses – The Complete Collection [DVD]

Features all the episodes and Christmas specials on 26 discs.

So will this set be different to all the others?

Fools Fans Complain to BBC

Fools fan Pete Manning told me ”

Thank you for contacting us regarding the BBC One programme ‘Only Fools and Horses’ broadcast on 12 July 2011.

I understand you’re unhappy because you believe episodes in the series were edited so badly that the stories no longer made sense and that many cuts weren’t necessary.

We raised your concerns with those responsible for managing this content in our Comedy department. They passed the following reply:

“The recent screenings of Only Fools and Horses have been a big success with the BBC’s Daytime audiences, which is no surprise considering it is such a well-loved show. Unfortunately the limited amount of time in the Daytime schedule meant that edits had to be made to fit the episodes into the available time-slot. This is also the reason why the episodes were run together in pairs – removing the opening titles from the second episode in the “double-bill” and combining the credits of the two episodes ended up saving valuable minutes that we then didn’t have to remove from the shows’ content.

Very occasionally an edit was also made because some of the language was considered too strong for that time in the afternoon. The family of the show’s writer, John Sullivan, were heavily involved in the entire process, agreed with every edit made, and were, like us, happy with the state of the final episodes.”

I appreciate that you may continue to feel it somewhat becomes in parts, nonsensical and I’d like to assure you that I’ve registered your complaint on our Audience Log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that’s made available to all BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive board, channel controllers and other senior managers.

The Audience Logs are seen as important documents that can help shape decisions on future BBC programmes and content.

Once again, thank you for contacting us.

Kind Regards

Philip Young
BBC Complaints
www.bbc.co.uk/complaints

I then took the opportunity to build on this by sending another complaint regarding the DVD releases:

Titled : Only Fools and Horses Cuts – please respect the comedy

From the outset – I understand that certain cuts have to be made when fitting in with TV schedules etc

But I cant understand why we get so many cuts when purchasing the Only Fools and Horses DVDs for a good price
Only Fools and Horses is a British institution

It wins nearly every voting pole going including Best Sitcom ever

I’m sure you’re proud of Only Fools and Horses and John Sullivan’s amazing work as much as I am, but how do you justify cutting so many scenes in the Only Fools and Horses DVDs?

I know you speak of music royalties etc – but pay for them!

That’s why we purchase the DVD in the first place – to see the original comedy, not parts cut out by a limited budget
Also Only Fools and Horses is one of the only DVDs you can purchase that have no extra scenes or footage or clips or bonuses, or directors comments.

For years I’ve heard fans complain, again and again about this issue

I know they have written to you, emailed, you and I know you have given replies with the above comments.

• But what do you need to charge for a DVD box set so the directors/ teams comments are there for the fans?
• But what do you need to charge for a DVD box set so the uncut scenes and background music are kept in tact?
• But what do you need to charge for a DVD box set so the fan gets some genuine extra footage off the original clippings (I know there are loads as I’ve been to the studio filming)

Come on BBC, its our Sitcom, please stop destroying it and listen to the public
Most are prepared to pay for the DVDs and a good price for them if you gave us the respect and provided at a minimum the original broadcast and some bonus footage really would be appreciated
Having had the Formula One footage cut in half for the coming years – its little to ask that Britains Best Sitcom gets more than the usual respect
Your sincerely
www.ofah.net

The reply from the BBC:

Thank you for contacting us regarding ‘Only Fools and Horses’.

I understand you’re disappointed with the content included on the DVD version of this series.

All of our commercial products, including DVDs, are handled by BBC Worldwide so you should contact them directly with your concerns and this can be done using the information provided below:

http://www.bbcworldwidetv.com/About/ContactUs

In the meantime, I can assure you that I’ve registered your comments on our audience log. This is a daily internal report of audience feedback which is made available to all BBC programme makers and commissioning executives, including their senior management. It ensures that your concerns are considered across the BBC.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact us.

Leo Westoby also recently sent a complaint to the BBC on Re-released DVD edits….
Hi, i am a huge fan of OFAH and have been reading the complaint letters on your fantastic website about the new re-edited DVDs. I have written an email to the BBC complaining about the new DVDs. This is what i sent “Only Fools and Horses is a fantastic comedy and is still watched by millions of people around the world. Everytime the BBC re-releases DVDs of the surperb comedy it gets re-edited! Alot of huge fans, including myself, wants an original series on DVD without any edits being made. I do understand about there are legal issues about music. Everytime a complaint of this nature is brought to the surface it seems that no one is really listening and get fobbed off. I understand by reading a previous complaint letter that John’s family were involved in the editing process. I also have videos of ‘Only Fools’ and have been comparing them. One on feature length episode the DVD version was nearly 6 minutes shorter than the video version. Please can you explain why everytime Only Fools gets re-released on DVD it gets re-edited?”

Keep up the good work as this website is the best around and long live OFAH!

Conclusion

So still none the wiser – but do give them a call and at least it is noted – if not it may turn things around

BBC Worldwide Limited
Media Centre
201 Wood Lane
London
W12 7TQ
UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8433 2000
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8749 0538

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‘The Best Episode of Only Fools and Horses’. By Matt Jarvis
Episode: ‘The Unlucky Winner is…’
Transmitted: Sunday 29th January 1989 at 19:15 hours.
Viewing Figures: 17 million
Running Time: 50 minutes

With such a fantastic and iconic series as ‘ Only Fools…’ there will forever be debate about which is the best ever episode and quite often, I find it all comes down to viewers’ personal experiences that they can link to the specific episode and the characters’. Of course that is the beauty of the writing and the acting of the programme – we can all relate to someone or something that happens – I can pretty much guarantee that we all know a Trigger, a Boycie, a Del Boy and countless Rodney ‘the plonker’ Trotters.

Okay, so that is enough of the obvious stuff but what I want to put forward is my own personal choice for the best ever episode and that is the January 1989 episode, ‘The Unlucky Winner is…’ I now know that a lot of people will be asking, ‘Why?’ so I must address that.

The Unlucky Winner Is...Rodney

For me, the whole episode is hilarious, full of so many funny moments and also is just so simple in its execution. From the very moment that Rodney explains how the picture of the Eiffel Tower became the ‘Marble Arch at Dawn’, I am falling about laughing.

Here we are at the very early stages of Cassandra and Rodney’s relationship and the entire scene in the Trotter’s living room is just pure class. It is no surprise when Del turns up but there in lies the brilliance of the writing and the acting talent on the show. We sit there waiting for Del to walk in but when he does, it still proves to be hilarious but what is even better is the appearance prior to that of good old Uncle Albert.

