This is a list of characters from the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
sitcom
A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...
''
Only Fools and Horses
''Only Fools and Horses'' (titled onscreen as ''Only Fools and Horses....'') is a British television sitcom that was created and written by John Sullivan (writer), John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Ki ...
'', its
spin-off
Spin-off, Spin Off, Spin-Off, or Spinoff may refer to: Entertainment and media
*Spinoff (media), a media work derived from an existing work
*''The Spinoff'', a New Zealand current affairs magazine
* ''Spin Off'' (Canadian game show), a 2013 Canad ...
series ''
The Green Green Grass
''The Green Green Grass'' is a BBC television sitcom, created and initially written by John Sullivan, and produced by BBC Studios Comedy Productions and Shazam Productions for the BBC. It serves as both a sequel and a spin-off of the long-runni ...
'', and its
prequel
A prequel is a literary, dramatic or cinematic work whose story precedes that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative. A prequel is a work that forms part of a backstory to the preceding work.
The term ...
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, Freddi ...
''.
Overview
Regular characters
Recurring characters
Major
Minor
PC Terry Hoskins
Police Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. ''Constable'' is commonly the rank of an police officer, officer within a police ser ...
Terence "Terry" Hoskins (
Christopher Mitchell) appeared in two episodes – ''
May the Force Be with You
The Force is a metaphysical, mysterious, and ubiquitous power in the ''Star Wars'' fictional universe. Characters refer to the Force as an energy that interconnects all things in the universe, maintaining cosmic balance. Particularly "Force-sens ...
'' and ''
To Hull and Back
"To Hull and Back" is the fourth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', first screened on 25 December 1985. It was the first feature-length edition of the show and also the first special to not be set around Chris ...
''. He works alongside
Roy Slater but does not like him. Slater often makes him miss lunch and watch suspects whilst Slater is away. He has a conversation with
Del Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, more commonly known as Del Boy, is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'' and one of the main characters of its spinoff series, '' Rock & Chips''. He was played by David Jason in the original ...
, in which it is revealed Del Boy sold Terry's mother a gas fire, advising Del to tell Slater who stole a microwave he was accused of stealing. In ''To Hull and Back'', Slater's superiors suspect him of diamond smuggling and order Terry to keep an eye on Slater, with Terry driving Slater into a police sting at the end of the episode.
Jevon
Jevon (
Steven Woodcock
Steven Woodcock (born 23 February 1964) is an English actor, best known for his role as Clyde Tavernier in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', a role that he played from July 1990 to July 1993.
Other television credits include ''Grange Hill'' ...
) is a friend of Rodney and Mickey Pearce, first seen in ''
Dates
Date or dates may refer to:
* Date, the fruit of the date palm (''Phoenix dactylifera'')
* Jujube, also known as red date or Chinese date, the fruit of ''Ziziphus jujuba''
Social activity
*Dating, a form of courtship involving social activit ...
''. Unlike Mickey, Jevon is successful with women, though to his chagrin
Cassandra Parry rebuffed him when he asked her to dance. He was even more surprised when she agreed to dance with Rodney. Jevon set up a trading partnership with Mickey Pearce, which lasted throughout the sixth series. They apparently gave up on the trading business at the end of that series though, following a run in with the Driscoll brothers which left them both in plaster. Jevon made one further appearance in ''
The Jolly Boys' Outing
"The Jolly Boys' Outing" is the eighth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', first screened on 25 December 1989. Despite being aired as a Christmas special, it is set on a summer bank holiday weekend and sees Del ...
'', after which Woodcock left the series to take the role of
Clyde Tavernier
Clyde Tavernier is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Steven Woodcock. Introduced on 5 July 1990, Clyde featured in prominent storylines including an inter-racial relationship with Michelle Fowler (Susan Tull ...
in ''
EastEnders
''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...
'' and the character was not seen again. He appeared in ''
The Jolly Boys' Outing
"The Jolly Boys' Outing" is the eighth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', first screened on 25 December 1989. Despite being aired as a Christmas special, it is set on a summer bank holiday weekend and sees Del ...
'', ''
Little Problems'', ''
Sickness & Wealth'', ''
Yuppy Love
"Yuppy Love" is an episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. It originally aired on 8 January 1989 and is the first episode of series six, marking the start of the increase in running time from thirty minutes to fifty minutes per episod ...
'' and ''
Dates
Date or dates may refer to:
* Date, the fruit of the date palm (''Phoenix dactylifera'')
* Jujube, also known as red date or Chinese date, the fruit of ''Ziziphus jujuba''
Social activity
*Dating, a form of courtship involving social activit ...
''.
Nerys
"Nervous" Nerys (
Andrée Bernard
Andrée Bernard is an English actress best known for her major role as Liz Burton in the British soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. She was a recurring guest artist in Holby City and has had West End lead roles in Hair and Kiss Me Kate. She has also wo ...
) was the Nag's Head barmaid who appeared in two episodes, ''
Dates
Date or dates may refer to:
* Date, the fruit of the date palm (''Phoenix dactylifera'')
* Jujube, also known as red date or Chinese date, the fruit of ''Ziziphus jujuba''
Social activity
*Dating, a form of courtship involving social activit ...
'' and ''
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. ...
''. She briefly dated Rodney, although she was left terrified when a gang of yobs chased them in the van. Nerys was later scared again when she interrupted the
séance
A séance or seance (; ) is an attempt to communicate with spirits. The word ''séance'' comes from the French language, French word for "session", from the Old French , "to sit". In French, the word's meaning is quite general and mundane: one ma ...
that the Trotters were attending.
Alan and Pamela Parry
Alan (
Denis Lill
Denis Lill (born 22 April 1942) is a New Zealand-born British actor. He is best known for his roles in '' Survivors'' as Charles Vaughan, ''Only Fools and Horses'' as Alan Parry, '' Outside Edge'' as Dennis Broadley and as Consultant General Su ...
) and Pamela Parry (
Wanda Ventham
Wanda Ventham (born 5 August 1935) is an English actress with many roles on British television since beginning her career in the 1950s.
Ventham played Colonel Virginia Lake in the 1970s science-fiction television series '' UFO'' and had a rec ...
) made infrequent appearances during series six and seven. They are
Cassandra
Cassandra or Kassandra (; , , sometimes referred to as Alexandra; ) in Greek mythology was a Trojan priestess dedicated to the god Apollo and fated by him to utter true prophecy, prophecies but never to be believed. In modern usage her name is e ...
's parents, and subsequently
Rodney's in-laws.
