Sir David Jason almost quit Only Fools And Horses 17 years before the show ended
Share:
Sir David Jason reportedly almost quit Only Fools And Horses during its prime. The actor, 84, portrayed Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter on the beloved BBC sitcom which ran from 1981 to 1991 followed by several Christmas specials that ended in 2003. According to The Sun, there was almost an entirely different ending for David's character when the actor was considering quitting the show back in 1986.
![[The actor, 84, portrayed Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter on the beloved BBC sitcom which ran from 1981 to 1991 followed by several Christmas specials (pictured in December 2024)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/01/93298893-14208201-image-a-95_1734571403035.jpg)
As the actor contemplated leaving, head writer John Sullivan wrote a potential final episode called Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. 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.
![[There was almost an entirely different ending for David's character when the actor was considering quitting the show back in 1986]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/01/93298745-14208201-There_was_almost_an_entirely_different_ending_for_David_s_charac-a-96_1734571479002.jpg)
The initial idea was that Jumbo would cross paths with Del and tempt him to return to Australia with him to make his fortune there. Sir David Jason (centre) reportedly almost quit Only Fools And Horses during its prime (pictured with Nicholas Lyndhurst and Lennard Pearce).
![[While the fate of Only Fools And Horses hung in the balance, David ultimately changed his mind and decided to stay with the series]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/01/93298979-14208201-While_the_fate_of_Only_Fools_And_Horses_hung_in_the_balance_Davi-a-98_1734571597771.jpg)
The actor, 84, portrayed Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter on the beloved BBC sitcom which ran from 1981 to 1991 followed by several Christmas specials (pictured in December 2024). This would have given David the opportunity to make a clean break from the show while setting up for the series to carry on without him.
![[David previously told how he feels the 'ghost' of Del is following him and feels the character hangs over him]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/01/93299007-14208201-David_previously_told_how_he_feels_the_ghost_of_Del_is_following-m-108_1734571714528.jpg)
Producers were reportedly contemplating making Nicholas Lyndhurst the star of a new version of the show called Hot Rod, centred around his character Rodney. While the fate of Only Fools And Horses hung in the balance, David ultimately changed his mind and decided to stay with the series.
