Only Fools and Horses » The Lost Episodes

Only Fools and Horses Blu-ray

admin — Mon, 10 May 2010 12:31:32 +0000

Only Fools and Horses on blu-ray format!

So when will we get only fools and horses on blu ray? It must be in the pipeline as we are talking about the most successful sitcom of all time in the UK.

Today, we particularly want to know what would you expect on the blu ray version of only fools

Here is my wish list, but i’m sure you will want to add your thoughts in the comment box below…

Only Fools and Horses on blu-ray format!

The original episodes

When i say originals for anyone who has purchased the DVD boxset that is sold as the complete Only Fools and Horses set, its far from complete! – Take a look at a great article written by Ronnie English called Only Fools and Horses Cuts – its in 11 parts – thats how many cuts there were! – http://www.ofah.net/blog/only-fools-and-horses-cuts-part-1/

One fan comments”Countless episodes are edited to such an extent that dialogue has been cut, scenes have been deleted and musical scores altered. So much so that avid fools fans will watch with annoyance. The fact the BBC couldn’t pay for the rights to play the original background music within scenes is criminal, they must have made millions from the Only Fools franchise.”

So this is a chance for the BBC to make amends.

Additional blu-ray Footage

Having been to some of the BBC sitcoms filming, i’m well aware that there is miles of footage that never made it to the final aired version. A lot went onto the cutting room floor. For example…
Friday 14th had a complete scene cut out with some villagers at a pub discussing the weather.

If they could see us now had a brilliant scene with Del in an office pressing the wrong buttons on a printer.

Hole in One was a complete episode that had to be refilmed when Albert replaced Grandad, its beleived this has been lost forever.

Several stars iv’e spoken to have confirmed the meomries of footage that never made it to the final cut.

John Sullivans Voice over

This must be already in the only fools and horses blu-ray pipeline. I’ve heard rumors that John has already provided a commentry for many of the episodes, filling in little mishaps, reasons for certain direction, where the casting came from, and why, locations, just everything that a fools fan would dream of from the main man.

Along with John, some additional comments from David Jason and Nick Lyndhurst would always go down well.

Only Fools and Retakes

I have to admit that when you have amongst the best actors in the UK, there arent that many retakes, ive seen a few over the years, but its very rare to see any even when your the live audience. There was one i saw several years back from the infamous A Touch of Glass episode. When grandad went upstairs to hammer the bolt of the chandelier through with a hammer, he had to take a few retakes as he manged to miss the bolt with his hammer.

If anyone know of where this reclip can be found then please let us know, or any other for that matter.

So there is our list of what we would like from a blu-ray version of any only fools and horses set. We know the BBC and John Sullivan frequent the site, and as your the fans then let us know (inderectly letting them know) what would you want on the blu-ray version?

Licensed to Drill

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:10:42 +0000

Licensed to Drill Episode Review

Brief: Delboy and Rodney are seen in this extremely rare episode filmed around 1984 and discovered by OFAH fan Laura Daynes. This 27 minute episode includes Grandad.

Transmitted: ??.??.1984
Duration: 27 minutes
Viewing Figures: Never Broadcast

The plot of the story is how Del Boy ‘educates’ Rodney and Grandad in all things oil. Telling them of its many by products, and how it affects us in everything we do. From the Corn Flakes we eat in the morning (no they don’t actually contain oil) to the clothes we wear and the fertiliser we use on the allotment. They then watch a programme ‘on BBC 2′ about Oil Exploration. After watching the documentary Rodney asks the most poignant question we are all thinking, which is ‘What I don’t understand Del is why you’re so suddenly interested in oil?’ Del’s obvious response is ‘co’s we are gonna earn out of it’. He then tells Rodney and Grandad that he has bought an oil rig for £400, and how it is in a lock up in Catford. Rodney then explains how this cannot be possible, and Del finally realises he has been conned.

Found after 19 years

The Discovery of Licensed To Drill. – By Laura Daynes
Eight years ago we were shown a video at school of Only Fools and Horses called ‘Licensed To Drill’. It was about oil production. (Unfortunately I missed half of it because of a dentist appointment!) I forgot about it after that until a couple of months ago when my younger plonker of a brother, Thomas, came home from school and said he’d been watching Only Fools and Horses. At around the same time a conversation was started on the internet Bulletin Board about this missing (and, to some unbelieving people, mythical!) episode.
I wrote a letter to Mr Mills, the geography teacher at my old school, asking if I could borrow this legendary video. The next day, Thomas came home from school with the tape! I was ecstatic! I wasted no time in posting a message on the Bulletin Board to triumphantly announce my success in tracking down the lost episode.
I set about making a few copies of the video (well I couldn’t mislay a thing as precious as that could I?). I sent a copy of the tape to Perry so it can be shown at the convention in September.
The episode starts out with Del giving Rodney a lesson about the ‘black gold’ and how much money is made from it. They then sit down to watch a documentary all about oil (during which Grandad falls asleep!). Once the documentary is over they all go to bed.
In the morning Rodney wanders through the living room to collect the newspaper from the doormat. As he crosses the set, we see a man sitting at the table, Rodney doesn’t notice until he is about to leave the room. Del enters from the kitchen and gives the man a big wad of money then the man leaves. Rodney wants to know what’s happening so Del tells him and Grandad over breakfast he’s bought an oil rig for £400!!! Then……,well you’ll have to go to the convention to find out what happens next!
The whole episode lasts about 27 minutes, of which the documentary lasts ten. The documentary is quite boring but it does cut back to the Trotters occasionally. I find this to be the best of the ‘mini-episodes’ with some very funny lines the best one being Rodney’s last. As Lennard Pearce was in this episode, and judging by the age of Del and Rodney, I think it was made early 1984.
And that, as they say, is history! (Well, actually its not his-story its my-story!)

