By Graeme Stirling
It seems as though the last year has already been a big one for the British comedy circuit, with Monty Python announcing their return to the limelight and rumours abound of a Fry & Laurie reunion in the form of a variety stage show. Now, just a few days into 2014, it has been confirmed that Only Fools & Horses is returning to the small screen.
It seems as though the last year has already been a big one for the British comedy circuit, with Monty Python announcing their return to the limelight and rumours abound of a Fry & Laurie reunion in the form of a variety stage show. Now, just a few days into 2014, it has been confirmed that Only Fools & Horses is returning to the small screen.
The familiar faces of David Jason’s Del Boy and Nicholas Lyndhurst’s Rodney – all the more entertaining when you’ve heard the well-to-do latter actor discuss the show in his natural tones – will appear in a brief sketch accompanying this year’s Sports Relief match. It’s almost a shame they didn’t do it earlier, since, in their latter years, they became most well-known for their Christmas specials. This may, in fact, be where much of their potential fan base knows them from, since the show dates all the way back to 1981 – it’s longer ago than it sounds – and would otherwise be something of a relic.
What we can expect from the reunion is anyone’s guess. Its impetus, too, is a mystery, though it’s possible that the actors have been feeling left out of the action – the show enjoyed two successful spin-offs in the years following its conclusion – The Green Green Grass and Rock & Chips – neither of which featured Jason and Lyndhurst in their original roles (though Lyndhurst appeared a completely different character in the prequel series). Since then he’s been featured in the latest season of long-running cop comedy New Tricks, whilst Jason, now 73, has recently published an autobiography. Before his death in 2011, creator John Sullivan stated that there would never be another series of the show. Even so, his son has penned a script since read through by Jason himself, who says he is optimistic about the new material.
What we can expect from the reunion is anyone’s guess. Its impetus, too, is a mystery, though it’s possible that the actors have been feeling left out of the action – the show enjoyed two successful spin-offs in the years following its conclusion – The Green Green Grass and Rock & Chips – neither of which featured Jason and Lyndhurst in their original roles (though Lyndhurst appeared a completely different character in the prequel series). Since then he’s been featured in the latest season of long-running cop comedy New Tricks, whilst Jason, now 73, has recently published an autobiography. Before his death in 2011, creator John Sullivan stated that there would never be another series of the show. Even so, his son has penned a script since read through by Jason himself, who says he is optimistic about the new material.
In the meantime, fans of all ages can entertain themselves with a little speculation. Will Trigger and Boycie be back to rehash their past shenanigans? Or will the two grifter heroes be scamming their fellow residents in some south London retirement home? All will be revealed on appeal night, the 21st of March.
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