Alan is the owner of a successful printing firm, Parry Print Ltd, which employs Rodney between 1989 and 1991, and later becomes a friend of
Del Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, more commonly known as Del Boy, is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'' and one of the main characters of its spinoff series, '' Rock & Chips''. He was played by David Jason in the original ...
. Despite being a successful businessman by the time he met Del, Alan, who used to live on a council estate in the area, often ending up drunk or getting sick after eating too many
jellied eels
Jellied eels is a traditional English dish that originated in the 18th century, primarily in the East End of London. The dish consists of chopped eels boiled in a spiced stock that is allowed to cool and set, forming a jelly. It is usually ...
whilst under Del's influence, much to the chagrin of more overtly middle-class Pam. They are both in attendance at
Damien
Damien is a given name and less frequently a surname.
The name is a variation of Damian which comes from the Greek ''Damianos''. This form originates from the Greek derived from the Greek word δαμάζω (damazō), "(I) conquer, master, overco ...
's christening in ''
Miami Twice
"Miami Twice" is the two-part tenth Christmas special edition of the British sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. The first episode, on-screen subtitle "The American Dream", was first screened on 24 December 1991. The second episode of "Miami Twice" ...
''.
Roy Slater
DCI Roy Slater (
Jim Broadbent
James Broadbent (born 24 May 1949) is an English actor. A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 1972, he came to prominence as a character actor for his many roles in film and television. He has received various accolades ...
in ''
Only Fools and Horses
''Only Fools and Horses'' (titled onscreen as ''Only Fools and Horses....'') is a British television sitcom that was created and written by John Sullivan (writer), John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Ki ...
'' and Calum MacNab 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, Freddi ...
'') appeared in three episodes – ''
May The Force Be With You
The Force is a metaphysical, mysterious, and ubiquitous power in the ''Star Wars'' fictional universe. Characters refer to the Force as an energy that interconnects all things in the universe, maintaining cosmic balance. Particularly "Force-sens ...
'', ''
To Hull and Back
"To Hull and Back" is the fourth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', first screened on 25 December 1985. It was the first feature-length edition of the show and also the first special to not be set around Chris ...
'', and ''
The Class of '62''. A much-reviled ex-schoolmate of Del's, Slater was a corrupt policeman and (as revealed in ''The Class of '62'') the ex-husband of
Raquel Turner
Rachel "Raquel" Turner (formerly Slater; born 4 June 1957See ) is a fictional character from the BBC television sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', in which she is Del Boy's long-term partner. She is portrayed by Tessa Peake-Jones.
Character cre ...
. He was sent to prison for diamond smuggling after the events of ''To Hull and Back''. Slater also appears in the prequel ''
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, Freddi ...
'', where he is barely tolerated by Del and the others as a member of their gang, as his friendship with them is at this point obviously falling apart. In ''Five Gold Rings'', he leaves school to become a police cadet, and arrests Del and
Jumbo
Jumbo (December 25, 1860 – September 15, 1885), also known as Jumbo the Elephant and Jumbo the Circus Elephant, was a 19th-century male African bush elephant born in Sudan. Jumbo was exported to Jardin des Plantes, a zoo in Paris, and then tr ...
for selling illegal American records (although he is rebuffed by his sergeant, who goes on to keep the records for himself and lets Del and Jumbo go with a warning). This is the last time Slater is seen, as he does not appear in ''The Frog and the Pussycat''.
June Snell
June Snell (
Diane Langton
Diane Shirley Maria Langton (31 May 1944 – 15 January 2025) was a British actress, singer and dancer whose career on stage and screen spanned six decades. After beginning her career in theatre, she went on to appear in television shows, portr ...
) is an ex-girlfriend of Del Boy's from many years previously. They meet up again when Rodney dates June's daughter Debbie in ''
Happy Returns'', which Del scuppers in the false assumption that Debbie is his daughter.
Del and June fall out when June reveals that Debbie's real father is Del's best friend
Albie Littlewood, and Del in turn admits that he had been cheating on her with Albie's girlfriend Deidre. They are later reconciled again, however, as Del invited June to the opera in ''
A Royal Flush'' with Rodney and his date
Lady Victoria. He and June ruin the evening and embarrass Rodney by noisily eating snacks and arguing with other audience members. The evening then comes to an end after June becomes ill from eating too much and vomits (off screen) over an audience member sitting in front of her.
Aside from Debbie, June has another child, a son named Jason.
Chris
Chris (
Tony Marshall) is a friend of Rodney and Mickey Pearce, first seen in ''
Dates
Date or dates may refer to:
* Date, the fruit of the date palm (''Phoenix dactylifera'')
* Jujube, also known as red date or Chinese date, the fruit of ''Ziziphus jujuba''
Social activity
*Dating, a form of courtship involving social activit ...
''. He also appears in ''
Rodney Come Home'' and in the dream sequence at the start of ''
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 ...
''.
Barmaids
Throughout the run of ''Only Fools and Horses'', there were various barmaids employed at the Nag's Head. Aside from
Nerys
Nerys is a Welsh feminine given name. It may be a modern coinage, an elaboration of Middle Welsh ''ner'' "lord, chief" (which relates to the modern Welsh words ''nêr'' "hero" and '' nerth'' "manliness, courage") using the popular suffix -''ys'' (f ...
, they only filled relatively minor roles, speaking only the occasional one-liner or flirting with Del.
* Joyce (Peta Bernard) appeared in two episodes of the first series.
* Julie (Julie La Rousse) appeared in five episodes between the second and third series; however, La Rousse was credited for only her second appearance.
* Karen (Michele Winstanley) appeared in four episodes of the third series. In all her appearances, she was credited as Michèle Winstanley.
* Vicky (
Kim Clifford) appeared in the Christmas special ''
To Hull and Back
"To Hull and Back" is the fourth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', first screened on 25 December 1985. It was the first feature-length edition of the show and also the first special to not be set around Chris ...
''.
* Maureen (
Nula Conwell
Nula Conwell (born 24 May 1959) is an English character actress.
Career
Conwell is best known for playing W.P.C/W.D.C. Viv Martella in the long-running crime UK series ''The Bill'' from 1984 to 1993, until her character was killed off. She ...
) appeared in five episodes between the fourth and fifth series.
