Derek Edward Trotter, more commonly known as Del Boy, is a fictional character from the BBC
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...
''
Only Fools and Horses
''Only Fools and Horses....'' is a British television sitcom created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom from 1981 to 1991, with sixteen sporadic Christmas specials aired until t ...
'' and one of the main characters of its spinoff series, ''
Rock & Chips
''Rock & Chips'' is a British television comedy-drama miniseries and a prequel to the sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. The show is set in Peckham, southeast London, during the early 1960s, focusing primarily on the lives of Del Trotter, Freddie ...
''. He was played by
David Jason
Sir David John White (born 2 February 1940), known professionally by his stage name David Jason, is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', Detective Inspector J ...
in the original series and was portrayed as a teenager by
James Buckley in the prequel. Del Boy is often regarded as one of the greatest comedy characters in the history of British television, and is regarded as an iconic character in
British culture
British culture is influenced by the combined nations' history; its historically Christian religious life, its interaction with the cultures of Europe, the traditions of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland and the impact of the British Empire. ...
. In a 2001 poll conducted by
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
Del Boy was ranked fourth on their list of the
100 Greatest TV Characters.
Encompassing everything
Cockney
Cockney is an accent and dialect of English, mainly spoken in London and its environs, particularly by working-class and lower middle-class Londoners. The term "Cockney" has traditionally been used to describe a person from the East End, or b ...
(though not an actual Cockney), Del Boy is known for his broken French phrases, which are usually completely out of context, and a variety of British and Cockney catchphrases, including: "He who dares, wins!", "This time next year we'll be millionaires", "Cushty!", "Lovely Jubbly!", "You know it makes sense" (which he usually says to his customers after they have agreed on a deal), "Shut up you tart" and "You plonker!", usually said to Rodney.
Personality
Del Boy is a happy-go-lucky, cheeky character. While not always successful, his general
optimism
Optimism is an attitude reflecting a belief or hope that the outcome of some specific endeavor, or outcomes in general, will be positive, favorable, and desirable. A common idiom used to illustrate optimism versus pessimism is a glass filled wi ...
and confidence often persuade people to believe in him. Despite his general positive demeanour, the episode ''
Diamonds Are For Heather'' reveals that Del Boy has suffered from feelings of
loneliness
Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. Loneliness is also described as social paina psychological mechanism which motivates individuals to seek social connections. It is often associated with a perceived lack ...
over his lack of a family beyond Grandad and Rodney on at least one occasion. In the episode Del mentions visiting a friend's
Christening party and seeing his friend's family had come to join in the celebration, at which point Del felt so upset that he left early.
From the sixth series on, he adopts some of the mannerisms of a stereotypical
yuppie
Yuppie, short for "young urban professional" or "young upwardly-mobile professional", is a term coined in the early 1980s for a young professional person working in a city. The term is first attested in 1980, when it was used as a fairly neu ...
of the late 1980s, pretending to be much more
wealth
Wealth is the abundance of Value (economics), valuable financial assets or property, physical possessions which can be converted into a form that can be used for financial transaction, transactions. This includes the core meaning as held in the ...
y than he really is, as he tries to associate with the
upper class
Upper class in modern societies is the social class composed of people who hold the highest social status, usually are the wealthiest members of class society, and wield the greatest political power. According to this view, the upper class is gen ...
es despite being obviously
underclass
The underclass is the segment of the population that occupies the lowest possible position in a class hierarchy, below the core body of the working class.
The general idea that a class system includes a population ''under'' the working class has ...
.
Del Boy is a compulsive liar, particularly to women, customers, policemen and even his family and doctors. He sometimes lies when it is against his best interests, such as when he claims to be a health freak while suffering from severe stomach pains, leading to his spending several days under observation in hospital rather than receiving an immediate diagnosis. In "
Rodney Come Home
"Rodney Come Home" is the ninth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', first screened on 25 December 1990.
Unlike the other Christmas specials, this episode is not a one-off story, but sets up story arcs that run ...
" it is revealed that Del supported
Millwall
Millwall is a district on the western and southern side of the Isle of Dogs, in east London, England, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It lies to the immediate south of Canary Wharf and Limehouse, north of Greenwich and Deptford, east ...
