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'I was there as David Jason rewatched Only Fools and Horses it was sobering'

Only Fools and Horses star Tessa Peake-Jones has opened up about reuniting with Sir David Jason to watch unseen footage from the beloved BBC sitcom for a new documentary

[Tessa Peake-Jones portrayed Raquel Turner in Only Fools and Horses]

Tessa Peake-Jones portrayed Raquel Turner in Only Fools and Horses(Image: Getty Images)

Only Fools and Horses star Tessa Peake-Jones has revealed she recently rewatched the show alongside Sir David Jason and described his reaction as quite moving.

Tessa portrayed Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter's romantic partner Raquel Turner in the BBC sitcom from 1988 until its conclusion in 2003.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the cherished programme and a new two-part documentary series, Only Fools and Horses : The Lost Archive, is due to be released on UandGOLD to commemorate the milestone.

It will showcase previously unseen footage and Tessa has now spoken about reuniting with her former co-stars.

When questioned about her off-screen relationship with David, she remarked: "He is cheeky. It is interesting, we've just been doing strangely all these years later things together on this series. They found this unseen footage of cut scenes, never ever seen by us or the public.

[Tessa Peake-Jones]

Tessa opened up about her relationship with David (Image: A Night In with Sally Lindsay and Channel 5/Youtube)

"Cut scenes, scenes, outtakes, it was in a draw in the BBC and somebody has found it and put it all together and they invited all of us."

Speaking on A Night In with Sally Lindsay and Channel 5, she explained that the cast viewed it together before discussing their thoughts.

And regarding what the experience was like for the man who portrayed Del Boy, Tessa, who described seeing herself from three decades ago as "shocking", commented: "Actually it is quite interesting being with David again after all these years sitting on a sofa with him watching it with him.

"You know, he was very interesting and very moving about certain bits where you could see him looking at himself thinking, 'Wow, that was me in my heyday at my very very best.'

"Which he was, wasn't he? Let's face it, absolutely brilliant."

[Only Fools and Horses cast ]

The classic sitcom was first released 45 years ago(Image: Getty Images)

The actress went on: "And I think it felt quite nostalgic for him because some of it goes back to when they started, whenever that was, 1981, so what's that? 40, 45 years ago, more?

"So what must that be to watch yourself 45 years ago? I think he found it quite sobering."

The comedy series, which ran from 1981 until 2003, chronicled the chaotic escapades of Del Boy and Rodney Trotter and their numerous money-making ventures.

Tessa arrived seven years after it launched and she admitted to never having seen Only Fools and Horses prior to landing a role.

She revealed she was performing in theatre six nights a week and that on Sundays, she favoured socialising with mates rather than sitting in front of the telly.

Nevertheless, she revealed to Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay: "I think in a way that was quite good because when I went for the audition, I think I might have been a bit overwhelmed if I had known how successful it was."

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