Trotter relatives
Joan Trotter
Joan Mavis "Joanie" Trotter is Del and Rodney's late beloved mother, and wife of
Reg. Though she is never seen in the series, she is often mentioned by Del, especially in his attempts to emotionally blackmail Rodney, who had few memories of her. Del loved his mother deeply, and still mourns her death. Over the series, it became clear to Rodney and the viewers, but not always to Del, that Joan had had a series of affairs with numerous men during her loveless marriage to Del's selfish, workshy father Reg. One such affair was with local "gentleman thief"
Freddie Robdal and resulted in the birth of Rodney. She died on 12 March 1964 of an unknown illness while Rodney was still very young.
Her tombstone, a flamboyant fibreglass monument, is also seen occasionally. In "The Yellow Peril", Del paints it yellow, not realising that the paint is luminous. In ''
Danger UXD'', they dress up the
blow up dolls in Joan's old clothes in order to get them out of the flat without being noticed. After the Trotters
became millionaires, Del returns to their now deserted flat and remembers his mother telling him he could not have the day off school with a hangover because he was due to sit his
11-plus
The eleven-plus (11+) is a standardised examination administered to some students in England and Northern Ireland in their last year of primary education, which governs admission to grammar schools and other secondary schools which use academi ...
(the actress who provides this voiceover is uncredited). When Cassandra and Rodney have their baby in ''
Sleepless in Peckham'', they name her Joan.
The character makes her first screen appearance 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, Freddi ...
''. She is portrayed as a hard-working woman in her late 30s, struggling to maintain a home, which included her workshy husband Reg, elderly father-in-law
Ted and her teenage son, Del Boy. She has an affair with Freddie Robdal, a friend of Reg recently released from prison, and soon discovers she is pregnant. Joan and Freddie's affair is not one of lust; they seem to love each other genuinely and Joan loves both her sons deeply. She is willing to leave Reg altogether and run away with Freddie to
Bournemouth
Bournemouth ( ) is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. At the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest ...
to raise Rodney with him but would only do so once she was sure Del was financially secure. She tries her best to help Del's relationship and hopeful eventual marriage to a rich man's daughter, but the relationship does not work, and Joan ultimately chooses to remain in Peckham for Del's sake. Joan is a huge fan of
Hollywood
Hollywood usually refers to:
* Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California
* Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States
Hollywood may also refer to:
Places United States
* Hollywood District (disambiguation)
* Hollywood ...
films and actresses, given her job in the Ritz cinema, to the point that she changed her hairstyle multiple times during ''Rock & Chips'' to resemble actresses such as
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe ( ; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "Blonde stereotype#Blonde bombshell, blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex ...
,
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was an English and American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 19 ...
,
Jane Fonda
Jane Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress and activist. Recognized as a film icon, Jane Fonda filmography, Fonda's work spans several genres and over six decades of film and television. She is the recipient of List of a ...
and
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Kathleen Hepburn ( Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress. Recognised as a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen legend from the Classical Holly ...
.
Reg Trotter
Reginald "Reg" Trotter is the estranged father of
Del Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, more commonly known as Del Boy, is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'' and one of the main characters of its spinoff series, '' Rock & Chips''. He was played by David Jason in the original ...
, stepfather of
Rodney, and son of
Grandad.
Reg abandons his family shortly after the death of his wife Joan. He leaves on Del's 16th birthday, taking his cake and Rodney's piggy bank. Eighteen years later he returns, in the episode ''
Thicker than Water'', claiming to have a hereditary blood disorder. When the results reveal Del and Rodney to have different
blood group
A blood type (also known as a blood group) is based on the presence and absence of antibodies and inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, or glycoli ...
s, he attempts to split the family by questioning Del's paternity. He quickly leaves once it becomes known that he has forged the test results himself and is never heard from again. As with their mother, he is often mentioned by Del in other episodes. It was revealed in the final episode ''
Sleepless in Peckham'' that Rodney is not in fact Reg's biological son, but
Freddie Robdal's. It is also shown 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, Freddi ...
'' he is an abusive husband to Joan, earning him the hatred of Del and Freddie, and has an affair with Nag's Head barmaid Val.
Vi Trotter
Violet "Vi" Trotter was the estranged, sharp-tongued wife of
Ted Trotter, mother of
Reg and the paternal grandmother of
Del Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, more commonly known as Del Boy, is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'' and one of the main characters of its spinoff series, '' Rock & Chips''. He was played by David Jason in the original ...
.
Long dead by ''
Only Fools and Horses
''Only Fools and Horses'' (titled onscreen as ''Only Fools and Horses....'') is a British television sitcom that was created and written by John Sullivan (writer), John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Ki ...
'', Vi first appeared in the second and third episodes of the prequel ''
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, Freddi ...
'', ''
Five Gold Rings
"Five Gold Rings" is the second episode of the ''Rock & Chips'' trilogy and the series' only Christmas Special. It was first aired on 29 December 2010.
Plot
A few weeks following the birth of Rodney, Del Boy and the rest of his gang (Boycie, Tr ...
'' and ''
The Frog and the Pussycat'', where she babysat the infant
Rodney – much to the fury of her husband, who resented her for throwing him out after she had discovered his affair with Alice Ball,
Trigger
Trigger may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities
* Trigger (''Only Fools and Horses''), in the TV sitcom
* Trigger Argee, in science fiction short stories by James H. Schmitz
* Devil Trigger, a transformation ability of ...
's grandmother. Despite her contempt for her husband, Vi maintained a friendly relationship with her son, grandson and daughter-in-law, and doted on Rodney. Vi mentioned she worked as the charlady for an art dealer, as Del mentioned in ''
Yesterday Never Comes''; however, she did not mention that she had stolen a valuable artwork from her employer. According to Del's autobiography, she became ill in 1963 and died the following year, shortly after Joan.
Freddie Robdal
Frederick "Freddie" Robdal, also known by his nickname Freddie the Frog, was an
unseen character
An unseen character in theatre, comics, film or television, or a silent character in radio or literature, is a character who is mentioned but not directly known to the audience, but who advances the action of the plot in a significant way, and w ...
in the original series. He is first mentioned in "
The Frog's Legacy
"The Frog's Legacy" is the sixth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was first broadcast on 25 December 1987. In the episode, the Trotters search for the hidden gold legacy of Freddie "The Frog" Robdal, an o ...
" and later revealed to be
Rodney's biological father. Robdal was a career thief who had been a
frogman
A frogman is someone who is trained in scuba diving or swimming underwater. The term often applies more to professional rather than recreational divers, especially those working in a tactical capacity that includes military, and in some Europea ...
in the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
, hence the nickname, and had an extramarital affair with
Joan Trotter. Robdal died shortly afterwards, when he accidentally sat on his own detonator during a bank robbery. The Trotters' search for his hidden gold legacy was the focal point of the episode "The Frog's Legacy". When an old photograph of Robdal surfaces in the episode "
Sleepless in Peckham", his striking resemblance to Rodney finally settled the issue of the latter's paternity after years of speculation.