.
It is revealed in "
Sickness and Wealth
"Sickness and Wealth" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was the fifth episode of series 6, and was first broadcast on 5 February 1989. In the episode, Del is suffering from stomach cramps, but refuses to see a doctor. ...
" that he is
frightened of doctors, which causes him to resist Albert and Rodney's advice for him to see one, until a medium tricks him into believing his late mother wants him to visit the doctor about his stomach. His fear of doctors goes so far that in the same episode Rodney mentions to Cassandra that Del was once
stabbed
A stabbing is penetration or rough contact with a sharp or pointed object at close range. ''Stab'' connotes purposeful action, as by an assassin or murderer, but it is also possible to accidentally stab oneself or others. Stabbing differs fro ...
outside a
nightclub
A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music.
Nightclubs gener ...
by a former fiancée, and rather than seek medical attention he treated the stab wound himself with the help of a bottle of
TCP.
In "
Fatal Extraction
"Fatal Extraction" is the twelfth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', first broadcast on 25 December 1993. In the episode, Raquel leaves Del so in response he asks out another woman. When he and Raquel are reco ...
", it is revealed that Del is also frightened of dentists, avoiding visiting them whenever possible (his previous dentist died on the night of the
Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977) and only reluctantly visiting due to bad toothache.
Del presents himself as being able to speak some
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
, though few of his phrases make any sense in the context he uses them in (e.g. saying "au revoir" to mean "hello" and "bonjour" as goodbye). He also thinks he has knowledge in subjects like geography (believing
Stockholm
Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...
to be in
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
), history, art and other academic subjects (his lack of knowledge in history is shown well in "To Hull and Back" in which he calls Albert "the finest little sailor this country has produced since
Nelson
Nelson may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey
* ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers
* ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...
lost the
Armada"). He believes the term "
yuppie
Yuppie, short for "young urban professional" or "young upwardly-mobile professional", is a term coined in the early 1980s for a young professional person working in a city. The term is first attested in 1980, when it was used as a fairly neu ...
" to be a compliment, and unintentionally causes considerable offence when he calls a person a yuppie to their face.
Del Boy is not always honest when expressing his love for his family and others. This side of his nature is shown in numerous episodes, such as "
Diamonds Are for Heather", "
Strained Relations
"Strained Relations" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was the second episode of series 4, and was first screened on 28 February 1985.
Synopsis
It is a sad day for Del Boy and Rodney Trotter, Rodney, as their Grandad ...
", "
Dates
Date or dates may refer to:
*Date (fruit), the fruit of the date palm (''Phoenix dactylifera'')
Social activity
*Dating, a form of courtship involving social activity, with the aim of assessing a potential partner
**Group dating
*Play date, an ...
", "
The Yellow Peril
"The Yellow Peril" is an episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was the fifth episode of series 2, and was first screened on 18 November 1982. In the episode, Del buys a consignment of yellow paint which, unknown to him, is actu ...
" and "
Little Problems
"Little Problems" is an episode of the BBC sit-com, ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was the final episode of series 6, and was first screened on 12 February 1989.
Synopsis
With his wedding to Cassandra approaching, Rodney is downbeat as he believe ...
". His care for his grandfather ("Grandad" –
Lennard Pearce
Lennard Pearce (9 February 1915 – 15 December 1984) was an English actor who worked in theatre and television. He was perhaps best known as Grandad in the BBC television series ''Only Fools and Horses'', in which he starred from 1981 until ...
) is shown in "
The Second Time Around", when Grandad confesses to having
Trigger
Trigger may refer to:
Notable animals and people
;Mononym
* Trigger (horse), owned by cowboy star Roy Rogers
;Nickname
* Trigger Alpert (1916–2013), American jazz bassist
* "Trigger Mike" Coppola (1900–1966), American gangster
;Surname
* Bru ...
phone to tell Del that his fiancée, Pauline Harris, killed her first husband, Bobby Finch, by poisoning him. Another example of this care is shown in "
May the Force be With You
The Force is a metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the ''Star Wars'' fictional universe. "Force-sensitive" characters use the Force throughout the franchise. Heroes like the Jedi seek to "become one with the Force", matching their personal will ...