What I love is the fact that Albert walks in, asks a question and Rodney and Cassandra decide that it ‘sounded like Uncle Albert.’

The whole scene is such a merry go round of what the Trotters are about. No one knows truly what the other has planned and no one really respects what the others wants to do. Even the end of scene that involves a slight error from David Jason playing Del can take away from the beautiful composition of the scene. If you are wondering what the error is then I will enlighten you. Del is expecting a visit from ‘Petula’ but when Rodney tells him that ‘Albert’s old bird is here’, Del Boy responds by saying ‘you saucy Git, that’s Petulia’. Not a major thing but it may come up in a quiz one day!!

So, the scene is set perfectly and Rodney becomes the winner of a Mega Corn Flakes competition. Rodney only sees page one of the letter as Del can be the only one at this stage along with Uncle Albert) to know that all is not as it seems.

As the episode moves to the Pub, it is the point where I feel that this episode excels with its comedy built around real life scenarios. I just love it when Rodney explains his worries about ‘sex’ with Del and passes him the magazine only for Del to reply, ‘what, Ford Escorts?’ It is then just laugh after laugh as Del see’s the correct advert that Rodders is referring to and tells him; ‘you don’t have to worry. They’re not that size in real life.’ Once Rodney recovers from the realisation that Del is perhaps not the right person to have this sensitive conversation with, he explains that he is nervous about the issue as there is a ‘sort of stigma attached to them.’ How can Del possibly respond to this? Quite superbly is the answer as he says, ‘nah, that’s just a bit of silver foil you chuck out of the way.’

What I especially love is the fact that after that last line regarding the silver foil, you can clearly see that David Jason is struggling to bite his lip and stop himself from laughing. I love this about ‘fools’ as in other comedies I have studied, you hear how the directors have shot scenes again due to cast members laughing. Just imagine how Danger UXD would have lost one of its most memorable moments if the scene where Rodney turns up at the Nags Head with the Tomatoes and Mike offers him ‘…bread..’ to mop it up from his suit had been re done to remove Denzel, or rather Paul Barber, absolutely wetting himself with laughter in the bottom left of the screen and trying to avoid the camera!!!

Once we get to the holiday destination and Rodney has asserted that it is ‘time to pour the Sangria Jose, we have arrived..’ it is time for the episode to take off and whilst I assert that in my opinion this is the best ever episode of ‘Fools’, it also contains some of the best scenes and not least the introduction of Alan Perkins and his ‘Groovy Gang’.

Ever since this episode first aired, I have attended countless parties that at some point or another have featured friends and family asking if I am having fun. I just cannot resist the temptation to reply, ‘Groovy!!!’

You know that as soon as Del states once they all get to the hotel the cornflakes people will leave them alone to their holiday and Cassandra has made sure her ‘beloved’ Roddy does not get any ketchup down his shirt that things are going to go wrong as only they can for the clan Trotter.

It is the subtleties that I like as well. The fact that the ‘Arkela’ arrive and Rodney just about manages to give his cigarette to Del is just brilliant acting and the coolness of Del as he stands there as if he had the Cigarette and drink all along is picture perfect.

John Sullivan eventually manages to allow Roddy and Cassandra some time alone and as a viewer, we feel that at last they will get a bit of the holiday to themselves, only for Del to crudely shout back from the door that ‘they are in my flight bag…’ Surely enough to ruin any intimate moment as he also manages earlier in the episode when he explains that every time Rodney discusses art with someone, ‘their buttons come undone,’ and the fact that Rodney is in luck as ‘ Mike has just had a new machine fitted in the Gents.’

It is these set pieces that are such a feature of what ‘Only Fools and Horses ‘ is about and in my opinion, they are written and delivered just wonderfully in this episode.

You really do get a sense of the brotherly love in this episode because although Del is deeply amused by the predicament he has put his Brother in, he still has a sense of wanting Rodney to do well, none more so than when Rodney wants to kill Del because he has just ‘come second in a skateboard derby’ to which Del quite indignantly replies, ‘ second?! You were in the lead when I saw you.’ For a split second Rodney pauses and looks embarrassed as he explains that he ‘fell off.’ Deep down, there is always a sense that Rodney does not want to Del down either, no matter how daft the thing he has been doing may be.

What I also find clever is the fact that although Rodney still wears his normal clothes in the majority of scenes; he still manages to look like he could be an old looking 14 year old. I find it a close call between Rodney as Robin or he dressed as a young skateboarder as to which I enjoy the most – possibly it is just a draw for me.

The episode again shows how much Del would do to become rich by the fact that he will even change dates on Rodney’s legal documents to make sure that his date of birth will match his date of birth for the Mega Flakes people. Of course, in true Trotter tradition, this backfires as when they do win a large sum of money. Del’s little alterations mean they cannot claim their Spanish lottery winnings.

The question of the greatest ever episode will rumble on for an age, and in all honesty, there are so many classics, it is perhaps unfair to nail it down to one episode as each and every one have superb moments, but for me overall and from a comedy point of view, it is this episode that gets my vote and I will never tire of watching it again and again. Then again, I will never tire of watching this iconic and classic series that will forever for me stand the test of time.

As Del may say, ‘The Unlucky Winner is…’ for me ‘the crème de la menthe of the community!!’

By Matt Jarvis
Written 7th December 2012
Matt Jarvis is 33 years old and has been a ‘Fools’ fan all of his adult life.

If you want to write your article on the best only fools and horses episode then contact us via this form

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Stage Fright Episode Review

Brief: This episode called stage fright shows Del with a chance to supply the cabaret at the Starlight Rooms for Eric to the tune of 600 quid. It’s too good to miss. With Raquel dusting off her vocal chords and Trigs mate Tony Angelino, the singing dustman, everything’s sorted. Until Del discovers exactly who the real owner of the club is and the extent of Tony’s vocal range…

Transmitted: 13.01.1991
Duration: 50 minutes
Viewing Figures: 16.6 million

Del’s old friend is putting a cabaret night on at The Starlight Rooms. With Raquel now pregnant, Del can’t resist the offer of £600 for putting on the show.

When the Trotters discover this cabaret is being held by local villain Eugene Macarthy, in honour of his mother’s 82nd birthday, the pressure’s on. Raquel tells Del that she forgets her lines and needs another singer work with too. They find: Tony Angelino, he’s cheesier than cheddar.

Del legs it when the act starts badly, fearing for his safety. He is surprised to receive a phone call from Eugene. He wants to book them again. His mother’s never laughed as much.