He has an unnamed wife who he is separated from by the time he has an affair with Joan (as mentioned by Reenie Turpin).
Robdal is one of the main characters in the ''Only Fools and Horses'' prequel ''
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, Freddi ...
'', where he is accompanied by explosive expert
Gerald "Jelly" Kelly and has a habit of calling people "cocker", among them Del Boy and Boycie. The first episode of ''Rock & Chips'' fully reveals the details surrounding Robdal's affair with Joan which resulted in Rodney's birth. He and Jelly, along with Reg, Ted, and Del's gang embark on their first Jolly Boys' Outing to Margate in June 1960, although the trip is merely a ruse so that Robdal and Kelly can rob a nearby jewellery store. It is revealed in the second episode, "
Five Gold Rings
"Five Gold Rings" is the second episode of the ''Rock & Chips'' trilogy and the series' only Christmas Special. It was first aired on 29 December 2010.
Plot
A few weeks following the birth of Rodney, Del Boy and the rest of his gang (Boycie, Tr ...
", that Robdal did in fact love Joan deeply and wanted to see his son grow up, but it was difficult because of Joan's marriage to Reg and his situations with Del Boy and the police. In "
The Frog and the Pussycat", Robdal and Kelly are again arrested on suspicion of murdering the sole eyewitness to the Margate robbery, although Robdal discovers it was a fraud by the police. However, Robdal is incarcerated when it is revealed one of the stolen jewels was pawned by Joan in order to fund Del's film, and at this time she is also "working" as Robdal's charlady (though they use most of their time to have sex). While in prison, Robdal implores Joan to leave London with him to his seaside home with Rodney. Joan accepts but only once she is certain of Del's financial state. However, Del's planned film does not work out well, and Joan is forced to stay in Peckham. It is implied that Robdal remains in Peckham as well.
George Trotter
George Trotter was the older brother of Grandad and Albert, and Del's great-uncle and godfather. He is mentioned in passing several times throughout the show, but is never seen. He presumably died sometime before the original series.
During Grandad's monologue about the First World War, it is mentioned that George tried to get out of service by claiming he was 14 despite him being 18, but he was caught due to his moustache and was conscripted. He was present at the
Battle of Passchendaele
The Third Battle of Ypres (; ; ), also known as the Battle of Passchendaele ( ), was a campaign of the First World War, fought by the Allies of World War I, Allies against the German Empire. The battle took place on the Western Front (World Wa ...
, and according to Del, claimed he had had a bayonet duel with
Hitler
Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his suicide in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the lea ...
at the
Somme __NOTOC__
Somme or The Somme may refer to: Places
*Somme (department), a department of France
* Somme, Queensland, Australia
* Canal de la Somme, a canal in France
*Somme (river), a river in France
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Somme'' (book), ...
. As mentioned 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, Freddi ...
'' by Grandad, in the 1920s he was sent to Calcutta to "try and calm things down". Mistaken for a diplomat by Del's Indian fiancée, Amita, he was actually a sniper.
His wife was Patsy (who Del referred to in his autobiography as Great-Aunt Pat), and presumably his daughter was Del's cousin Gillian (mentioned by Albert in ''
Strained Relations)''. It is also mentioned in this episode that George and Albert had spun a coin to decide who would be Del's godfather.
Guest and spin-off characters
Tony Angelino
Tony Angelino (
Philip Pope
Philip R. J. Pope is a British composer and actor.
Education
He was educated at Downside School and New College, Oxford.
Performer
Pope appeared in the Oxford Revue in Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1978 and 1979, both with Angus Deayton. He ...
) appeared in the episode ''
Stage Fright
Stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia that may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, real or imagined, whether actually or potentially (for example, when perf ...
''. By day, he works as a
dustman
A waste collector, also known as a garbage man, garbage collector, trashman (in the U.S), binman or dustman (in the UK), is a person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and dispose of municipal solid waste (refuse) and recycl ...
, but by night he is a popular nightclub singer at the Down by the Riverside Club, styling himself after
Tom Jones
Tom Jones may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
*Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer
*Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist
*''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in 1 ...
.
When
Del Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, more commonly known as Del Boy, is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'' and one of the main characters of its spinoff series, '' Rock & Chips''. He was played by David Jason in the original ...
is approached by local gangster Eugene McCarthy (
Roger Blake
Roger Donald Blake (born 21 December 1957) is a Welsh actor, impressionist and entertainer. He is best known for his portrayal of Prince Philip in ''Spitting Image'' and '' The Big Impression'' and Noël Coward in television commercials, and nar ...
) to find a singing act for his mother's 82nd birthday at his own club, the Starlight Rooms, he decides that
Raquel
Raquel or Racquel is a variation of the given name Rachel. Notable people with the name include:
Raquel
*Raquel (wrestler), Brazilian professional wrestler
*Raquel Alessi (born 1983), American former actress and model
* Raquel Naa Ayorkor Ammah ( ...
and a male partner would make the perfect double act. After acting on a tip from Trigger, he and
Rodney visit the Down by the Riverside Club and see Tony performing. Del is impressed and signs himself up as Tony's manager, ignoring Tony's warning that he can only sing certain songs.
On the night of the performance, Tony and Raquel are required to perform "
Crying
Crying is the dropping of tears (or welling of tears in the eyes) in response to an emotional state or physical pain. Emotions that can lead to crying include sadness, anger, joy, and fear. Crying can also be caused by relief from a period ...
", at which point it is revealed that Tony could only sing certain songs due to his
rhoticism, meaning that "crying" sounds like "cwying". Del flees from the club without speaking to Eugene, leaving Tony and Raquel to continue with their musical numbers –
''Please Release Me'',
''Congratulations'' and
''The Green Green Grass of Home''.
Tony follows Raquel home and demands his money, despite Del claiming that Tony defrauded him by not revealing his rhoticism. However, Eugene calls Del with the news that his mother found the act hilarious, and subsequently offers Tony and Raquel a five-week contract at his club.
Arnie
Arnie (
Philip McGough
Philip McGough (born ) is a British actor from Penygraig, Wales, who is a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company with many appearances on a variety of television programmes.
Personal life
In an interview with '' The Mirror'' in 2001, McGo ...