". Faced with the possibility of Del and Rodney going to prison for handling a stolen microwave, corrupt policeman
Roy Slater
Roy Slater (born 15 May 1948) is a recurring character in the British sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. He was played by Jim Broadbent, and in the prequel '' Rock and Chips'', by Calum MacNab.
''Only Fools and Horses'' Background
Despite only m ...
makes a cryptic comment suggesting that an alone and vulnerable Grandad could fall victim to an attack by some hired thugs. Del, having previously refused to name the thief, makes a deal with Slater to guarantee their release, with immunity from prosecution for doing so. Once he is given immunity from prosecution, he names himself as the thief.
Del is later diagnosed with
irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a "disorder of gut-brain interaction" characterized by a group of symptoms that commonly include abdominal pain and or abdominal bloating and changes in the consistency of bowel movements. These symptoms may ...
caused by his diet of fast foods,
cigar
A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves made to be smoked. Cigars are produced in a variety of sizes and shapes. Since the 20th century, almost all cigars are made of three distinct components: the filler, the binder l ...
s and
alcohol
Alcohol most commonly refers to:
* Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom
* Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks
Alcohol may also refer to:
Chemicals
* Ethanol, one of sev ...
.
Although engaged many times, he never marries. He has had many girlfriends, a fact that is the subject of numerous sarcastic comments by
Rodney. He finally meets his partner
Raquel Turner
Rachel "Raquel" Turner (formerly Slater; born 4 June 1957See ) is a fictional character from the BBC television sit-com ''Only Fools and Horses'', in which she is Del Boy's long-term partner. She is portrayed by Tessa Peake-Jones.
Character cre ...
(whom he calls his "significant other") in the 1988 special "Dates".
Personal life
Family
Del's mother Joan dies on 12 March 1964, apparently after a long period of ill health. His neglectful father Reginald leaves three months later (on Del's 16th birthday), taking most of their money and even Del's birthday cake. This leaves the teenage Del as the family's sole provider, looking after his grandfather and Rodney, his half-brother who was born around thirteen years after him (the age gap is stated as thirteen years in one episode, but Rodney's year of birth is anywhere between 1958 and 1963 according to different episodes). He lives with Rodney, Cassandra, Raquel and their son Damien at door 368 on the twelfth floor of the fictional Nelson Mandela House in the Dockside Estate,
Peckham
Peckham () is a district in southeast London, within the London Borough of Southwark. It is south-east of Charing Cross. At the United Kingdom Census 2001, 2001 Census the Peckham ward had a population of 14,720.
History
"Peckham" is a Saxon p ...
, London. Before that, he lives in an old detached house in 39 Orchard Street with his mother, father and grandfather. His grandfather was an "out of work lamp-lighter, waiting for gas to make a comeback." In the episode ''
Sleepless in Peckham
"Sleepless in Peckham...!" is the final episode of BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was first screened on 25 December 2003 as the third and final part of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy, and as the eighteenth and final Christmas special ...
'' Del gives the implication that his father was also a
physically abusive bully who used to beat women and children, including Joan and Del. Del's father was friends with Freddie Robdal, who became better known as Freddie the Frog. It was Del's father who also brought Freddie to his home one night, which led to an affair between him and Joan, and soon after, the birth of Rodney. When he was a youngster, Del was always told to call Freddie "Uncle Fred". Then, years later, when Uncle Albert got drunk one night at a party, he told Del all about the affair. Some time afterwards, Uncle Albert told Del that Del's aunt Rene took all the photos of Del's mum because every one had a picture of Freddie in it, and she knew that when Rodney grew older the similarities would start to show, so she burnt all the photos of Joan after her funeral.
Relationship with other characters
Del Boy has many friends during the series;
Denzil Denzil is a Cornish given name. It may refer to:
People
*Denzil Batchelor, British journalist and writer
*Denzil Best, American jazz percussionist
* Denzil Botus, Trinidadian pannist
*Denzil Davies, British politician
*Denzil Dean Harber, British T ...
