Only Fools and Horses Documentary Unearths Lost Footage and Near-Wedding

A treasure trove of previously unseen footage from the archives of the iconic British sitcom "Only Fools and Horses" is set to be revealed in a new two-part documentary, "Only Fools and Horses: The Lost Archive." The release, coinciding with the show's 45th anniversary, includes 66 unaired clips and nearly 100 other archival gems such as rushes, behind-the-scenes footage, and outtakes. The documentary features interviews with cast members including Sir David Jason (Del Boy), Tessa Peake-Jones (Raquel), Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra), Sue Holderness (Marlene), and Steven Woodcock (Jevon), alongside director Tony Dow and editor Chris Wadsworth.

One of the most significant revelations is that the show's creator, John Sullivan, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 64, was reportedly planning another special episode. Tessa Peake-Jones suggested that this potential episode could have finally seen her character, Raquel, marry Del Boy. "I think Raquel would've liked that to happen," Peake-Jones mused. "I don't know if it was a conscious choice from John that Del didn't finally seal the deal, but I'm not sure it was ever discussed. Perhaps John felt he'd done the big family wedding with Rodney and Cassandra. Before John passed away I believe he was thinking of doing another OFAH special, so who knows, perhaps that would've been Del and Raquel's wedding."

Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played Del Boy's brother Rodney, previously stated that no new episodes would be made after Sullivan's death, citing him as the "driving force" and acknowledging the loss of several cast members. Peake-Jones, however, imagines her character as a "doting grandma these days, still trying to bring Del back from the edge of his latest scam!" She believes Raquel would have developed into a "matriarch."

Peake-Jones also discussed the chemistry between Del Boy and Raquel, attributing their long-lasting on-screen romance to their shared kindness and low self-esteem, which drew them together. "They were both very kind people with low self-esteem which drew them to each other," she explained. "I think they were a good match. Del was all talk, but if he had worries or problems he could confide in her. Raquel gave as good as she got, but they were equals and always had respect for each other."

The documentary revisits moments from classic episodes, including an unseen clip from "The Class of ‘62" (1990), which originally depicted Raquel returning from a disastrous audition. The new footage shows the audition itself, where Del Boy advised Raquel to sing Morris Albert's "Feelings," a suggestion that caused amusement for both actors when watching it back. David Jason admitted he couldn't recall filming the scene.

The cast also reflected on the 1989 Christmas special, "The Jolly Boys’ Outing." While fans remember the chaos of the bus blowing up, the unearthed material includes longer versions of transmitted scenes and entirely new sequences, such as an improvised football game and Boycie's embarrassing banter. IMAGE6

A particularly surprising revelation comes from a deleted scene from "The Jolly Boys’ Outing" that sheds light on the rail strikes preventing the group from returning home. The scene shows Marlene discussing the Channel Tunnel rail link being built near her house, with Del Boy suggesting she speak to her brother, Kenny, a "big noise" in the railway union, who could potentially force strike action. This detail, never aired, would have revealed Del Boy's indirect responsibility for the strikes and introduced a character who never made it to air. "That's ridiculous!" David Jason exclaimed upon seeing the clip. "John was perhaps laying that down as a storyline to use later on - yeah why the railways have all come out on strike - and it was her brother!" IMAGE1

Filming the rollercoaster scene for "The Jolly Boys' Outing" also proved challenging, requiring three takes to capture just 10 seconds of footage, with David Jason admitting, "Looks as though we're enjoying it, of course we weren't. We hated it." IMAGE3

Further unseen content includes trimmed scenes from Uncle Albert's "during the war" stories, such as one from 1986's "A Royal Flush" where Albert recounts mistaking a shark for a torpedo. David Jason expressed a desire for such character-building moments to be retained. IMAGE2

The documentary also touches upon the 1996 Christmas Special, "Time on Our Hands," which initially served as the series finale. Deleted scenes explored the characters' grief following a miscarriage experienced by Rodney and Cassandra. Gwyneth Strong noted the positive public response to the storyline, appreciating its blend of sadness and humor.

"Only Fools and Horses: The Lost Archive" also delves into casting near-misses, revealing that Elizabeth Hurley auditioned for Cassandra but was deemed "too model-like." Sir Anthony Hopkins was offered the role of gangster Danny Driscoll but declined due to a conflict with filming "The Silence of the Lambs." Jim Broadbent was initially considered for Del Boy but opted against a series commitment, later playing the nemesis Roy Slater.

New technology has been used to restore the original negatives, converting many scenes to high definition for the first time. The documentary is set to premiere on Tuesday, October 20, at 9 p.m. on U&Gold and will be available on demand. IMAGE4