) appears in the episode ''
Chain Gang
A chain gang or road gang is a group of prisoners chained together to perform menial or physically challenging work as a form of punishment. Such punishment might include repairing buildings, building roads, or clearing land. The system was nota ...
''. A
conman
A scam, or a confidence trick, is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust. Confidence tricks exploit victims using a combination of the victim's credulity, naivety, compassion, vanity, confidence, irresponsibi ...
, Arnie sells Del Boy, Boycie, Mike, Trigger, Uncle Albert and Rodney a batch of
24 carat
The fineness of a precious metal object (coin, bar, jewelry, etc.) represents the weight of ''fine metal'' therein, in proportion to the total weight which includes alloying base metals and any impurities. Alloy metals are added to increase hardne ...
gold chains for £12,500, only to later
double cross them by faking a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
in a restaurant and makes off with both the chains and the money in an ambulance driven by his sons. The group eventually track him down while he is performing the same scam on Denzil, and drive Arnie away in an ambulance of their own.
Solly Attwell
Solly Attwell (
Colin Jeavons
Colin Abel Jeavons (born 20 October 1929) is a British retired actor and TV presenter. He is known for his character roles and has worked in theatre, television and film, especially in literary adaptations and roles related to the works of Char ...
) appeared in the episode ''
Hole in One
In golf, a hole in one or hole-in-one (also known as an ace, mostly in American English) occurs when a ball hit from a tee to start a hole finishes in the cup. Holes-in-one most commonly occur on par 3 holes, the shortest distance holes on a sta ...
''. The Trotter family solicitor, believed to have represented Del on other, unspecified, occasions. Solly represented Uncle Albert in his case against the brewery when he fell down the Nag's Head cellar. Solly was described by Rodney as being "more bent than the villains", or according to Del, "an expert". He faced being "
defrocked
Defrocking, unfrocking, degradation, or laicization of clergy is the removal of their rights to exercise the functions of the ordained ministry. It may be grounded on criminal convictions, disciplinary problems, or disagreements over doctrine or ...
" when it was revealed that Albert had been lying to obtain compensation.
The Driscoll Brothers
Danny and Tony Driscoll (
Roy Marsden
Roy Marsden (born ''Roy Anthony Mould''; 25 June 1941) is an English actor who portrayed Adam Dalgliesh in the Anglia Television dramatisations (1983–1998) of P. D. James's detective novels, and Neil Burnside in the spy drama '' The S ...
and
Christopher Ryan
Christopher Papazoglou (born 25 January 1950), known professionally as Christopher Ryan, is a British actor. He is best known for his roles as Mike The Cool Person in the BBC comedy series '' The Young Ones'', Dave Hedgehog in the BBC comedy se ...
), usually known as the Driscoll brothers, appeared in only one episode, ''
Little Problems'', but were mentioned in numerous others. The Driscoll brothers were the local
gangsters
A gangster (informally gangsta) is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from '' mob'' and the suffix '' -ster''. Gangs provide a level ...
with a fearsome reputation for violence (although in order to avoid serious problems with the police, they followed a strict rule in never harming the victim's head). They beat up Del Boy after he failed to repay money owed to them, and in the same episode left Mickey Pearce and
Jevon Jevon is a given name. Notable people with the name include:
*Jevon Atkinson, swimmer
*Jevon Carter (born 1995), American basketball player
*Jevon Crudup, basketball player
* Jevon Demming (born 1989), football player
*Jevon Groves, rugby union pla ...
with broken bones for a similar reason. In a similar joke to the different-looking Del and Rodney being brothers, the Driscoll brothers also differ in height, but by a good , though in their case the taller brother has the brains. The pair appear to have a love/hate relationship, as they often argue but continually work together to get what they want.
In the spin-off series ''
The Green Green Grass
''The Green Green Grass'' is a BBC television sitcom, created and initially written by John Sullivan, and produced by BBC Studios Comedy Productions and Shazam Productions for the BBC. It serves as both a sequel and a spin-off of the long-runni ...
'', it is revealed that the Driscoll brothers have finally been found guilty and sent to prison, thanks to Boycie grassing them to the police, but have been paroled and are now after his blood.
The role of Danny Driscoll was originally written for series fan
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor. Considered one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for List of Anthony Hopkins performances, his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins ha ...
but he was unable to appear due to the filming of ''
The Silence of the Lambs''. Hopkins subsequently recommended his friend Roy Marsden for the role.
Janice
Janice (Gaynor Ward) appears in the episode ''
A Slow Bus to Chingford'' and is one of Rodney's girlfriends. Whilst Rodney is discussing art, Janice tells him her brother paints for the council. They then get intimate, but Del Boy enters and ruins it. Her last appearance is shortly after this, when Del Boy plays on snide joke on Rodney by telling him his whip and other implements have been washed by
Grandad. Astonished and worried, she quietly sneaks out, not giving Rodney enough time tell her that Del is joking, causing Rodney to shout "''You rotten git, Del!''" for ruining his evening. Del later reveals that he is taking Janice out, but "for Rodney's sake" in order to keep Rodney from getting mad at him. Janice has a
Corgi
The Welsh Corgi ( or Corgi, plural Corgis, or occasionally the etymologically consistent Corgwn; ) is a small Dog type, type of herding dog that originated in Wales. The name ''corgi'' is thought to be derived from the Welsh language, Welsh w ...
called Nero, which Del gets Rodney to help him patrol the bus garage as a Nocturnal Security Officer, telling Rodney that Nero is an "ex-police dog", the morning after Rodney tells Del that he was up all night taking Nero for walks and that Nero ran away scared when he saw a cat.
Gerald "Jelly" Kelly
Gerald "Jelly" Kelly (
Paul Putner
Paul Putner (born 18 March 1966) is an English actor and comedian.
Life and career
Putner was born in March 1966 in East Grinstead, West Sussex. He studied at LAMDA where he won the Kenneth More prize for comedy acting.
His first significant ...
) is first mentioned in ''
The Frog's Legacy
"The Frog's Legacy" is the sixth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was first broadcast on 25 December 1987. In the episode, the Trotters search for the hidden gold legacy of Freddie "The Frog" Robdal, an o ...
'' and later introduced 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, Freddi ...
