David Jason has revealed he “never” thought he would appear in one of Britain’s top-rated holiday shows – especially after he started playing a goose in front of the camera.
The 82-year-old actor made his television debut on 26 December 1965 as King Goose in a BBC production of Mother Goose.
Thirty-one years later, on 26 December 1996, 24.3 million people watched him as Derek “Del Boy” Trotter in the Only Fools And Horses Christmas special, where he and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) dressed up as Batman and Robin.
Career: David Jason has revealed he ‘never’ thought he would appear in one of Britain’s top-rated specials – especially after he started playing a goose on camera (pictured in November 2022)
According to the Broadcasters’ Hearing Research Council, this is one of the highest viewing figures ever recorded for a single program in the UK.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, David said: “It’s been a journey. You never thought something like this could happen when you’re playing the King of Goose Land on TV… you’re lucky to have another job.”
David, who grew up in North Finchley, London, told how his whole family gathered to see his first television appearance.
He said: “The point is, you come from a poor, working-class family and because television was quite new at the time, it wasn’t in every household.
Hit: On 26 December 1996, 24.3 million people saw him as Derek “Del Boy” Trotter in the Only Fools And Horses Christmas special, where he and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) dressed up as Batman and Robin
“But to actually have one of yourself, one of your family, on TV itself was an amazing achievement.”
David added that his family “never made a big deal about his fame” and that his father jokingly said: “Oh, you stupid chump, are you flying around?” to keep him humble.
Earlier this year, David revealed his favorite Only Fools And Horses episode and the touching scene that almost brought him to tears.
In quotes from The Sun, he recalled “the sheer joy” of the 1989 special, The Jolly Boys’ Outing, and spoke of the late John Challis in “a world gone”.
Beginnings: The 82-year-old actor made his television debut on 26 December 1965 as King Goose in a BBC production of Mother Goose
John died “peacefully in his sleep” in September last year at the age of 79 after a long battle with cancer.
In the book, David notes, “This is the sequence in which Harry Nilsson’s Everybody’s Talkin’ plays as we watch the cast board the bus to Margate and the hustle and bustle of the day begins to unfold.”
The magic of Only Fools is encapsulated in this single series – the bond of friends turned cast members and the sheer fun of it all. And of course, so many of those faces are no longer with us.”
He continued, “These days the sight of John Challis reaching forward to wipe my hat is so captivating I practically have to close my eyes and the whole thing is a world away.”
Sir David explained that the scene encapsulates the relationship between the cast and exactly what it feels like to work on the show.
David said: “It was a journey. You never thought playing the King of Goose Land on TV could happen… You’re lucky if you have another job.
The sixth series episode of the sitcom shows the group on their way to the Jolly Boys’ annual trip to Margate, where Rodney is arrested and the bus’s radio, provided by Del Boy, sets the vehicle on fire.
It comes after Sir David said he would like to reprise his role as Del Boy 40 years after Only Fools And Horses premiered.
The actor last appeared in his role in July 2021 to wish Gareth Southgate and the England team good luck in the Euro 2020 final.
Before that he starred in a Sports Relief sketch called Beckham in Peckham in 2014, in which Del tried to sell underpants called Golden Balls endorsed by David Beckham – with the footballer as himself.
Sir David told The Sun he wants to put his flat cap back on and rethink his role as a bike dealer.
The show ran for ten years between 1981 and 1991 and the show has had several specials since it aired.
Family: David added that his family “never made a big deal” about his fame and that his father jokingly said: “Oh stupid bastard, are you flying around?” to keep him humble’ (photo January 2022)
Source link
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