Only Fools and Horses Convention 2003

White Mice

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:07:53 +0000

White Mice Episode Review

Brief: Part of a BBC Breakfast Time Christmas Special, this rare clip shows Del explaining how to sell some White Mice to a ‘Wally In A Hat’.

Transmitted: 24.12.1985
Duration: 5 minutes
Viewing Figures: Not Known

This has never been rereleased since, and remains another rare episode that has been uncovered by the appreciation Society.

Royal Variety Show

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:06:32 +0000

Royal Variety Show Episode Reviews

Brief: This scene took place during the Royal Variety Performance Show. It starts off with Del, Rodney and Albert outside, unloading boxes and then they head into the live show by mistake – extremely rare footage

Transmitted: 27.11.1986
Duration: 10 minutes
Viewing Figures: N/A

Del and Rodney along with Albert arrive at Drury Lane London thinking they are delivering dodgy goods to Chunky Lewis a nightclub owner in the West End. Unfortunately they take a wrong turn and end up walking into the middle of the Royal Variety performance. They mistake the Duchess of York (Fergie) for Chunky…bear in mind she wasn’t too slim in those days.

Royal Variety Performance Show Location

This appears in 2 episodes, one maybe isnt commonly known as it was only ever broadcast once back in 1986 when they are seen going into the Theatre Royal – Drury Lane as well as it being featured in A Royal Flush

Robin Flies a Dawn

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:04:45 +0000

Robin Flies a Dawn Episode Review

Brief: Del and Rodney along with Albert in a 15 mins special, encourage the troops out in the Gulf war that they have a Top Secret plan in the form of a disguised 3 wheeler tank (the van). Also not to worry cos Del will look after there birds until they get back.

Transmitted: 01.12.1990
Duration: 15 minutes
Viewing Figures: Not Available

Del, Rodney and Albert produced this special to boost the morale of the troops in the Gulf. For a while this one was lost, but The appreciation Society uncovered it and brought it back for the public. Great lines include “This is Derek Trotter reporting from a secret location somewhere in southern England.”, then Rodney says “(To Del) It’s High Wycombe.” This is unlikely to be released for public viewing, but the script is availble.

Comic Relief Special

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:02:58 +0000

Comic Relief Special Episode Reviews

Brief: Del and Rodney discuss important issues with a touch of humour thrown in. They then make an appeal from the flat to the public. It was assumed it was the last official screening of Del and Rodney.

Transmitted: 14.03.1997
Duration: 10 minutes
Viewing Figures: Unknown

As part of the Comic Relief special, recorded after Time on our Hands, this made a special surprise for fans, where Del and Rodney unearthed jokes that dug at the roles both had played in recent years in other acting roles like Inspector Frost for David Jason.

Did you Know?

Del and Rodney use this outing a s a tongue in cheek attack at each others individual careers outside of OFAH.

Christmas Trees

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:45:19 +0000

Christmas Trees Episode Review

Brief: Dels latest line is selling telescopic Xmas trees. Maybe a bit of advertising down the local church wouldn’t do any harm. Will Del understand the ethics involved? -This is the rarest and most sort after episode ever made.

Transmitted: 27.12.1982
Duration: 8 minutes
Viewing Figures: 7.2 million

Despite knocking the price down to a mere six quid, Del Boy can’t shift his telescopic Christmas trees (lights, bangles, beads and baubles inclusive). He only has 149 more to sell to make a tidy profit.

Stuck for a solution the Trotters decamp to Sid’s burger van. Del’s conscience seems to get the better of him, and he tells Rodney and Grandad what a shame it is that the market traders can’t afford to donate a tree to the local church this year. Especially the little orphans.

Left to guard the trees, Rodney steals away to the church.

The Vicar quickly debunks Del’s story, and Rodders realises the tale was a scam to get an endorsement from The Church of England.

Episode Observations

In Christmas Trees, No mistakes but an observation, did you know that this short episode was made in 1982 as part of a collection of several shorts from well known sitcoms.
In Christmas Trees, its worth noting that this is the only occasion we see Sid from “Sids Cafe”, has a Burger van at the market.

Christmas Trees Script

The script will be downloadable from here

Another Rare Episode

A non-commercial episode made in 1983 with Del-Boy selling Christmas Trees, it was broadcast as part of a TV show called ‘The Funny Side of Christmas’.

As always fans have managed to get hold of it and it provides some real gems including Grandad and Sid in the script.