Only Fools and Horses Fans Celebrate "The Lost Archive" Documentary

Fans of the iconic British sitcom Only Fools and Horses have lauded the recently aired documentary, The Lost Archive, praising it as a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The two-part series, which premiered on U&GOLD, showcases a wealth of previously unreleased material from the show's archives, celebrating its 45th anniversary.

Archivist Richard Latto is credited with discovering approximately 66 unseen clips, along with nearly 100 other items such as rushes, behind-the-scenes footage, and outtakes. These discoveries were then analyzed by cast and crew members, including Sir David Jason (Del Boy), Tessa Peake-Jones (Raquel), Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra), Sue Holderness (Marlene), Steven Woodcock (Jevon), and Denis Lill (Alan), alongside director Tony Dow and editor Chris Wadsworth.

Viewers took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express their enjoyment. "It was such a treat watching Only Fools & Horses: The Lost Archive, watching all those scenes that didn't make the final cut. Can't wait for next Tuesday!" one user wrote. Another commented, "watching only fools and horses the lost archives and I still find John Sullivan an absolute genius!" Many echoed sentiments calling it the "Best sitcom of all time."

The documentary delves into the vast amount of content that was cut during the show's original run, despite its immense popularity which often drew audiences exceeding 16 million. Scenes left on the cutting room floor included a segment from the 1989 Christmas special, Jolly Boys' Outing, introducing Kenny, the brother of Boycie's wife Marlene. The same episode also offered an explanation for the coach's breakdown on the way to Margate: a faulty radio supplied by Del Boy himself.

Another unearthed scene features Uncle Albert, recounting his wartime experience of narrowly escaping a shark attack after a sinking, during a time when he was regaling staff with stories at a country estate. Raquel's unsuccessful attempt at a singing career in the 1991 episode Class Of '62 was also broadcast for the first time.

Further hidden gems include an impromptu football match from Jolly Boys' Outing and a scene from the 1988 Christmas special Dates, where Del Boy explains how he narrowly avoided jail after mistaking a policewoman for a stripogram.

Sir David Jason, 86, reflected on the viewing experience, admitting it was sometimes frustrating to see potentially valuable scenes omitted. "I understand why scenes had to be cut - when you're pushed for time something has to give," he stated. He specifically mentioned the Uncle Albert scene about torpedoes and sharks as a "nice piece of characterisation" he wished had remained.

Tessa Peake-Jones described watching the lost footage as "unnerving" but also a "lovely surprise." She noted, "I don't often watch myself on screen, I never realised what had been cut or even that things overran and had to be edited." She also found the outtakes, particularly those involving romantic scenes with David Jason, amusing and believes audiences will find the new material "irresistible."

The survival of this archive material is considered remarkable, as BBC policy often dictated that original recordings be wiped and reused to save costs. "It's a miracle any of the original recordings have survived," Latto commented. "Film like this was supposed to be wiped and reused... and it's a wonder Only Fools and Horses didn't suffer the same, sorry fate!"