Sir David Jason, 84, meets with the cast of Only Fools and Horses The Musical as he makes a rare public appearance for the gala performance
As a dedicated fan of British comedy, I must admit that I find the life and career of David Jason truly fascinating. From his humble beginnings as a gas fitter to becoming one of the most iconic figures in British television, Jason’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.
On Wednesday night, the renowned actor, Sir David Jason, graced a seldom-seen public event as he attended the premiere of “Only Fools and Horses The Musical” in London.
The 84-year-old actor is known for playing Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter, a character from the cherished BBC sitcom that originally aired from 1981 to 1991 and had several Christmas episodes until they concluded in 2003.
Backstage at the pulsating Eventim Apollo, I found myself in the company of none other than Sam Lupton, who’s brought my cherished character to life on this very UK tour. What a thrill!
David sported an intelligent appearance, donning a red pullover zipped up, paired with a sleek suede coat and beige slacks.
Additionally, both Vinny Jones as Danny Driscoll and Paul Whitehouse portraying the character of Grandad were also in attendance.
On the first night, Dave Peacock – one half of the duo Chas and Dave – was there, accompanied by his late spouse, Joan Hodges (who was also a fellow Chas and Dave cast member).
For the next 28 performances, “Only Fools and Horses The Musical” is set to take center stage at London’s Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, starting from December 17.
The performance will be traveling across the country through July 5 of next year, having broken records with a four-year, sold-out stint in the West End.
Back in 1986, during the golden era of Only Fools and Horses, I can hardly believe that my beloved Sir David came close to calling it quits! It’s mind-boggling to think about the drastically different ending that was penned for the iconic Del Boy character. What a twist of fate, eh?
As reported by The Sun, when the actor was considering departure, head writer John Sullivan penned a possible final episode titled “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire.” In simpler terms, according to The Sun’s report, John Sullivan wrote a potential last episode named “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire” when the actor was thinking about leaving.
The episode did air that year but it almost had a very different ending. It saw a character named Jumbo Mills arrive in Peckham after supposedly making a fortune while living in Australia.
Originally, it was planned that Jumbo would encounter Del and try to persuade him to join him on a journey back to Australia, where they could both build their wealth together.
This action would have allowed David to part ways gracefully with the show, paving the way for it to continue without him.
Reportedly, producers are considering casting Nicholas Lyndhurst as the leading role for a fresh take on the series titled “Hot Rod,” focusing on the character of Rodney.
As the continuation of Only Fools And Horses remained uncertain, David eventually reversed his decision and opted to stick with the show instead.
The episode aired with Del rejecting Jumbo Mils’ offer to go to Australia.
Previously, David expressed that he believes a sort of spiritual presence or legacy of Del continues to accompany him, casting a shadow upon him.
He mentioned that Derek Trotter is somewhat like a spirit following him, similar to the ghost from Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’.
Despite a lengthy career spanning decades in both film and TV, the actor finds himself primarily recognized as the character Del Boy, a fact that leaves him feeling somewhat discontent.
He mentioned that the character primarily serves to hinder him and causes a minor annoyance, as it appears to be the sole aspect of himself that others recall.
‘I’m delighted in one way that it’s reached so many people and they’ve enjoyed what I’ve done with the character, but I’ve done so many other things that everybody seems to have forgotten about. It’s like I’ve only ever played Derek Trotter.’
David shared that although he doesn’t regret his professional journey, there are numerous aspirations unrealized. He attributes this to constantly feeling the presence of his most celebrated role, which seems to be haunting him in a figurative sense.
As a devoted admirer, I’d express it this way: “In truth, my deepest longing or remorse, if you will, has been the aspiration to grace the stage at the National Theatre.
He continued: ‘I always wanted to be on the stage of the National Theatre. It was just that romantic image of playing those big productions with all those big, wonderful actors. That never happened.’
When host Jon mentioned he could yet fulfill his aspiration of performing on stage, Jason countered by saying perhaps his chance had passed, elaborating that his memory isn’t as sharp as before.
As a lifestyle expert, let me share my thoughts: You might ponder if your long-standing memory skills are sufficient. However, utilizing teleprompter devices could certainly make the task more manageable for me.
Appearing to discard his somber demeanor, he playfully addressed the camera, saying, “Hey there! Why yes, the National Theatre, I’m all yours if you need me!
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2024-12-19 12:18