Sir David Jason Marks 'Only Fools and Horses' 45th Anniversary with Belfast Appearance
The beloved actor was seen arriving at Belfast airport for his stage show as the iconic sitcom celebrates its milestone anniversary.
Sir David Jason, the actor famous for his role as Del Boy in the British sitcom "Only Fools and Horses," was observed at Belfast airport on Friday. His visit coincided with the 45th anniversary of the beloved show.
Jason, 86, is scheduled to perform at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast this weekend as part of his live stage show, "An Evening with Sir David Jason." The tour features him reflecting on his extensive acting career and sharing anecdotes.
Belfast City Airport acknowledged the actor's arrival on Instagram, posting, "This afternoon's arrival was, quite simply, lovely jubbly! We were delighted to welcome the legendary Sir David Jason to the heart of Belfast ahead of his performance at the Waterfront Hall this weekend."
This appearance comes as unseen footage from the "Only Fools and Horses" episode "Jolly Boys' Outing" was recently released to commemorate the sitcom's 45th anniversary. The 1989 Christmas special episode depicted a chaotic coach trip to Margate involving characters Del Boy, Rodney, and Uncle Albert.
Regarding the unearthed clips, Sir David commented, "I've really enjoyed seeing it all. A lot of bits of film that have never been seen before by anyone, except those who recorded it, so it's coming out fresh." He added, "I think the audience will find this very exciting."
The newly released footage, shared by the TV channel U&Gold, includes scenes of Del Boy and Micky Pearce filming a funfair sequence, as well as Buster Merryfield as Uncle Albert on the annual coach trip. This marks the first time fans have been shown material from the show's archive.
These unearthed clips precede the launch of a two-part documentary series, "Only Fools And Horses: The Lost Archive," scheduled for October. The documentary will feature interviews with cast members including Sir David, Tessa Peake Jones, Gwyneth Strong, Sue Holderness, Steven Woodcock, and Denis Lill. The archive material comprises a mix of previously unseen scenes, studio outtakes, and location recordings.
"Only Fools and Horses" writer John Sullivan passed away in 2011. Following his death, actor Nicholas Lyndhurst, who portrayed Rodney, suggested that new episodes would not be feasible due to Sullivan's central role in the show and the passing of several cast members.