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Only Fools and Horses' David Jason almost missed out on legendary Del Boy role

Sir David Jason almost missed being cast as his most iconic role, Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses, which meant his career could have taken a very different path

[David Jason became a household name when he was cast as the legendary Del Boy]

David Jason became a household name when he was cast as the legendary Del Boy(Image: BBC)

It's hard to imagine Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter being played by anyone other than Sir David Jason. The 86-year-old star has remained an iconic figure on British television for decades, across shows including Still Open All Hours, The Darling Buds of May, A Touch of Frost, and Porridge.

Only Fools and Horses aired on the BBC between 1981 and 2003, following the adventures of the Trotter family living in a Peckham tower block as they plotted their route to becoming rich. In 1996, the Time on Our Hands episode saw Del Boy and his brother Rodney, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst, finally strike it rich when they sold an antique pocket watch at auction for more than 6 million.

The iconic television moment drew over 24 million viewers and solidified Jason as a British acting icon. However, Sir David almost missed out on landing the role of Del Boy after the Only Fools creator turned him down for the beloved lead role, reports the Express.

[The first episode aired back in 1981]

The first episode aired back in 1981(Image: Tristan Fewings, Getty Images)

Speaking about the success of his acting career, Sir David told Radio Times: "I just think whatever show I was working on, that stimulated other people to say: 'We could do with him in ours'. Except John Sullivan, the writer of Only Fools, originally said: 'Oh, we don't want him. He always plays a loser'."

[Attenborough in Radio Times]

David spoke in the latest issue of Radio Times about his career(Image: RADIO TIMES)

"Because he'd seen me as little dreamy Granville. In his mind, I couldn't possibly play a clever, witty hustler, but the director convinced him to at least meet me."

Sir David was the fifth option for the leading role, with programme chiefs initially hoping another future star of the BBC comedy would accept the part. The BBC sitcom's first choice was reportedly Scottish performer Enn Reitel, who was tied up with other commitments at the time.

[The BBC comedy finally saw Del Boy get rich after flogging a pricey watch]

The BBC comedy finally saw Del Boy get rich after flogging a pricey watch

They also wanted to poach Jim Broadbent, who played Del's nemesis police officer Roy Slater instead. Robin Nedwell and EastEnders actor Billy Murray, who portrayed villain Johnny Allen, were also in contention.

Apart from Del Boy, comedy fans will also remember Sir David as Granville alongside Ronnie Barker's Arkwright in Open All Hours. He returned to the character for the 2013 revival Still Open All Hours.

He will once more slip into Granville's brown overalls for a final outing in the feature-length retrospective, Open All Hours: Inside Out.

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