Stage Fright Episodes Observations

• In Stage Fright, When Del is asking Raquel to marry him in the Nag’s Head, he says; “everything is falling into place”, he then says “I’ve got lots of little plots and pans bubbling away.” Was this intentional? Did he mean to say “plots and plans” or “pots and pans”?
• In Stage Fright, Mike says that pregnancy can be “sheer hell” to which Del responds “Knowing your Missus Mike, I can believe it!”. However, Del didn’t meet Mike until 1983, and Mike and his wife “broke up back in ’73″, and so Del would never have known her.
• In Stage Fright, When Tony is at Del’s flat, listen for when he says “no one who pronounces r’s like i do…” He says “pronounces” perfectly!! I know i’m sad for listening through the whole episode.
• In Stage Fright, as one of the extras in the audience at the Down by the riverside club (courage club Bristol) I love this episode, but how with less than 24 hours did Del sort the songs for raquel And Tony to sing he would need to sort the key get someone to write the sheet music have it copyed and arranged for each member of the band to play that night!
• In Stage Fright, when Tony Angelino enters his dressing room to escape the crazy women, notice how he doesn’t even shut the dressing room door behind him. You can see it gently swinging open. The way they were lusting after him, you would think the women would have stampeded right through.
• In Stage Fright, while sat in the nags head Albert asked what Rodney did with his golden handshake? Del says he kissed it against the wall! But we see Rodney get his money from Alan four episodes later in Miami Twice part 1.
• In Stage Fright, We know that Mike of the Nags Head has not had a wife for at least ten years. So how come when he is talking to Raquel about his wife telling him she was pregnent after he come back from a cruise does he just happen to have the photos under the bar?
• In Stage Fright, When Rodney and Raquel return from the star light rooms Rodney follows Raquel into yhe flat & closes the door. next shot Rodney is stood in the open door! At the end of the sceen look over Alberts shoulder and the door is shut!

Stage Fright Script

The script will be downloadable from here

Stage Fright Location

This is the Fidlers Club, Willway Street, Bristol. A.K.A Down by the riverside Club, where Del meets Tony Angelino the singing dustbin man.

The post Stage Fright appeared first on Only Fools and Horses.

The Nags Head Pub and it’s most memorable moments - article by Only Fools and Horses fan Ryan Howes

The Nags Head pub, which Del Boy, Rodney, Uncle Albert, Raquel, Cassandra and all the others used to drink in on a regular basis, is such an important location during all the series of Only Fools and Horses… We see scenes filmed in pub in almost every episode, but what were the most memorable moments?
From Raquel the stripper to Rodney’s stag night, the pub provided some memorable moments which will live with us for ever and it’s these moments which really helped the series of Only Fools and Horses become such a wonderful piece of comedy. There were some painful, emotional, hilarious and simply classic moments based in the Nags Head pub in Peckham and it’s those moments which I intend on re-living throughout this article.

One of the all-time greatest moments based in the Nags Head Pub, has to be Rodney and Cassandra’s wedding reception held in the hall above the bar, this was arguably the greatest pub moment of all time, but what made it so special?

For me and I’m sure many others, it’s got to be towards the end of that certain scene where Rodney and Cassandra are about to leave to go on their honeymoon after just getting married. You can see Del and Rodders both pause for a few seconds and are looking directly at one another from opposite ends of the room, as this is the start of Rodney’s new life. After a short pause we see Rodney turns his back and leaves the room, you have Del, standing in the centre of the hall with a beautiful song being played in background. Throughout this wonderful scene the audience (although silent) played a huge role in making this moment so memorable.

Why? Because normally Only Fools’ doesn’t contain scenes which are classed as emotional because it’s just so funny, however this scene was the complete opposite, not funny, just so perfectly emotional.

Did you know; at the time of filming, the audience weren’t laughing and Tony Dow (the director at the time) said to John Sullivan; “the audience aren’t laughing?” the response from John was spot on; “Tony, they aren’t laughing, because their crying”… and out came the tissues.

Lovely Jubbly in’it!

At first, this was schedule to be the last episode of Only Fools and Horses, with Rodney about to leave Del and move on in his new life, living with Cassandra, and a new job with Cassandra’s dad’s printing firm. However, because John Sullivan knew he couldn’t leave it at that, he decided to bring them back for another series to show Rodney and how he is getting on in his new life, and as we all know, things weren’t as Cushty as poor old Rodney would have liked.

There are just so many unforgettable moments which are based at the Nags Head Pub, I don’t know where to start, but I feel it’s a must, that I embarrass poor old Del for this funny moment which occurred during Uncle Albert’s birthday party at the pub, unfortunately for Del things didn’t go as Cushty as he would have hoped; the moment he finds out Raquel (who he’s only just met) is a stripper… For Del it’s almost a heart breaker but for everyone else it’s another superb moment to add to the memory bank!

After seeing Raquel beginning the strip on Uncle Albert as the surprise birthday present for him, Del feels let down, embarrassed, angry and upset and yet again it looked to be Bonjour to yet another of his birds. However, it wasn’t to be Bonjour to Raquel, as later that episode we found out that Del actually was still interested in her, and as ever with Derek Trotter around, things weren’t that easy, as he was later arrested… Let’s leave it at that shall we!
Cos’bloody’mic!  – What a Plonker you really are Del!

The pub played a huge role for all the characters during the making of Only Fools and Horses, and there are still so many top moments… From Rodney winning a date with nervous Nerys to the Trotter family walking into the pub as millionaires for the first time!

Although the greatest Fools and Horses moment of all time didn’t occur in the Nags Head, there are many moments which were filmed in the Nags Head Pub that are deservedly placed high on people’s Only Fools and Horses top moments list. This just shows what a key role the pub played in making OFAH such a brilliant piece of comedy and is still watched by millions across the globe today.

People may ask what made the Nags Head Pub so great, I believe it’s mainly down to Mike Fisher the pubs friendly landlord, although the pub had many bar workers before Mike arrived on the scene, I still believe it was his character which made the pub such a popular location to film Only Fools And Horses and this is why I say Mike Fisher made the pub so great with some luvvly jubbly moments!

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The episode is Chance of a Lunchtime the sitcom is Only Fools and Horses and Darren Lovett has tracked down Petrol Station seen in that episode.

Lovetts Locations - Petrol Station

This is where Rodney and Alan Parry get petrol when they notice Del chatting in a wine bar opposite in episode “Chance of a Lunchtime”.
This Location is on Whiteladies Road, Bristol
Sat Nav Postcode: BS8 2LY
Nearest Train Station: Clifton Down

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Long Legs of the Law Episode Review

Brief: Streuth! Rodders besmirching the good reputation of the Trotter family by dating a policewoman, Sandra… Better hide that Police Record …”Walking on the Moon” Rodney has really blown it this time.

