BBC Only Fools And Horses' most famous scene was changed after star turned up on set
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The famous bar scene from Only Fools and Horses, where Del Boy falls through a bar wasn't initially scripted the way it happened on screen. It turns out that Roger Lloyd Pack's character Trigger wasn't intended to be part of the scene. In the classic 1989 episode 'Yuppy Love', which often gets voted the most hilarious moment in British sitcom history, viewers see the duo trying to impress two girls in an upscale wine bar before Sir David Jason 's character hilariously tumbles through the hatch.
A newly-discovered rehearsal script by writer John Sullivan reveals some interesting changes from the original plan. The script had seemingly left out Trigger from this scene. Andy Stowe, the valuer, suggested that the scene was meant to play out quite differently, as he revealed: "The rumour goes that the scene didn't originally feature Roger Lloyd Pack as Trigger.".
Apparently, Roger turned up unannounced on the shooting day, prompting Sullivan to include him in the scene. A lot of the laughs, according to Andy, comes from Trigger's bemused reaction. Stowe added that while Triggers unexpected presence added humour, it was David's portrayal of Del Boy that made this scene unforgettable. He said: "What you see on screen is pure acting and comic timing and that's where the magic is.".
Actor John Challis, who played Boycie, seemed to back up these claims, reportedly telling the Telegraph: "Roger happened to be at the BBC at the time and he had a break, so they found Trigger's blue suit and stuck him in this scene, which was almost improvised. When I saw it, I thought it was just so brilliant. The timing of it and Roger's take him circling around, looking for Del Boy, by which time Del Boy's got up again. But I always say it wasn't very funny because I wasn't in it.".