'', as Freddie Robdal's partner-in-crime and best friend. He accompanies Robdal to Peckham following Robdal's release from prison, but as they are almost out of money, they plan a jewellery robbery while in Margate on a "Jolly Boys Outing" with
Del Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, more commonly known as Del Boy, is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'' and one of the main characters of its spinoff series, '' Rock & Chips''. He was played by David Jason in the original ...
and his family and friends and pull it off while the others are elsewhere. Kelly, however, does not approve of Robdal's relationship with
Joan Trotter, whom he refers to as "that slag from the cinema", as both Robdal and Kelly display dislike for the abusive, workshy
Reg. In ''
Five Gold Rings
"Five Gold Rings" is the second episode of the ''Rock & Chips'' trilogy and the series' only Christmas Special. It was first aired on 29 December 2010.
Plot
A few weeks following the birth of Rodney, Del Boy and the rest of his gang (Boycie, Tr ...
'', it is shown that Robdal and Kelly were arrested and imprisoned again for the jewellery robbery, but while they both make bail, Kelly appears in only the episode's opening scene. In ''
The Frog and the Pussycat'', Robdal and Kelly are temporarily exonerated but later suspected again following the disappearance of their robbery's sole eyewitness, although Robdal exposes the police's fraud. Though Robdal eventually goes to prison on an alternate charge (to protect Joan, who pawned the ring Robdal gave her in order to buy a
Lambretta
Lambretta () was a brand of motor scooters, manufactured in Milan, Italy, by Innocenti.
The name is derived from the word Lambrate, the suburb of Milan named after the river Lambro which flows through the area, and where the factory was locat ...
for Del), Kelly does not, and shares a drink with Robdal once he is freed. In the final scene, he and Robdal rob an art gallery together.
In 1963, Freddie and Kelly broke into a post office in
Plumstead
Plumstead is an area in southeast London, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, England. It is located east of Woolwich.
History
Plumstead has been settled since ancient times, and London's earliest timber structure has been found here. ...
. Unfortunately, while Kelly set the explosives and was holding the
nitroglycerine
Nitroglycerin (NG) (alternative spelling nitroglycerine), also known as trinitroglycerol (TNG), nitro, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), or 1,2,3-trinitroxypropane, is a dense, colorless or pale yellow, oily, explosive liquid most commonly produced by ...
, Freddie sat on the detonator and the two men were both killed in the ensuing explosion. In ''The Frog's Legacy'', Rodney sarcastically quips that had Kelly survived, he "wouldn't be any good in a
Mexican Wave
The wave (also Mexican wave outside North America) is a type of metachronal rhythm achieved in a packed stadium or other large seated venue, when successive groups of spectators briefly stand and raise their arms. Immediately upon stretching to ...
".
Abdul Khan
Abdul Khan (
Tony Anholt
Anthony Anholt (19 January 1941 – 26 July 2002), was a British television actor, known for several television roles over several decades. he is perhaps best known as Charles Frere in the BBC drama series ''Howards' Way'' (1985–90).
Early li ...
) appeared in only one episode, ''
To Hull and Back
"To Hull and Back" is the fourth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', first screened on 25 December 1985. It was the first feature-length edition of the show and also the first special to not be set around Chris ...
'', in which he and
Boycie
Herman Terrance Aubrey Boyce (born 31 January 1948), also known as Boycie and Farmer Boyce, 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 ...
arranged a deal with Del, in order to smuggle diamonds from
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...
. Although this was the only episode in which he appeared, Abdul was also mentioned in ''
Diamonds Are for Heather
"Diamonds Are for Heather" is the second Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was first broadcast on 30 December 1982, five days after Christmas. In the episode, Del goes out with Heather, a single mother with ...
'', when Del tells Heather where he got the
engagement ring
An engagement ring, also known as a betrothal ring, is a ring indicating that the person wearing it is engaged to be married, especially in Western cultures. A ring is presented as an engagement gift by a partner to their prospective spouse ...
; ''
Video Nasty
''Video nasty'' is a colloquial term popularised by the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association (NVALA) in the United Kingdom to refer to a number of films, typically low-budget horror or exploitation films, distributed on video cassette ...
'', when Del had struck a deal with Abdul's cousin's girlfriend's brother's friend; and in the second ''
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, Freddi ...
'' episode, ''
Five Gold Rings
"Five Gold Rings" is the second episode of the ''Rock & Chips'' trilogy and the series' only Christmas Special. It was first aired on 29 December 2010.
Plot
A few weeks following the birth of Rodney, Del Boy and the rest of his gang (Boycie, Tr ...
'', when Del tells his friends that he got four glass diamond rings from Abdul's father, who owns the Bermondsey Wholesale Jewellery Emporium.
Lady Victoria Marsham-Hales
Lady Victoria "Vicky" Marsham-Hales (Sarah Duncan) is a brief girlfriend of
Rodney's in the 1986 Christmas Special, ''
A Royal Flush''. The only daughter of a wealthy and prominent duke, Rodney meets her in the market one day whilst she is unsuccessfully trying to sell her artwork. They become close friends and eventually date. Del Boy is immediately interested in Vicky's wealth and breeding and sees Rodney's relationship as a way of making them both millionaires, and despite Rodney's firm protests, repeatedly meddles in the relationship with disastrous results. He finally destroys all chances of Rodney and Vicky being together after inviting himself to dinner at the home of Vicky's father, and getting drunk and obnoxious, insulting the guests and humiliating Rodney. The furious duke throws the Trotters out of his home, and Rodney and Vicky sadly realise that it would be better not to see each other anymore. Unbeknownst to Rodney, Del earlier had told the duke to bribe Rodney with £1,000 to get out of Vicky's life, but a pained Rodney turned it down, angering Del.
Robbie Meadows
Dr Robbie Meadows (
Ewan Stewart
Andrew Ewan Stewart (born 26 August 1957) is a Scottish film, television and stage actor. He is best known for his role as First Officer Murdoch in ''Titanic'' (1997) and ''Only Fools and Horses'' as Dr Robbie Meadows.
Early life
Stewart was ...
) appears once in the episode ''
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. ...
'' as Del's former
GP. When Del goes to visit the doctor due to severe stomach cramps, he discovers that Dr Meadows has left general practice and now works at the local hospital. Del tells his new GP several lies about his lifestyle, claiming that he is a
celibate
Celibacy (from Latin ''caelibatus'') is the state of voluntarily being unmarried, sexually abstinent, or both. It is often in association with the role of a religious official or devotee. In its narrow sense, the term ''celibacy'' is applied on ...
,
teetotal
Teetotalism is the practice of voluntarily abstaining from the consumption of alcohol, specifically in alcoholic drinks. A person who practices (and possibly advocates) teetotalism is called a teetotaler (US) or teetotaller (UK), or said to be ...
, non-smoking,
vegetarian
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...