Transmitted: 21.10.1982
Duration: 30 minutes
Viewing Figures: 7.7 million

Del and Grandad are horrified to hear that Rodney is dating a police officer called Sandra. But while Grandad is worried about Sandra knowing about the Trotters’ sullied reputation, Del is sweating over the amount of dodgy gear stored in the flat.

At the end of their date at the cinema, Rodders brings Sandra back to the flat for a nightcap. As soon as she arrives, Del spots her wearing a stolen watch that Rodney has given her as a gift. Thinking fast, he ‘accidentally’ pours gin over it and promises to buy her a replacement.

Ever the gent, Rodney offers to walk her home, and everything appears to be forgiven. But as Sandra says goodbye, she tells Rodney he has 24 hours to empty the flat of stolen goods belonging to Trotters’ Independent Traders before she notifies CID

Episode Observations

• In Long Legs of the Law, at the start, Del is telling Grandad that Rodney is trying to date the arresting officer who was involved in a fight that Del and Rodney witnessed the previous night. Del laughs and jokes at it. But later when Rodney says he is dating that copper, Sandra, Del is annoyed. Make your mind up Derek Trotter.
• In Long Legs of the Law, At The Scene Near The end when del is clearing out the flat he opens the sideboard to make it lighter to carry, but he struggles to open it!!
• In Long Legs of the Law, when Del and Rodders are in Sids Cafe and loads of kitchenware drops out of Dels sleeve you can see his hand controlling when the knifes fall out.
• In Long Legs of the Law, when Del drops all the cutlery in Sid’s Cafe at the start of the episode, watch David Jason’s left hand releasing and stopping the cutlery on and off, and then not acting particularly well when he needs to look surprised at being caught.
• In Long Legs of the Law, the policewoman is with Rodney as Del starts hiding stuff, Del offers her a drink and as he’s at the drinks cabinet, watch and listen carefully as he smashes a glass just off the screen.
• In Long Legs of the Law, While trying to hide watches on the table, from Sandra a Police women, Del Knocks a glass of beer over.

Long Legs of the Law Script

Where are they now?

Well it seems Sandra played by Kate Saunders has had a small part in The Birth of the Beatles film and done mainly small theatre production since.

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Class of ’62 Episode Review

Brief: A class of ’62 reunion in the Nag’s Head signals Roy Slater’s return to Civvy Street after years in the ‘Nick’. But why has the crooked ex-copper decided to come back to Peckham where he is universally loathed? Just as everyone begin to believe that he really has changed for the better, Del discovers the real reason for his return…

Transmitted: 20.01.1991
Duration: 50 minutes
Viewing Figures: 16.2 million

Episode Observations

• In The Class of ’62, When Del and Roy are about to fight in the flat, you can tell that Uncle albert is not actually holding Roy back. Slater just shakes his jacket off.
• In The Class of ’62, Boycie mentions Del boy’d “Roger Daltry haircut”. Very curious, as The Who had their first hit in 1965, three years ater the very latest the school photo could have been taken. How could Del have possibly known of Daltry’s existenc to have a haircut based on his?
• In The Class of ’62, when Roy Slater is in the pub and Raquel walks in there is no drink on the table because he asks Raquel if she wants a drink then before he gives it to her there is already a drink on the table.
• In The Class of ’62, when everyone is in Del’s flat Boycie rings Marlene to pick him up. When she eventually arrives you hear a very loud car horn – which is fine and everyone hears it and Boycie makes his way downstairs to the car. But the Flat is about 13 floors up so you wouldn’t hear the car beep in the first place!
• In The Class of ’62, when Del invites all the lads round to his gaff after the reunion, they start to go through a number of photos. When Del shows them the photo of the school football team, Trigger says, “There’s that Italian kid, good player, what was his name?” But if you look closly, Triggers voice has been dubbed over, it appears that he’s saying, “There’s that Italian Prat.”
• In The Class of ’62, If this is a school class reunion, what’s Rodney doing there? (He’s 13 years younger than Del and consequently the others as well, so he couldn’t have been in their class.)
• In The Class of ’62, Mike admits to everyone that he didn’t get Slater’s name on the receipt book because he paid cash, yet later Roy tells the others “you shoot off, I’ve got to sort out the money with the guv’nor”.
• In The Class of ’62, Slater is out of prison he still has possession of some of the diamonds and this storyline links well with “To Hull and Back”, there Slater was banged up for diamond smuggling at the end.
• In The Class of ’62, When Raquel arrives at the Nag’s Head, Roy escorts her to an empty table and tells Mike to get her a drink. Roy then only takes one drink – his own – to the table, yet another one has still managed to mysteriously appear from nowhere on the beermat in front of her.

Class of ’62 Script

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Brett Shaw takes a look at Only Fools and Horses Series 7

Episode: ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Uncle’.

In this episode, John Sullivan touches on the difficult topic of growing older.

Uncle Albert has been given a new lease of life by joining the over 60s club down on the estate and is in hot pursuit of Marlene’s mum. Del is on the up, business is good and he’s bought a new car so Raquel can drive, rather than walk, as muggings have been occurring on the estate. However, Rodney is downhearted, separated from his wife and is unemployed.

During the episode, Uncle Albert is playing in a domino final at the Nags Head against his old school friend, Knock-Knock. However, tempers are frayed as they clash while trying to impress Marlene’s mum, Dora Lane. This is exacerbated when Knock-Knock confidently tells Uncle Albert that he can beat him at anything, but neither men are willing to back down. While walking home Uncle Albert gets mugged, losing his money and pocket watch. Del is naturally angered by this, and aside from the police’s efforts, decides to employ his own crime-fighting tactics.

Meanwhile, Uncle Albert is shocked by the whole mugging situation. To get him back on his feet, Del and Rodders attempt some tough-love, which inevitably back-fires. Uncle Albert feels a burden and is embarrassed, so during the night decides to leave Nelson Mandela House.

Del and Rodney eventually track him down to Tobacco Road where he once lived. After reminiscing about how things use to be they bring him home to Nelson Mandela House. Realising Del’s tough-love was only for his own benefit, Uncle Albert settles back in.

However, this is short-lived when Uncle Albert’s friend Knock-Knock returns his stolen pocket watch and Del discovers that Uncle Albert was not mugged but got into a fight over Marlene’s mum and Knock-Knock knocked him out.

At that point Rodney bursts into the flat saying a fight has occurred at the Nags Head. The Ollie and the Greasers had attacked the suspected muggers, under Del’s instruction and had taken a beating. Unfortunately, the suspected muggers were not muggers at all but police officers who had been put on the estate when the muggings started.

