Only Fools and Horses' Damien unrecognisable years after playing Del Boy's son

16 November 2023 , 11:47

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The actor who played Del Boy's son now looks totally different (Image: BBC)

Ben Smith rocked up on Only Fools and Horses as Del Boy Trotter's son Damien Trotter in a festive special back in 2001.

Unsurprisingly, the actor looks much different from his younger self more than 20 years after playing David Jason 's on-screen son in the special episode of the BBC sitcom. His character Damien - considered a chip off the old block - had a tendency to wind up his uncle Rodney Trotter, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst, and got up to mischief.

It wasn't the only appearance from the actor as Ben, now aged 33, played the character on two other occasions between 2001 and 2003, when the beloved show last aired. Ben has previously shared pride over having been one of the six actors to play Damien on the hit show. He spoke about the character at an Only Fools fan convention in 2012.

Ben played Del Boy's son Damien (BBC)

The actor now looks totally different in his other TV roles (RSJ FILMS)

He told iFL TV: "I think Damien really is a modern young Del Boy maybe a young Del Boy that we never actually saw from when the series started but from all the references we get from the show from when he was younger he seemed like a real 'jack the lad'. So I'd imagine that Damien just really is a kind of typical modern young version of him kinda keeping up-to-date with the modern rap and all that sort of culture."

Ben further stated at the convention in Peterborough that the fanbase from the show is still "strong," despite the sitcom having not aired any new episodes since 2003. Since playing Damien on the show, Ben has appeared in TV projects like Doctor Who, Silent Witness, the Accused, Scott & Bailey, Holby City. He's also been in films like Nowhere Boy and BBC drama 'Accused' Frankie's Story about a young solider on trial.

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He's also appeared in EastEnders, with him having played Tegs Teague in four episodes that aired in 2008. His character was the leader of a gang known as 'the E20' who stole from the market, harassed Dot Branning played by June Brown, and tried to verbally abuse Linda Henry 's Shirley Carter.

Ben has starred in Resistance and EastEnders (RTE)

Tegs wreaked havoc in Albert Square over a short period and he eventually stabbed Jay Brown, played by Jamie Borthwick, before getting arrested. The character hasn't returned since. Ben's other credits include appearing in an episode of crime drama No Offence in 2015 and he more recently played the role of Robbie Lennox in the TV series Resistance in 2019.

It's a sequel to TV series Rebellion, which aired in 2016 and was set during the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland. The follow-up series was instead set a number of years later. Ben's other TV credits include Spooks, Misfits, Whitechapel, Skins, Doctors and The Bill. His other film credits include roles in projects like Come Out of the Woods and Passer By.

Louise Lavigueur