,
Trigger
Trigger may refer to:
Notable animals and people
;Mononym
* Trigger (horse), owned by cowboy star Roy Rogers
;Nickname
* Trigger Alpert (1916–2013), American jazz bassist
* "Trigger Mike" Coppola (1900–1966), American gangster
;Surname
* Bru ...
,
Boycie
Terrance Aubrey "Boycie" Boyce (born 31 January 1948) is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', played by John Challis. His story is continued in the spin-off series ''The Green Green Grass'' in which Boycie and his f ...
, Marlene and Mike, to name but a few. His enemy is
DCI Roy Slater. Del is courageous and, although not intellectual, he is quick-witted but inadvertently gets Rodney into trouble. In "
Wanted", when a
mentally unstable woman accuses Rodney of attacking her, Del makes a joke of it and says that the police have named Rodney "The Peckham Pouncer". Del is afraid of doctors and dentists. His favourite song is "
Old Shep
"Old Shep" is a song composed by Red Foley, with lyrics by Arthur Willis, published in 1935, about a dog Foley owned as a child. In reality, the dog, poisoned by a neighbor, was a German shepherd called "Hoover." Foley first recorded the song o ...
", and his favourite band is
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
. He likes the superhero
Batman
Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...
. In "
The Long Legs of the Law
"The Long Legs of the Law" is the first episode of series 2 of the BBC sitcom, ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was first broadcast on 21 October 1982. The title of the episode was a pun on the police term "the long arm of the law". In the episode, D ...
" he implies that he supports
Chelsea
Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to:
Places Australia
* Chelsea, Victoria
Canada
* Chelsea, Nova Scotia
* Chelsea, Quebec
United Kingdom
* Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames
** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...
. In "
A Slow Bus to Chingford
"A Slow Bus to Chingford" is an episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was the fifth episode of series 1, and was first broadcast on 6 October 1981. In the episode, Del acquires an old double decker bus and decides to give tours a ...
" Rodney tells his date Janice that Del "used to be cultural advisor to the Chelsea Shed", a reference to the Shed End at
Stamford Bridge Stamford Bridge may refer to:
* Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, a village in England
** Battle of Stamford Bridge, 25 September 1066
* Stamford Bridge (bridge), a bridge in the village of Stamford Bridge
* Stamford Bridge (stadium), in L ...
where the most fanatical Chelsea fans would stand. In other episodes, a
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club is a professional Association football, football club based in Selhurst in the London Borough of Croydon, Borough of Croydon, South London, England, who compete in the Premier League, the highest level of English ...
scarf is seen hanging from the hallway. He cannot swim – the certificate in his possession is not his – nor fly a hang glider. He is selfish, but can be very thoughtful, such as when he tried to help Rodney get over his wife Cassandra's miscarriage of their first baby. He never hesitates to remind people about how he brought Rodney up practically on his own after their mother died and father left, often using this fact to win arguments with Rodney. He is also shown to be quite duplicitous, once described by corrupt policeman and former school peer
Roy Slater
Roy Slater (born 15 May 1948) is a recurring character in the British sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. He was played by Jim Broadbent, and in the prequel '' Rock and Chips'', by Calum MacNab.
''Only Fools and Horses'' Background
Despite only m ...
as "A man who could talk himself out of a room with no doors". In "May the Force Be With You", he was arrested by Slater for handling a stolen microwave, but gained his release by agreeing to name the thief provided he and his family were granted immunity from prosecution. Once Del's immunity was guaranteed, he confessed that he was the thief, confidently showing a shocked Slater his immunity papers.
Del and Rodney often tease
Uncle Albert
Albert Gladstone Trotter, better known as Uncle Albert (19 November 1920 – 2001), was a fictional character in the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', portrayed by Buster Merryfield. He was introduced during the fourth series as a replace ...
about his appearance and resemblance to
Captain Birdseye
Captain Birdseye, also known as Captain Iglo, is the advertising mascot for the Birds Eye (known as Iglo in parts of Europe) frozen food brand founded by Clarence Birdseye. Appearing in numerous television and billboard commercials, he has been pla ...
, although they show fonder feelings for him when he dies in "
If They Could See Us Now
"If They Could See Us Now" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, ''Only Fools and Horses'', first screened on 25 December 2001 as the first part of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy and the sixteenth Christmas special. In the episode, the Trotters los ...
