Only Fools and Horses Christmas Specials!
What Would Christmas’s Have Been Like Without It?
But Rodney Rules Out Revival
By Marc Gingell
20th February 2019
From just before Christmas 1982 I, possibly like many others, checked what time the Only Fools and Horses Christmas Special would be on television and set my schedule around that.
A Christmas Ritual
It became part of my Christmas ritual that included spending Christmas with mum and dad, sitting on their sofa, drinking a glass of wine or beer depending on how things were going that day, and cracking walnuts. I loved walnuts but Christmas Day seemed to be the only time I ate them! I thought they were a Christmas special and were only sold at Christmas!
The Beginning
Screenwriter John Sullivan, born in Balham, South London in 1946, created and wrote the show first screened on September 8th, 1981. Sullivan, although I didn’t know it at the time, also wrote a show called Citizen Smith starring Robert Lindsay, 1977 to 1980, which I also enjoyed.
That first episode, called ‘Big Brother,’ attracted 9.2 million viewers and I really can’t remember if I was one of them. But I soon became a fan and watched whenever I could. Although each episode seemed to fly by too quickly.
Christmas Day 1981 – Christmas Takes on a Whole New Meaning!
Christmas Crackers became the first of Only Fools and Horses Christmas Specials and it pulled me in hook line and sinker. How can you beat a Christmas Day laugh with beer and walnuts?
16 Christmas Specials
Between 1981 and 2002 16 Only Fools and Horses Christmas Specials were screened and although not actually watching them all on Christmas Day, due to not being in England for Christmas, I watched later with beer but minus the walnuts.
But I always called my dad on Christmas Day and asked him if he’d watched Only Fools and Horses. He normally had or was just about to.
Rodney Rules Out Revival
So I’ve been without a regular fix of Only Fools and Horses for nearly 30 years now, possibly 20 years longer than many people, but I just can’t believe Rodney! Not his revival comment. The fact that he’s 57 years old! How did he go from a gangly teenager to nearly sixty in the blink of an eye? Well, he has which means I have as well!
Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney) Recently Commented:
“We can’t do anymore. John (John Sullivan who passed away in 2011) was the driving force. We’ve also lost quite a few of the cast members now, so I don’t think I could do it… I certainly couldn’t do it without John. We can’t. At the risk of depressing everyone, I think the last two times I’ve seen David (Jason) were at funerals. We did make a pact to get out for a drink at some stage without planting somebody. We are still close.”
Nicholas is now preparing to co-star in Man of La Mancha, a musical heading to the London Coliseum from April 26.
Micky Pearce
As for Pat Murray (Micky Pearce), we had a coffee recently and he’s doing fine.
Walnuts
I think it’s time for me to get some Walnuts. Does anyone know if they stock them at Siambury’s?
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