Rodney alerts Del to potential repercussions from the Greasers on discharge from hospital. Uncle Albert confidently stands up cocking his fists, protesting they better not try anything with him around, as he was Royal Navy boxing champion. Del lunges at Uncle Albert, but is restrained by Rodney.

What come across really strongly in this episode are two things. Firstly, the burden older people can feel to wards their family and wider society, and secondly, how as people grow older they can sometimes struggle to make sense of the world they live in.

Uncle Albert is a proud man, who has served his country. As a young man in the Royal Navy he was a boxing champion. Although he has got older his achievements are still important to him, and he shares them freely.

Moreover, his past achievements are put to the test when he meets up with his old school friend, Knock-Knock, who is 3 years, his senior. Knock-Knock says he could beat Uncle Albert at anything, just like at school, and eventually they fight and Knock-Knock knocks Uncle Albert out, causing him great embarrassment. Uncle Albert discovers is not what he once was or what he thought he was. He then lies to Del and says he was mugged, confusingly by 4, 5 then 6 people.

Feeling a burden Uncle Albert returns to Tobacco road, where he was born in London – where he thinks he can recapture the ease and simplicity he once felt as a young man. But, on seeing how his old home had changed into a modern development and was beyond his past recognition, he sadly says, ‘I didn’t realise things had changed so much’.

Recollecting with great nostalgia his childhood days, Uncle Albert says at 15 his first job was on the tramp steamer. He talks with passion about the docks being a hive of activity; ships from all over the world had sailed into these docks with bananas from Jamaica, timber from Canada. The pubs and cafés were filled with sailors from 100 countries. As a youngster Uncle Albert could swear in 10 different languages.

Uncle Albert remembers the camaraderie and spirit of the people who lived and worked around the docks when he was young; people who had great strength and survived on very little during the hard days of the Second World War. Although his memories are as fresh as today, he again notices how much Tobacco Road has changed and sadly says, ‘look what they’ve done to it now’. Uncle Albert is a man with great experiences and memories, which, as he grows old, don’t serve him in the present how they once did in the past.

I think this is a common feeling felt by many people as they grow older, which has been excellently captured by the genius of John Sullivan.

The post John Sullivan touches on growing older appeared first on Only Fools and Horses.

Only Fools and Horses fan, Nathan Lloyd, provides us with his Friday the 14th episode review. please comment below as to whether you agree with his synopsis.

In terms of overall consistency, I consider Only Fools and Horses’ third series to be the single greatest series of the programme rivalled only by its sixth series, however the two series have so many differences between them that it is almost impossible to compare. While series six lounged comfortably within one of the show’s many peaks, series three had something to prove; it pretty much had to consolidate the programme to the masses after the slow start of the first series and the sudden interest in the second series. Fortunately, writer John Sullivan was more than able to tackle the issue in providing the fans with the best episodes, some of the most quotable of the show’s jokes and one-liners as well as cementing the Trotters’ hold of Peckham. The one abnormality of this collection of episodes was the third episode, ‘Friday the 14th’ (1983), which shows Sullivan’s first foray into experimenting with his formula. For the majority of the five, half-hour length series, Sullivan stuck to the show’s main premise, that of three people trying to become millionaires, diligently eventually becoming more liberal and expansive with it as the show evolved. ‘Friday the 14th’ is one of the first episodes that shies away from the established rules; the only real goal the Trotters have in this episode is to survive. Indeed, the show’s concept of Del getting rich by fishing salmon from a stream by Boycie’s weekend cottage in Cornwall is a MacGuffin; Sullivan wanted to portray the Trotters as fish out of water and what better way to do that than isolate them in a cabin in the middle of the woods with a crazed axe murderer trying to kill them? ‘Friday the 14th’ moved from the established template, threw the Trotters out of the comfort of Nelson Mandela House, and straight into a dangerous unknown.

Friday the 14th episode review

In spite of it being a sitcom episode, there are a lot of cinematic flourishes courtesy of Sullivan’s script and Ray Butt’s direction that borrow from the conventions of film noir, thriller and horror films. Sullivan takes these conventions that are deliberately clichéd, such as a thunderstorm, power outage, heavy breathing, a mysterious hand through the undergrowth and shadowy figures to create a truly suspenseful experience; I admit that during my first viewing of this episode around ten years ago, I was watching through the cracks of my fingers, my insular mind pondering whether or not the writer was going to kill off the Trotters. These ambitious ideas were aided by the location filming in Iwerne Minster, Dorset. In one of my favourite images from the entire series, the sight of an abandoned cottage amidst a heavy thunderstorm can make one forget that they are watching a comedy-  until the three-wheeled van hobbles its way onto the screen like the anachronistic sight of a car in the distance of a Lord of the Rings shot and the unlikeliest of heroes emerge from it. The cottage set is also well designed making it especially claustrophobic for the climax as well as dangerous with the incessant claps of thunder and flashes of lightning in the background.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Only Fools and Horses episode without comedy and ‘Friday the 14th’ has this in abundance. Ironically, one of my favourite scenes is the one where the van is stopped by a policeman who warns them of an escaped axe murderer. Despite it being set-up, the facial expressions of the Trotter trio are priceless; Rodney and Grandad display pure terror while Del is simply dumbfounded, inconvenienced that his money-making weekend has hit a snag. The scene where the Trotters first arrive at the cottage is also Only Fools at its best with Sullivan’s one-liners delivered perfectly by David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst and Lennard Pearce, cementing this threesome as my favourite in the show’s history. The three have a perfect sync with each other and never miss a beat; indeed, my favourite lines in the episode are made even funnier because they flow impeccably between the three actors:

Rodney: Oh, he’s most probably half-way to London by now.

Del: Yeah, of course he is. He’s most probably looking for an empty place up there.

Grandad: Hope he don’t find our flat.

Del: Will you shut up?!