". Rodney apologises for the way he treats Albert in "
Sickness and Wealth
"Sickness and Wealth" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was the fifth episode of series 6, and was first broadcast on 5 February 1989. In the episode, Del is suffering from stomach cramps, but refuses to see a doctor. ...
".
In ''
Rock & Chips
''Rock & Chips'' is a British television comedy-drama miniseries and a prequel to the sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. The show is set in Peckham, southeast London, during the early 1960s, focusing primarily on the lives of Del Trotter, Freddie ...
'', Del Boy is shown to have a deeply close relationship with his mother Joan, whom he is very protective of. (He is Joan's favourite, to the point that she refuses to run away with Freddie Robdal until she is certain of Del's financial security.) His relationship with Grandad is the same in ''Rock & Chips'' as in ''Only Fools and Horses'', but he has an estranged relationship with his father Reg. It is clear that they love each other, but they are sometimes at odds, particularly regarding Reg's
slacker
A slacker is someone who habitually avoids work or lacks work ethic.
Origin
According to different sources, the term ''slacker'' dates back to about 1790 or 1898. "Slacker" gained some recognition during the British Gezira Scheme in the early t ...
lifestyle and when Reg verbally abuses Joan, when Del threatens to harm him if he does it again. Del is also visibly disgusted to hear that Joan is pregnant with what he incorrectly believes to be Reg's second child. By the end of the pilot episode, their relationship begins to improve, although in ''Only Fools and Horses'' it is clear that Del has still not forgiven Reg for abandoning the family after Joan's death. This is demonstrated in "Thicker than Water" when he nearly ejects Reg from the flat. But Del still appears to feel some familial loyalty to Reg, shown when he gives him some money just before his departure.
Career
Del Boy works as a market trader, running his own company, Trotters Independent Traders (T.I.T.), either from out of a suitcase or from the back of his bright yellow
Reliant Regal
The Reliant Regal is a small three-wheeled car and van that was manufactured from 1952 to 1973 by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England, replacing the earlier Reliant Regent three-wheeled cyclecar van which had its origins in a desi ...
supervan. With a never-ending supply of get-rich-quick schemes and an inner belief in his ability to sell anything to anyone, he embroils "the firm", as he calls the family business, in a variety of improbable situations. This unwavering confidence had given rise to his oft-proclaimed ambition "This time next year, we'll be millionaires!" His business acumen is described in the episode "
Mother Nature's Son
"Mother Nature's Son" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album ''The Beatles'' (also known as "the White Album"). The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney, and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was ins ...
", when Del is depressed about his financial situation and Rodney says, "The old Derek Trotter could smell a
fiver in a force 9 gale. They used to say that if Del Boy fell into a Viper's Pit, he'd come up wearing snake-skin shoes."
However, in the episode "
Cash and Curry
"Cash and Curry" is the third episode of series 1 of the BBC sit-com ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was first screened on 22 September 1981. In the episode, Del Boy sees a chance to profit from a dispute between two Indian businessmen.
Synopsis
...
", from series one, Del lost £2,000 to a pair of
confidence trick
A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust. Confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, confidence, irresponsibility, and greed. Researchers have def ...
sters.
While maintaining a tough exterior, Del still mourns the death of his mother and runs T.I.T. with Rodney. He takes great pride in having raised Rodney after their mother's premature death and has never forgiven his father for running away when Rodney was an infant. Despite their often minimal income, Del insists on caring for his elderly grandfather. When Grandad dies, his role in the family trio is taken by his younger brother Albert, who receives the same level of respect (and light-hearted abuse).
Del Boy is a petty criminal and makes no attempt to hide it unless directly confronted by the authorities. On one occasion, he claims that at least half his possessions are illegal, including the furniture. He dabbles in theft, but mostly receives stolen goods and sells them on. He pays no tax, claiming that, since he and his family do not benefit from the welfare state, they should not have to contribute to it. In an early episode, "
The Second Time Around", it is implied that he is legally dead and therefore does not pay tax.
