David Jason Reveals Shocking Reason He Almost Quit Only Fools and Horses 17 Years Before Show Ended
Sir David Jason, beloved for his role as Derek “Del Boy” Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, reportedly came close to quitting the iconic sitcom during its peak in 1986. The actor, now 84, played the memorable character from 1981 to 1991, and even appeared in several Christmas specials until the show ended in 2003.
According to The Sun, the show almost had a very different ending when David was contemplating leaving the series. In response, head writer John Sullivan wrote a potential final episode titled Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, which aired that year.
However, the episode almost had an entirely different conclusion, with a character named Jumbo Mills arriving in Peckham after supposedly striking it rich in Australia. The original idea was for Jumbo to tempt Del Boy into moving to Australia to seek his fortune, giving David a chance to take a break from the show while allowing it to continue without him.
At one point, producers considered making Nicholas Lyndhurst’s character, Rodney, the lead in a new version of the show titled Hot Rod. Ultimately, David decided to stay with the series, and the episode ended with Del rejecting Jumbo’s offer to move Down Under.
David Jason has long reflected on his role as Del Boy, often feeling that the character follows him around like a “ghost.” He previously confessed, “That Derek Trotter thing, he’s a bit of a ghost that comes along behind me like A Christmas Carol.”
While he appreciates the widespread love for Del Boy, the actor admitted that being so closely associated with the role has at times overshadowed his extensive career. “I’m delighted in one way that it’s reached so many people and they’ve enjoyed what I’ve done with the character,” he said, “but I’ve done so many other things that everybody seems to have forgotten about.”
Reflecting on his acting aspirations, David shared his regret about not achieving his dream of performing at the National Theatre. “My real disappointment or regret, if you like, is I always wanted to be a National Theatre player,” he explained. “That never happened.”
However, David’s passion for acting remains strong. When asked about returning to the stage, he quipped, “I’m available!” Despite his previous regrets, David also revealed that he would return to the iconic role of Del Boy, but with the passing of Only Fools and Horses writer John Sullivan in 2011, he admitted a reboot is unlikely. “We would love to do it,” he said, “but the brains behind it, Mr John Sullivan, is unfortunately no longer with us.”