"health freak". The GP, unable to ascertain why Del is experiencing such difficulties, sends him to hospital. While Del is worrying about what is wrong with him (fearing he might have
Aids
The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...
), Dr Meadows approaches Del, explaining he was put in charge of Del's case. Knowing Del well, and that he was not the health-conscious man he made himself out to be to the other doctors, Dr Meadows diagnoses Del's illness as
IBS.
Jumbo Mills
Jumbo Mills (
Nick Stringer
Nick Stringer (born 10 August 1948 in Torquay, Devon) is an English actor.
In his forty-year career, Stringer has appeared in numerous well-known British television shows, including ''The Bill'', '' Bergerac '', ''Open All Hours'', ''Only Fool ...
in ''
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' (WWTBAM) is an international television game show franchise of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show), British origin, created by David Briggs, Mike Whitehill and Steven Knight. In its format, cu ...
'' and Lee Long 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, Freddi ...
'') was Del's old school friend and business partner (they ran a
jellied eels
Jellied eels is a traditional English dish that originated in the 18th century, primarily in the East End of London. The dish consists of chopped eels boiled in a spiced stock that is allowed to cool and set, forming a jelly. It is usually ...
stall together) who emigrated to
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
during the 1960s. Jumbo, named for his love of elephants, returned to Peckham in the episode ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'', and offered Del the chance to restore their old partnership by helping him run his new used car business back in Australia, only for Del to refuse the offer due to Rodney being unable to go because of his drug conviction.
Stringer also appeared in an earlier episode, ''
Go West Young Man'', playing an Australian man who bought a car with faulty brakes from Del Boy. He later accidentally crashed into the back of an
E-type Jaguar being driven by Del, who was looking after it for Boycie.
Vincenzo Occhetti
Vincenzo Occhetti (
David Jason
Sir David John White (born 2 February 1940), known professionally as David Jason, is an English actor. He has played Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in the sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', Detective Inspector Jack Frost in the drama series '' A Touch ...
) appeared as the main antagonist in the two-part episode ''
Miami Twice
"Miami Twice" is the two-part tenth Christmas special edition of the British sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. The first episode, on-screen subtitle "The American Dream", was first screened on 24 December 1991. The second episode of "Miami Twice" ...
''. Occhetti was a Mafia
don
Don, don or DON and variants may refer to:
Places
*Don (river), a river in European Russia
*Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name
* Don, Benin, a town in Benin
* Don, Dang, a village and hill station in Dang district, Gu ...
and an exact
doppelgänger
A doppelgänger ( ), sometimes spelled doppelgaenger or doppelganger, is a ghostly double of a living person, especially one that haunts its own fleshly counterpart.
In fiction and mythology, a doppelgänger is often portrayed as a ghostly or p ...
for Del Boy. As the episode unfolded it emerged that Occhetti was under
FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...
surveillance and facing trial for murder, kidnapping and drug-running. After seeing Del's resemblance to his father, Occhetti's son Rico launched a series of unsuccessful attempts to assassinate Del, hoping that the authorities would believe Occhetti himself was dead and thus spare him the prison sentence. Every attempt failed, and Del and Rodney eventually uncovered the Mafia plan, providing the FBI with crucial evidence to send Occhetti to prison for life.
Elsie Partridge
Elsie Partridge (
Constance Chapman
Constance Chapman (29 March 1912 – 10 August 2003) was an English character actor working in theatre and television. She also made occasional film appearances.
She made her stage debut in 1938 in ''Hay Fever'' at the Knightstone Theatre, Wes ...
) was
Uncle Albert
Albert Gladstone Trotter, better known as Uncle Albert (19 November – 2001), is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', portrayed by Buster Merryfield. He was introduced during the fourth series as a replacement ...
's girlfriend. Although mentioned frequently, she only appears 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. ...
''.
Elsie was a widow with eleven children and lived on the same estate as the Trotters. She and Albert met at a
bingo
Bingo or B-I-N-G-O may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Gaming
* Bingo, a game using a printed card of numbers
** Bingo (British version), a game using a printed card of 15 numbers on three lines; most commonly played in the UK and Ireland
** B ...
game and struck up a romantic relationship, but never married as Albert was still legally married to his estranged wife Ada. Albert often downplayed the nature of their relationship to Del and Rodney, but they saw through this and often brought Elsie's name up to silence or embarrass him in conversation. Despite his relationship with Elsie, Albert and his friend Knock-Knock had a fight over
Marlene
Marlene may refer to:
People
* Marlene (given name), including a list of people with the name
* Marlene (Burmese businesswoman), Nang Kham Noung (born 1991)
* Marlene (Japanese singer) (born 1960), a Filipina jazz singer active in Japan
Film
* Ma ...
's mother, Dora Lane, in ''
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Uncle
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Uncle" is an episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was the fifth episode of series 7, and was first broadcast on 27 January 1991. In the episode, Uncle Albert comes home claiming to have been mugged and, ...
''.
At Albert's insistence, Elsie holds a
séance
A séance or seance (; ) is an attempt to communicate with spirits. The word ''séance'' comes from the French language, French word for "session", from the Old French , "to sit". In French, the word's meaning is quite general and mundane: one ma ...
in a private room at The Nag's Head in ''Sickness and Wealth''. Despite voicing their suspicions about her psychic ability, Del and Rodney attend the seance alongside
Boycie
Herman Terrance Aubrey Boyce (born 31 January 1948), also known as Boycie and Farmer Boyce, 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 ...
and
Trigger
Trigger may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities
* Trigger (''Only Fools and Horses''), in the TV sitcom
* Trigger Argee, in science fiction short stories by James H. Schmitz
* Devil Trigger, a transformation ability of ...
, where Elsie manages to summon the spirits of Boycie's father and Joan Trotter, the latter of whom demanded that Del get his stomach pains examined at hospital, after Del (who had a fear of doctors) kept avoiding medical intervention. However, it was later revealed that Albert had asked Elsie to pretend that she had summoned Joan's spirit, as she was the only person Del would listen to.
By the time of Albert's death in ''
If They Could See Us Now'', he and Elsie had been living together with Elsie's family in
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the North Somerset unitary district, in the county of Somerset, England. It lies by the Bristol Channel south-west of Bristol between Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill. Its population ...
for several years. Del and Rodney, accompanied by
Raquel
Raquel or Racquel is a variation of the given name Rachel. Notable people with the name include:
Raquel
*Raquel (wrestler), Brazilian professional wrestler
*Raquel Alessi (born 1983), American former actress and model
* Raquel Naa Ayorkor Ammah ( ...