Del and Rodney become millionaires, following the sale of a priceless watch, which they discover amongst their inventory. In the feature-length episode "
If They Could See Us Now
"If They Could See Us Now" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, ''Only Fools and Horses'', first screened on 25 December 2001 as the first part of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy and the sixteenth Christmas special. In the episode, the Trotters los ...
", the Trotters' business is liquidated, Del Boy is declared bankrupt, and he receives a two-year suspended sentence for his years of tax evasion, with a condition that he pay off the outstanding balance within twelve months to avoid being sent to prison. Rodney becomes the managing director of a reformed T.I.T., but this does not stop Del acting as if he runs the business. He fails to make enough to pay his tax bill, but an inheritance from the recently deceased Uncle Albert gives him the money he needs.
Del Boy's "autobiography", called ''He Who Dares'', was released in October 2015.
Appearances
Television
*''
Only Fools and Horses
''Only Fools and Horses....'' is a British television sitcom created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom from 1981 to 1991, with sixteen sporadic Christmas specials aired until t ...
'' (
64 episodes)
*''
The Green Green Grass
''The Green Green Grass'' is a BBC television sitcom, created and initially written by John Sullivan, produced by Shazam Productions for the BBC. It is a sequel/spin-off of the long-running sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'' and stars John Challi ...
'' (
1 episode; flashback)
*''
Rock & Chips
''Rock & Chips'' is a British television comedy-drama miniseries and a prequel to the sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. The show is set in Peckham, southeast London, during the early 1960s, focusing primarily on the lives of Del Trotter, Freddie ...
'' (
3 episodes)
*''
Sport Relief 2014 Special – "Beckham in Peckham"''
Literature
*''Derek "Del Boy" Trotter – He Who Dares...'' is a 2015
autobiography
An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life.
It is a form of biography.
Definition
The word "autobiography" was first used deprecatingly by William Taylor in 1797 in the English peri ...
"written" by "Del Boy" Trotter released in October 2015.
The book was released in memory of the series' creator
John Sullivan. The book portrays the events of ''
Rock and Chips
''Rock & Chips'' is a British television comedy-drama miniseries and a prequel to the sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. The show is set in Peckham, southeast London, during the early 1960s, focusing primarily on the lives of Del Trotter, Fred ...
'' and ''Only Fools and Horses'' from Del Boy's perspective. The book also covers what happened between and after the events of "
Sleepless in Peckham
"Sleepless in Peckham...!" is the final episode of BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was first screened on 25 December 2003 as the third and final part of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy, and as the eighteenth and final Christmas special ...
" and "
Beckham in Peckham
"Beckham in Peckham" is a 10 minute edition of the BBC sitcom, ''Only Fools and Horses'', broadcast as part of the ''Sport Relief 2014'' appeal on 21 March 2014. Actors David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst reprised their roles as Del Boy and Rodn ...
". In marketing for the book,
John Challis
John Spurley Challis (16 August 1942 – 19 September 2021) was an English actor. He had an extensive theatre and television career but is best known for portraying Terrance Aubrey "Boycie" Boyce in the long-running BBC Television sitcom ''Onl ...
and
Sue Holderness
Susan Joan Holderness (born 28 May 1949) is an English actress on both stage and screen having had appearances in '' Bless This House'' (1974), '' The New Avengers'' (1977), ''Canned Laughter'' (1979),
''The Sandbaggers'' (1980), ''The Cleopatr ...
reprised their roles as
Boycie
Terrance Aubrey "Boycie" Boyce (born 31 January 1948) is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', played by John Challis. His story is continued in the spin-off series ''The Green Green Grass'' in which Boycie and his f ...
and Marlene.
Find out what Boycie and Marlene thought of Del's new book ''He Who Dares''
/ref> It is mentioned in the book that during the events of ''The Green Green Grass
''The Green Green Grass'' is a BBC television sitcom, created and initially written by John Sullivan, produced by Shazam Productions for the BBC. It is a sequel/spin-off of the long-running sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'' and stars John Challi ...
'', Del thought Boycie to be dead.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Del Boy
Only Fools and Horses characters
Fictional spivs
Fictional businesspeople
Fictional market stallholders
Fictional English people
Fictional criminals
Television characters introduced in 1981
Male characters in television