Only Fools And Horses was first televised on BBC-1 on September 8, 1981 when Derek “Del Boy” Trotter was introduced trying to flog one-legged turkeys from the back of his Robin Reliant. His brother, Rodney, was even then contemplating leaving the world of Trotter’s Independent Trading Company for a “real” job.
Grandad, who appeared in the first three series, was played by Lennard Pearce who died in December 1983. Grandad’s funeral took place on screen on February 28, 1985 in the same episode that Buster Merryfield made his first appearance as Uncle Albert.
Del met Raquel through the Technomatch Dating Agency in the 1988 Christmas Special.
Rodney met Cassandra in the January 8 episode of the 1989 series and they married in the February 12 episode the same year.
Del’s son and heir, Damien Derek Trotter, was born in 1991, in the episode transmitted on February 3. 18.9 viewers shared Del’s experience of fatherhood.
The 1991 Christmas Special was a feature length two-parter, entitled Miami Twice, and was filmed on location in Florida.
Only Fools And Horses has won the following awards: Television Situation Comedy of 1984 from TRIC, Best Comedy Series of 1986 and 1988 from BAFTA, Funniest TV Programme from the SOS Star Awards of 1989 and the Best Retail Comedy Video (The Yellow Peril) at the 1992 British Video Awards.
The series has introduced into the common vernacular the following words and phrases: “cushty”; “plonker”; “lovely jubbly”; “no way, Pedro”.
The Trotters live in a flat in a high-rise block called Nelson Mandela House in Peckham, South London. Their local pub is The Nag’s Head.
20.1 million viewers tuned in to watch The Jolly Boy’s Outing, the 1989 Christmas Special.
The yellow Robin Reliant – the company vehicle – has emblazoned on its side “Trotters Independent Traders – New York, Paris, Peckham”
John Sullivan wrote and sings the theme tune to the comedy series.