The Monopoly scene is a welcome break from the tension. It’s novel to see the Trotters talk about something other than money or girls while the thunderstorm still exists in the distance reminding us that although they’re playing a ‘safe’ board game, they are anything but safe. May be as a foreshadow to the climax, Del still adopts his business prattle when conning Rodney out of Monopoly money for putting him in the ‘penthouse suite’ of his fictional hotel, showing that he is always thinking about money, even in a friendly game. This scene also unearths some facets of Rodney’s character: he’s a sore loser who sulks like a petulant teenager when things don’t go his way. Perhaps Rodney is still reeling from failing after the previous episode ‘Healthy Competition’ (1983) and still feels that he has to prove himself to Del and Grandad? Regardless of its purpose, this notion reminds one of Harold Steptoe; Rodney has to lose to Del like Harold has to to his father in order to maintain the sense of paralysis and stagnation that all good sitcoms try to instil on their characters: the young has to lose to the old and have to gain experience, but ultimately never muster enough to leave. It shows that Sullivan was not only inspired by films in ‘Friday the 14th’, but also other sitcoms like Steptoe and Son. The scene culminates in probably the most famous moment in the episode: Rodney seeing ‘the face in the window’. John Sullivan fans would recognise the man as Bill Ward; not Black Sabbath’s drummer; but an actor who had appeared as a semi-regular as Reg the barman from Citizen Smith. His somewhat haggard looks are rather startling the first time, especially with the lightning flash emphasising his stern look as he stares at Rodney aimlessly, but the moment returns to comedy after Rodney pulls the curtain back sheepishly and is frozen by fear and disbelief. The moment is a perfect complement to the Monopoly scene because that is so light-hearted while the thought of a stranger nearby is so terrifying. Sullivan allows the drama in this episode to breathe because of the frequency of the comedy and the fact that he can change gears easily and combine them.

The axe murderer (or the ‘Madman’ as described in the cast list) is an interesting character because he is one of an exclusive club who manage to draw out fear from Del. Throughout the series, Del has been frightened of very little people; Tommy McKay (initially) in ‘No Greater Love’ (1982), The Driscoll Brothers in ‘Little Problems (1989), Eugene McCarthy from ‘Stage Fright’ (1991) and, arguably, Roy Slater because of his tenacious and illegal efforts to imprison him in ‘May the Force Be With You’ (1983) and ‘To Hull and Back’ (1985) are the only few that spring to mind, however, as violent or manipulative as they may seem, they are only gangsters, thugs or bent coppers; the axe murderer, on the other hand, is worse than all of those because he is of course a killer, but he is also insane and unpredictable. He’s raving mad of course, but he does speak some logic about how winning can leave one ‘open to attack’. The only competition for the murderer would be the Occhetti family from ‘Miami Twice’ (1991) yet Del never confronts the Don directly nor does he engage with the Mafia after he knows the truth about them; so it makes Del’s encounter with the axe murderer in ‘Friday the 14th’ one of the more intense moments in the entire series. It is to Sullivan’s credit that he can twist such a frightening situation into a classic comedy scene. Sullivan mainly kept the drama and comedy separate save for a few select moments, yet here he writes the scene as nail-biting but also very tongue in cheek. Lines like ‘It’s all right, it’s Barratts!’ diffuse the tension and make what could have been a hard to watch scene very watchable. Also amusing is Del’s attitude to the whole situation. Del has shown to be streetwise, so this episode highlights how much of a survivor he is; his natural charisma persuades the murderer to give him his axe and he effectively stalls the murderer until the authorities arrive. The crafty facets of Del’s personality come to the fore when he progresses from trying to save his life to his taking liberties with the murderer such as wagering on an invisible snooker game. This shows a kind of refuge for Del; he’s in deadly danger yet he thinks about money and earning the upper hand. As Sullivan himself said: ‘…even in his hour of need in a terrifying situation, Del will still try to find a way of earning a fiver! He’s in another part of the world, but Del Boy’s still trying out his Peckham tricks.’

In closing, ‘Friday the 14th’ is my favourite episode of Only Fools and Horses and one of my favourites of any sitcom because John Sullivan did something different and successfully married comedy and various forms of drama to create a perfect example of comedy-drama that films such as Scary Movie should watch and study. The fact that this episode runs at thirty minutes and is nigh on perfect is a testament to Sullivan’s accomplished writing talents and his knowledge and faith in his characters. Taken out of Peckham for half an hour, they are allowed to grow a little more and indulge in behaviour they wouldn’t normally have to. The joy of ‘Friday the 14th’ is other than it being hilariously funny, the crew create an atmosphere that isn’t found in any other episode of Only Fools and Horses making it totally unique. While ‘Miami Twice’ had a very similar premise, basically that the Trotters were under the mercy of killers, it has an entirely different mood, that of consciously being a film; while ‘Friday the 14th’ has the quiet dignity of being a drama akin to an episode of Tales of the Unexpected except with far more laughs and this, to me at least, makes it more enjoyable to watch. It is just the Only Fools episode to watch at Halloween or any Friday the 14th that happens to be on the calender. It is just one of series three’s many gems and a part of John Sullivan’s attempts to experiment with mood for that particular year; ‘Homesick’ was a tearjerker, ‘Healthy Competition’ had a strong Steptoe and Son vibe, ‘Yesterday Never Comes’ was a caper, ‘May the Force Be With You’ was a parody of cop shows, ‘Wanted’ and ‘Who’s a Pretty Boy?’ were simply laugh out loud funny and ‘Thicker Than Water’ started to retcon and shape the series’ backstory. It was them and episodes like ‘Friday the 14th’ that demonstrated that there was more to this series than meets the eye and the belief that the series would have a bright future was more than a suggestion.

-John Sullivan quotes from issues 6 and 18 of The Only Fools and Horses DVD Collection.

The post Friday the 14th Episode Review appeared first on Only Fools and Horses.

Updated November 2014

WE have this Christmas on BBC1 1991 Only Fools and Horses trailer where there is a different dialogue – he actually says “Miami twice”

Only Fools and Horses Cuts – Part 7 – Updated Video Below

by Ronnie English

Last week Ronnie English looked at The Jolly Boys Outing and the lost original scenes when released on DVD in the UK.

Today we turn our attention to another great Christmas  special.

Miami Twice (1991)

UPDATE – enjoy the cut scenes that linked the two episodes and around 6 minutes of missing scenes

Miami Twice was another special that was cut, there is one major cut made because of music, and other minor cuts for content reasons. The DVD has Miami Twice listed as one episode, originally it was two episodes, and each broadcast on different dates. Another point to make it that there was no audience laughter track in part two. The DVD version mixes both episodes into one and adds a canned laughter track to episode two. The original opening and closing of the episodes has also been removed or edited to make it look like one episode. The first cut to take place is at the end of the first episode. In the original version, a scene showing Del and Rodney getting on to the aeroplane, Del is also seen singing. This is removed completely from the DVD version. The following lines have been lost:

Del:” Hey, hey! Come on Rodders! , Everything’s free in America, kippers for tea in America. Have a nice day.”

Rodney: “Oi! Pack it in, get on that aeroplane!”
Del: “Alright, alright.”

The end credits then play.

