Only Fools And Horses' most famous scene was changed after star turned up on set

27 December 2023 , 11:15

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Only Fools And Horses' most famous scene was changed after star turned up on set

The famous bar scene from Only Fools and Horses, where Del Boy falls through a bar wasn't initially scripted the way it happened on screen.

It turns out that Roger Lloyd Pack's character Trigger wasn't intended to be part of the scene. In the classic 1989 episode 'Yuppy Love', which often gets voted the most hilarious moment in British sitcom history, viewers see the duo trying to impress two girls in an upscale wine bar before Sir David Jason 's character hilariously tumbles through the hatch.

A newly-discovered rehearsal script by writer John Sullivan reveals some interesting changes from the original plan. The script, now up for auction by Bristol and Bath Auctioneers, had seemingly left out Trigger from this scene. Andy Stowe, the valuer, suggested that the scene was meant to play out quite differently, as he revealed: "The rumour goes that the scene didn't originally feature Roger Lloyd Pack as Trigger."

The scene still cracks Only Fools and Horses fans up almost four decades on from first airing (BBC)

Apparently, Roger turned up unannounced on the shooting day, prompting Sullivan to include him in the scene. A lot of the laughs, according to Andy, comes from Trigger's bemused reaction. Stowe added that while Triggers unexpected presence added humour, it was David's portrayal of Del Boy that made this scene unforgettable. He said: "What you see on screen is pure acting and comic timing and that's where the magic is."

Actor John Challis, who played Boycie, seemed to back up these claims, reportedly telling the Telegraph: "Roger happened to be at the BBC at the time and he had a break, so they found Trigger's blue suit and stuck him in this scene, which was almost improvised. When I saw it, I thought it was just so brilliant. The timing of it and Roger's take him circling around, looking for Del Boy, by which time Del Boy's got up again. But I always say it wasn't very funny because I wasn't in it."

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Roger, who passed away in 2014, himself picked the scene as his top moment from the series. Speaking at an Only Fools convention to an interviewer from the Only Fools Appreciation Society, he said: "I've got lots of highlights, obviously the falling through the bar scene was very special. We spent a long time working it out and it's been a very particular little episode, very famous and won prizes and things so obviously that. There are lots of lovely moments though."

The Trigger actor died at the age of 69 in January 2014, with his Only Fools and Horses co-stars paying tribute to the late actor at the time. "I was very saddened to hear of Roger's passing," Sir David Jason said when remembering his late screen partner, adding: "He was a very quiet, kind and unassuming actor who was a pleasure to work with. Although he played the simple soul of Trigger in Only Fools And Horses, he was a very intelligent man and a very fine actor capable of many roles. I shall remember him with fondness and for all the good times we had together."

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Zoe Delaney