David Jason addresses Only Fools and Horse mistake that left show 'nowhere to go'

Sir David Jason has expressed his belief that Del Boy's millionaire status in Only Fools and Horses was a mistake, as it detracted from the show's charm.

In the 1996 Christmas special Time On Our Hands, Derek Trotter and his brother Rodney Trotter (Nicholas Lyndhurst) finally became millionaires after selling an 18th Century Harrison marine watch they found in Del's garage at Sotheby's for £6.2 million.

The episode, which attracted 24.3 million viewers on BBC1, saw fans thrilled to see the Trotter boys achieve their dream. However, Sir David, who portrayed Del Boy, feels that allowing the wheeler and dealer to realise his dream was a misstep by writer John Sullivan, as the character's struggle to make ends meet was a key element of the show's humour.

At a fan convention, he stated: "There was nowhere to go after the Trotters became millionaires and it all worked out. It was the end of a journey and the journey was that struggle for survival, the struggle for the family, the way that they behaved, that interaction, and all of that stuff that made the Trotters ceased to exist once they had become millionaires, if you like."

Despite this, John revived the sitcom for three more Christmas specials between 2001 and 2003, depicting Del and Rodney losing all their money due to poor investments and returning to their flat in Mandela House in Peckham. However, these episodes failed to recapture the magic of the original series, reports the Mirror.

David, 84, shed light on the situation saying: "It wasn't that John had run out of steam so much, but he was so used to working mentally with all of the characters, the style of the cut and thrust of learning to survive on the edge of disaster, as it were."

The iconic British series Only Fools and Horses initially graced the screens of BBC One in September 1981, captivating viewers for over two decades with seven series and sixteen Christmas specials, concluding on 25 December 2003. The show, penned by creator John, boasts a total of 64 regular episodes.

The character of Del Boy, famously portrayed by David in the series, is best remembered for his unwavering optimism and catchphrase: "This time next year Rodney, we're going to be millionaires."

Although the fan favourite ended over twenty years ago, Only Fools and Horses is still a household staple to this day with many repeats airing and streaming services offering up old episodes.

This has meant that David has often struggled to nip out without being hounded by fans for decades, with loyal viewers wanting selfies and chats with his alter-ego.

He previously said: "Del Boy is a character that I can't avoid. He's become so ingrained in the public's mind that where I go, I tend to be recognised and then what happens is that people can't help but interfere with your private life.

"It's part of the job. It's part of giving your time and your life to the Great British public, God bless them."

Past Only Fools and Horses episodes can be streamed by fans via ITVX.