Come on Rodders

Everything’s free in America, kippers for tea in America

Miami Twice End of Part 1

In part two, A small cut occurs at the start on the aeroplane when Del removes his earphones, The word “Oh” is lost because of music. The original opening with the music track “Rocking All over the World” by Status Quo has been removed and replaced with “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears For Fears. The introduction scenes have also been edited.

Miami Twice opening credits cut

Miami Twice opening credits part 2 cut

The major cut occurs at the club occurs because of music and takes place after the line “Were here on holiday”. The following lines have been lost:

Sal: “Vacation.”
Rico: “Oh vacation! Yeah, yeah, I thought as much. Well, welcome to America.”
Del: Yeah, “well thanks very much, son.”
Tony: “We don’t get many Australians round here.”
Del: “Look, we are not Australian, right?”
Rod: “We are British.”
Rico: “British! We love the British! Are you, erm, living locally?”
Del: “Well no. No, we’ve got one of them camper things out there in the street, you know. We just whack our bags and what have you in the back and off we go. (Tony talks quietly to Lurch. Lurch leaves the club)”
Pauli: “It’s the best way to see the country.”
Del: “Yeah, well, I mean – you can’t whack it, can you?”
Rico: “No, like you say, you can’t whack it. So can I get you guys a drink.”
Del: “Er, well, er no… ”
Sal: ” I don’t think this is wise, Rico.”
Rod: “You see the thing is, we’ve got to drive over to the camping-site…sorry the camper-park, before it closes see.”
Pauli: “Oh come on, you must have time for one!”
Del: “Well, we can have one, Rodney, what do you reckon, eh?”
Rod: “Yeah, go on then.”
Del: “Yeah we’ll have a drink with you – let’s introduce ourselves. This is my brother Rodney and my name’s Del – that’s er, short for Derek.”
Rico: “Hi, Rodney…Derek. I’m Rico. This is my cousin Salvatore and our friend Pauli”.
Sal: “Are you enjoying your stay so far?”
Del: “Oh yes, er, great. No, we’re having a blinding time.”
Rico: “Why don’t you join us?”

like you say, you can’t whack it

Miami Twice Cut Scene

For more information you can visit my site at: http://www.onlyfoolsandhorsescuts.weebly.com/

Next week we will look at Only Fools and Horses Cuts for Mother Nature’s Son and Time on our hands

In a few weeks time we will reveal one episode with  18 minutes  cut out! – it went from 76 minutes to 58 minutes!

The post Only Fools and Horses Cuts – Part 7 appeared first on Only Fools and Horses.

Only Fools & Horses Series Three, episode: Thicker Than Water review by Brett Shaw

Only Fools & Horses Series Three has to be one of my favourites. Series One and Two are without doubt classics. Episodes like ‘Cash & Curry’, ‘Second Time Around’, as well as ‘Diamonds are for Heather’, ‘Long Legs of the Law’ and ‘It Never Rains…’ are great episodes littered with great comedy.

For me, John Sullivan’s writing really gets into its stride in series three. I love all 8 episodes, from Rodney being a desperate man on the run in ‘Wanted’ to Del winning over an axe-wielding maniac in ‘Friday the 14th’. Series three also sees the introduction of two great characters, Mike and Denzel in the very funny ‘Who’s a Pretty Boy’? My favourite episode has to be the Christmas Special ‘Thicker Than Water’, which sees the return of Reg Trotter.

Thicker Than Water
(1983 Christmas Special)

It’s Christmas Day night, Del’s out with his latest girlfriend and Rodney and grandad are in watching a film ‘that the Germans tried to bomb’. The doorbell rings and Rodney is met by a man he thinks is begging for money. To his surprise, it turns out to be his father who deserted the family 18 years ago.

An angry Del returns home with the aim of kicking his father out of the flat for having the front to return after running out on the family 18 years previously. A heated discussion ensues between Del, Rodney and Grandad. Although Del clearly hates his father, Rodney never knew his dad growing up and wants to make up his own mind about him. Rodney says to Del, ‘I wouldn’t mind the opportunity of judging him for myself. To which Del replies, what do you mean, judging him, he walked out on you when you were 5 years old, not only that he walked out on his own father’. In spite of this, Rodney is still keen to have his father around. Similarly for Grandad, Reg is his son, so he naturally takes his side.

Reg cunningly informs Del, Rodney and Grandad he has recently been a patient in Newcastle Infirmary suffering from a hereditary blood disorder. Del is not convinced of his father’s mysterious illness and responds with the words, ‘Jackanory…Jackanory’. Reg says his reason for returning was to do right by his children and warn them. As such, Del and Rodney need to have blood tests to check they have not been afflicted with the same hereditary condition. As a result of Reg’s illness and the fact it’s Christmas, Del allows Reg to stay. Reg goes to bed wishing them all a Merry Christmas’. Del reacts, ‘a right blindin’ Christmas this has turned out to be; some people get wise men bearing gifts, we get a wally with a disease’.

Results day arrives. Del and Rodney anxiously open their results, but discover the envelopes have already been opened. Grandad says Reg must have opened them due to being worried. After the excitement of both Del and Rodney being all clear of any hereditary illness, grandad and Del notice Rodney and Del both have different blood groups; Rodney being group ‘A’ and Del being ‘AB’. Del comes to the surprising realisation that Rodney is not Reg’s son.

A furious Reg bursts into the flat. He’s angry about the test results and believes Del and Rodney’s mum must have cheated on him; meaning one of his sons is not his. Reg says to Del, ‘how would you like to have a son who you loved and cared for… only to find years later that’s he’s a mystery’! Del replied, ‘what do you mean loved and cared for him, you walked out on Rodney when he was 5 years old ‘. Reg states, ‘I don’t know what you keep bringing Rodney into it for – you’re the mystery’!

Shocked by his dad’s revelation, an isolated Del decides to stay at Triggers. Rodney, naturally still loyal to his brother convinces him that a different blood group does not mean they have different fathers. He urges Del to go and see Dr Becker to double check the results.

Meanwhile, Rodney and Grandad have found the last couple of weeks with Reg challenging. He’s drunk the flat dry of booze and money, wrote a bet on the back of Rodney’s GCE certificates and smoked all Del Boy’s cigars.