,
Cassandra
Cassandra or Kassandra (; , , sometimes referred to as Alexandra; ) in Greek mythology was a Trojan priestess dedicated to the god Apollo and fated by him to utter true prophecy, prophecies but never to be believed. In modern usage her name is e ...
and
Damien
Damien is a given name and less frequently a surname.
The name is a variation of Damian which comes from the Greek ''Damianos''. This form originates from the Greek derived from the Greek word δαμάζω (damazō), "(I) conquer, master, overco ...
, travel to attend his funeral but accidentally attend the funeral of Albert "Bunny" Warren, at a church just up the road from Albert's funeral, attended by everyone else from Peckham.
Elsie had died by the time of ''
Strangers on the Shore''.
Miss Tibbs and Miss Gatsby
Abatha Tibbs (
Gilly Flower
Gilly Flower (26 August 1908 – 17 February 2001) was an English actress and model, best remembered as the elderly Miss Abitha Tibbs in the BBC sitcom ''Fawlty Towers
''Fawlty Towers'' is a British television sitcom written by John Cleese ...
) and Ursula Gatsby (
Renee Roberts
Irene Roberts (24 September 1908 – 6 February 1996) better known by her professional name Renee Roberts was an English actress who is best remembered for her portrayal of Miss Ursula Gatsby in ''Fawlty Towers
''Fawlty Towers'' is a Brit ...
) are two elderly women that appear in ''
Homesick'', individually purchasing items from Del and Rodney.
The characters originated from BBC sitcom ''
Fawlty Towers
''Fawlty Towers'' is a British television sitcom written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, originally broadcast on BBC Two in 1975 and 1979. Two series of six episodes each were made. The series is set in Fawlty Towers, a dysfunctional fictional ...
'', which concluded four years before ''Homesick'' was aired in 1983. Although not named and credited as "Old Ladies", the BBC's own ''
Radio Times
''Radio Times'' is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in September 1923 by John Reith, then general manage ...
'' publication credits them as their ''Fawlty Towers'' characters.
Reenie Turpin
Reenie Turpin (
Joan Sims
Irene Joan Marion Sims (9 May 1930 – 27 June 2001) was an English actress and comedienne, best remembered for her roles in the ''Carry On'' franchise, appearing in 24 of the films (the most for any actress).
On television, she is known for ...
in ''
The Frog's Legacy
"The Frog's Legacy" is the sixth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses''. It was first broadcast on 25 December 1987. In the episode, the Trotters search for the hidden gold legacy of Freddie "The Frog" Robdal, an o ...
'' and Emma Cook 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, Freddi ...
'') only appeared in ''The Frog's Legacy'' but is mentioned in ''
Chain Gang
A chain gang or road gang is a group of prisoners chained together to perform menial or physically challenging work as a form of punishment. Such punishment might include repairing buildings, building roads, or clearing land. The system was nota ...
''. She is
Trigger
Trigger may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities
* Trigger (''Only Fools and Horses''), in the TV sitcom
* Trigger Argee, in science fiction short stories by James H. Schmitz
* Devil Trigger, a transformation ability of ...
's aunt and
Joan Trotter's best friend. She informs Del of the gold legacy that
Freddie the Frog left to his mother. She also sparks a debate over who Rodney's real father was after stating to Albert that "Joanie was never 100% sure".
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, Freddi ...
'', Reenie works alongside Joan as an usherette at the local film house. Like Joan and Del, Reenie loathes Reg Trotter and is unafraid to stand up to him, threatening to reveal that Reg is often violent toward his wife. However, the prequel makes no mention of her relationship with Trigger, and she appears to be a mere family friend. She helps Joan determine her pregnancy in an anonymous clinic following her affair with Freddie Robdal, and even submits her name for Joan to use while visiting Freddie in prison.
In Del's autobiography, ''He Who Dares'', it is explained that Reenie's brother Donald is Trigger's father.
Unseen characters
Albie Littlewood
Albie Littlewood is an unseen character, mentioned in ''
Happy Returns''. He was Del's best friend but had an affair with Del's then-fiancée
June Snell, something Del only found out years later. However, at the same time Del was having an affair with Albie's girlfriend Deidre. Albie is the father of June's daughter Debbie, whom Rodney had dated. While en route to see June one night, Albie took a shortcut across a railway line and was killed when he fell onto the live rail (the railways in Peckham are electrified using
third rail
A third rail, also known as a live rail, electric rail or conductor rail, is a method of providing electric power to a railway locomotive or train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a track (r ...
s rather than
overhead wires
An overhead line or overhead wire is an electrical cable that is used to transmit electrical energy to electric locomotives, electric multiple units, trolleybuses or trams. The generic term used by the International Union of Railways for the tec ...
).
Albie also appears in the 2010 prequel drama ''
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, Freddi ...
'', played by Jonathan Readwin. In the prequel, he is shown to be secretly taking drugs to lighten his mood at certain times, and notably, Albie and Jumbo Mills trick Roy Slater into taking some and later dancing in a bar until he collapses from exhaustion.
Monkey Harris, Sunglasses Ron & Paddy the Greek
Kenneth "Monkey" Harris, Sunglasses Ron and Paddy the Greek are
Del Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, more commonly known as Del Boy, is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'' and one of the main characters of its spinoff series, '' Rock & Chips''. He was played by David Jason in the original ...
's friends who are in the same "business" as him. Although they are mentioned regularly, they are never seen on screen. They are often involved in Del's trading deals (although separately), usually sourcing Del's hooky gear, and are often described and mentioned in discussions between other characters in The Nag's Head.
Despite being unseen characters, significant detail about their background (particularly Monkey Harris') is revealed. For instance, it is known that Monkey Harris lives in a bungalow, as mentioned in the episode ''
No Greater Love''. As such, the characters often play a minor role in plot development, usually as a device of comic resolution. According to ''
The Class of '62'', Monkey Harris was also a schoolfriend of Del, Boycie, Denzil, Trigger and Roy Slater, and they played in the school football team together.
It is possible that Sunglasses Ron is the man sat at the back of the bus in ''
The Jolly Boys' Outing
"The Jolly Boys' Outing" is the eighth Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', first screened on 25 December 1989. Despite being aired as a Christmas special, it is set on a summer bank holiday weekend and sees Del ...
''.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Only Fools and Horses
BBC-related lists
Television characters introduced in 1981
Lists of British sitcom television characters
Only Fools and Horses and Rock & Chips characters