David Jason has revealed that he ‘never’ would have thought he would appear in one of Britain’s highest-rated holiday specials, especially after starting on camera playing a goose.
The 82-year-old actor made his first television appearance on December 26, 1965 when he played King Goose in a BBC production of Mother Goose.
31 years later, on December 26, 1996, 24.3 million people watched him as Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter in the Only Fools And Horses Christmas special, where he and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) dressed up as Batman and Robin. .
Career: David Jason has revealed that he “never” would have thought he would appear in one of Britain’s highest-rated holiday specials, especially after starting on camera playing a goose (pictured November 2022)
According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board, it is one of the largest audiences ever recorded for a single broadcast in the UK.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, David said: ‘It’s been a journey. You never, ever would have thought that could happen from playing the King of Goose Land on TV… you’re lucky if you get another job.
David, who grew up in North Finchley, London, recounted how his entire family gathered to watch his first television appearance.
He said: ‘The thing is, you have a poor working-class family, and because TV was still pretty new at the time, it wasn’t in everyone’s house.
Hit: On December 26, 1996, 24.3 million people watched him as Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter in the Only Fools And Horses Christmas special, where he and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) dressed up as Batman and Robin.
“But then to have one of your own, one of your family actually on TV was an incredible achievement.”
David added that his family “never made a big deal” about his fame and that his father joked: “Oh, silly, are you the one flying around?” to keep him humble.
Earlier this year, David revealed his favorite episode of Only Fools And Horses and the touching scene that almost brought him to tears.
In citations obtained by Sunhe recalled ‘the sheer fun’ of the 1989 special, The Jolly Boys’ Outing, and spoke of the late John Challis in ‘a world gone’.
Early days: The 82-year-old actor made his first television appearance on December 26, 1965 when he played King Goose in a BBC production of Mother Goose.
John died “peacefully in his sleep” at age 79 in September last year after a long battle with cancer and was best known for his portrayal of second-hand car salesman Boycie, a cigar-smoking businessman who bumps into Del Boy.
In the book, David notes, “It’s the sequence where Harry Nilsson’s Everybody’s Talkin’ plays as we watch the cast board the bus to Margate, and the day’s shenanigans begin to unfold.”
“The magic of Only Fools is compressed into this one sequence: the gang of friends the cast had become and the sheer fun of it all. And many of those faces are no longer with us, of course.
He continued: “Today, the sight of John Challis reaching out to take off my hat is so moving I practically have to close my eyes, and it’s all a world gone.”
Sir David explained that the scene encapsulates the relationship between the cast members and exactly how it felt to work on the show.
David said: ‘It’s been a journey. You would never have thought that you could play the King of Goose Land on TV… you’re lucky if you get another job.’
The series six episode of the sitcom shows the group departing on the Jolly Boys’ annual excursion to Margate, where Rodney is arrested and the coach’s radio, provided by Del Boy, causes the vehicle to catch fire.
It comes after Sir David said he would “love” to reprise his role as Del Boy, 40 years after Only Fools And Horses premiered.
The actor last appeared in character in July 2021 to wish Gareth Southgate and the England squad good luck in the Euro 2020 final.
Before that, he starred in a 2014 Sports Relief sketch called Beckham in Peckham, in which Del tried to sell underpants called Golden Balls that were endorsed by David Beckham, with the footballer playing himself.
Sir David told Sun that he wants to put on his flat cap once more and review his role as the wheeler.
The show ran for a decade from 1981 to 1991, and has had several specials since it aired.
Family: David added that his family ‘never made a big deal’ of his fame and that his father joked: ‘Oh, silly, are you the one flying around?’ to keep it humble’ (pictured in January 2022)