Del returns confidently to Nelson Mandela House after taking Rodney’s advice. Del has rumbled Reg’s plan and finds out he cunningly changed Del’s blood group from ‘A’ to ‘AB’ on his hospital letter to isolate him from the family and take advantage of the situation. This exposes Reg’s plans and angers Rodney and Grandad. Del also questions Reg’s mystery blood illness, saying,’ Dr Becker rung up Newcastle Infirmary and they’d never heard of him [Reg]. They didn’t have a patient called Trotter, but they did have a porter called Trotter, but he left 2 weeks ago with 57 blankets, 133 pairs of rubber gloves and the chief gynaecologists Lambretta’. As the full truth of Reg’s actions is discovered, and the upset he’s caused, he has no option but to pack up his stuff and move on. In spite of all the false hope and upset Reg has caused, out of loyalty for his father, Del gives him a few quid.

John Sullivan not only writes good comedy but also good drama. Thicker Than Water is not just funny; it also deals with real-life situations like family breakups. In such situations family members are affected in different ways like Del, Rodders and grandad, leading to arguments and disagreements.

People like Reg are always going to be relying on the goodwill of others to get by. His departure from Newcastle meant he needed to take advantage of others – who better to visit at Christmas than his family? Through family loyalty and cunning he tried to take advantage of Del, Rodney and grandad for his own selfish interest.

Also, John Sullivan wanted to exploit the fact that Del and Rodney, although brothers looked completely different, highlighting the emotive issue that they probably had different fathers. John planted the idea for this with the blood test plot in Thicker Than Water. It was to be developed further in the excellent special ‘Frogs’ Legacy’ and later ‘Sleepless in Peckham’. Secrecy in families will always exist. However, in the 60s, 70s and 80s, the stigma of children being born out of wedlock or with different parents was far more of an issue than it is today. It was normal for such situations to be hidden for many years before being discovered, if discovered at all.

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Only Fools and Horses Cuts – Part 1

How about petitioning the BBC to release original uncut versions

follow this link and add your support
https://click.mail.change.org/?qs=ebde45e935addde6a401829cfdf78b79e7d99eedda95831ca3c6aa6bd3e3b967db96f3684b791e9e731fc0d186e03ca6f0a3b2bfe8d374be59786a1be8007a1b

by Ronnie English

1st February 2010 Update:

Only recently, The BBC have began making episodes of Only Fools and Horses available on I-Tunes, These episodes appear to be completely uncut. The Jolly Boys outing scene is intact, The Tea for Free scene is also intact. The whole series has not been made available yet so this cannot be confirmed fully, but there is now a much greater chance of an UNCUT DVD release. You can buy a whole series on I-tunes for around £8. Maybe the BBC have changed their policy? Only time will tell.

As you know, Only Fools and Horses is a great comedy. When you watch it on television, you enjoy the experience and look forward to watching it again in the future. Over the course of the series many episodes were produced with various story lines involving different locations and characters.  When these episodes were released on DVD, some cuts and edits were made which removed some scenes that were present in original broadcasts.

The cuts have been listed in order of series and the specials have been placed at the end.  It should be noted that these cuts only apply to the UK DVD/VHS releases. The only UK DVD release which is different to the normal release is the Royal Flush DVD from the magazine collection and the Royal Flush VHS. These are unfortunately no longer in production. Releases from other countries and older UK releases may not contain every cut listed below. Also note that the minor cuts because of offense are not listed. These are so small and are very hard to notice that it does not really effect content. Offense cuts are made to DVD and TV Broadcasts and our only uncut on the US DVD.

For more information you can visit : http://www.onlyfoolsandhorsescuts.weebly.com/

This Week Series One

Series One

Series One of Only Fools and Horses has one major cut that applies to every episode in the series. The original introduction and credit music by Ronnie Hazlehurst has been removed and replaced by the John Sullivan version. Sullivan’s version was originally only used from series two. The original music can still be heard on television broadcasts but only in episode “Big Brother” and the 1981 Christmas special “Christmas Crackers”. It has been completely removed from the DVD apart from a small sequence in the episode “Big Brother”.

Cuts from series one

Cash and Curry

There is also one minor cut which occurs in the “Cash and Curry” episode. No scenes are removed but the music track “Money” by Pink Floyd is replaced with a similar track. This track is played over the flicker effect scene where we see Del and Rodney selling their items to raise cash.

Episode Cash and Curry

Most fans would love to see the originals put back into the DVD releases.

Additionally John Sullivan’s commentary along with production comments must be a great way to provide some extras on a re-release of this wonderful comedy.

Next week we will look at Only Fools and Horses Cuts for Series Two Three and Four

Later in this series we will reveal one episode with  18 minutes  cut out! – it went from 76 minutes to 58 minutes!

The post Only Fools and Horses Cuts – Part 1 appeared first on Only Fools and Horses.

Christmas Crackers Episode Review

Brief: It’s anthracite roast potatoes and green stuff all round – Granddad’s cooking Christmas dinner
Trouble is, Rodney’s in danger of dying of boredom. Then the glittering attractions of the Monte Carlo Club beckon… Will this prove to be the sparkle their looking for ?

Transmitted: 28.12.1981
Duration: 35 minutes
Viewing Figures: 7.5 million

Rodney has ran out of yuletide cheer, as the annual routing of the Trotter festivities are wearing thin. Burnt turkey, charred Christmas pudding, the same old things on television, and nothing but a book lent to him by Mickey Pierce: ‘Body Language: The Lost Art.’

When Grandad puts on his glad rags and heads to the OAPs’ party at the community centre, the Trotter boys head to The Monte Carlo Club.

Rodney puts his new-found knowledge of the unspoken language of love to use, but Del Boy has other ideas.

As the brothers argue over who’s technique is best, the objects of their affections are whisked away from under their noses.

Episode Observations

• In Christmas Crackers, When Del and Rodders are going to talk to the two birds that are sitting down, they move to go to dancing with the two men. They were wanting two sit down all along, so why didn’t they sit at the table the birds left, instead of getting rid of the other ugly birds.
• In Christmas Crackers, when del is cutting the turkey with no plug socket, if you look closely at grandad you will se him look towards the camera to see if it is his cue to come in.
• In Christmas Crackers, watch at near the beginning when del returns and rodney is on the sofa. Del goes out to the hall to hang his jacket up and it falls down but watch the wall as it shakes and you can clearly see a crack in the wall.
• In Christmas Crackers, where Del tastes the turkey and says “it is slightly underdone” and Rodney says it needs a kiss of life to revive it” he never tasted the turkey.
• In Christmas Crackers, when Rodneys complaining to go out to Del, notice Granddad says he’s going out but he comes through the door he comes out to tell them is the door normally used to go out through. He must have been standing in there ages because he didn’t previously appear in that scene. He must have got changed in there and allsorts.
• In Christmas Crackers, Watch where the scene opens to Del cutting the turkey. Notice Lennard Pearce’s indiscretion on checking whether the cameraman is filming.

Christmas Crackers Script

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