A Royal Flush Episode Review
Brief: Rodney dates Victoria, the Duke of Mulberry’s daughter, & Delboy starts making plans for the wedding of the year. With a Date at the opera and shooting with a sawn-off shot gun from Higgy Higgins, she’s bound to be impressed.
Transmitted: 25.12.1986
Duration: 75 minutes
Viewing Figures: 18.8 million
Rodney meets Vicky, a seemingly impoverished artist who it transpires is the daughter of the Duke of Maylebury.
Having obtained a pair of tickets to the sold-out production of Carmen, Rodders seems to have deeply impressed Vicky. She is less taken by the presence of Del and his peroxide blonde dolly bird. Especially when they open the crisps.
Vicky then invites Rodney to a party at the Duke’s country home, and it seems romance may be on the cards. Then Del Boy turns up, hits the vino-plonko and ruins everything for his little brother.
Episode Observations
- In A Royal Flush, When Del is flogging the dodgy cutlery in the market, look at the extra in the green wooley hat and glasses. It’s Norman Pace from the comedy duo Hale and Pace.
- In A Royal Flush, Look behind Rodney and Vicky as they enter the theatre for the Gala performance. A small crowd has gathered across the road to watch the filming!
- In A Royal Flush, in reply to Kathryn Dunne, you mention that the lifts are on the right hand side but in homesick, margret goes to the left for the lifts. But if you watch Homesick all the way through, Del mentions that the lifts were broken so margret must have been going to the stairs on the left. just a possibility anyway.
- In A Royal Flush, it is clear that the lifts are really close to the flat on the right hand side, yet in Homesick Margaret exits the flat to the left to go to the lifts!
- In A Royal Flush, The sawn off shot gun borrowed off Higgy Higgins is actually a full length pump action shotgun.Which wouldn`t be much good for concealment whilst entering banks.
- In A Royal Flush, Same actor playing the small part of programme seller at the opera as played the even smaller part of bowling club woman in Ashes To Ashes.
- In A Royal Flush, we see Del ruins Rodney’s suit when watching the opera by putting ice-cream on it. Rodney is wearing the same suit (with the ice-cream stain on!) another day at the dinner! Surely Rodney would have washed it if he wanted to impress the Duke of Mallbrey?
- In A Royal Flush, ‘Sid’s Cafe’ must have made “Quite a lot of bunce” to coin a DelBoy phrase. Check it out in “The long legs of the law” – its tiny. There’s only room for a few people. Then have a gander at ‘Sid’s Cafe’ in “A Royal flush” – it’s massive – Sid’s rushed off his feet! But then I looked at the Cafe in “Dates” towards the end when Del finds out that Raquels’s a stripper – It’s gone back to the old cafe.
- In A Royal Flush, their is a blonde couple ahead of Rodney and Vicky in the ticket queue, the same actors are used later at the dinner table, Giles discusses Chelsea with Rodney and Del.
- In A Royal Flush, In the opera house Rodney says to Del that someone has ordered a kissagram – meaning June but he met June – Debbie’s mum in Happy Returns so he’ll have not only known June but will have known Del knew her as well. As Rodney also knew that Del got 4 tickets he should have been able to guess that June was with Del.
- In A Royal Flush, Re: Andrew Lisle’s comment above: June – maybe Rodney didn’t recognize her w/ blonde hair. In Happy Returns June had dark hair.
- In A Royal Flush, at the start of the scene at the dinner table, a guest asks Henry who the young chap is with Victoria. The scene switches to the other end of the table for a brief moment. Take a look at Del. He’s in a right mess, all undone, no napkin, hair messed up, yet the next shot of Del, just after Patterson walks on the peas, Dels hair is now in place and he still has his napkin on.
- In A Royal Flush, at the opera scene where Del is whistling – the whistling soundtrack is not in time with Dels mouth movements – perhaps it is not David Jason so tunefully whistling.
- In A Royal Flush, When they get back to the flat at the end of the episode, Rodney moans to Del that “you only went and told the joke about the Irish bloke on the skiing holiday”. But Del never told the Joke– the Duke interrupted him before he was able to tell it.
- In A Royal Flush, At the dinner scene when Del is rubbing his finger around the glass to show that they are pukka crystal, it is the people at the other end of the table who appear to hear it first whereas it should be those closest to Del.
A Royal Flush Script
The script will be downloadable from here
Did You Know?
It is not David Jason whistling in the opera scene but Fred Tomlinson over-dubbed whistle.
This episode has never been filmed in front of a live audience and still lacks a complete sound track.
A Royal Flush on 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
Very saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Hedley (Henry) who played Vicky’s father. The actor died last week after battling a short illness.
RIP Jack
The thing that annoys me about this particular episode is that many fans will say that “A Royal Flush” shows Del in a bad light but I don’t think that he was particularly very nice to Uncle Albert when he wanted to stay at the flat in “Strained Relations” – That was nasty Del, not the “A Royal Flush” Del Boy
I see what you’re saying. But Strained Relations Del Boy is a Del Boy confronted with feelings he’s struggling to battle with. It’s a Del Boy who is afraid, hurt, vulnerable and a little lost. His entire reasoning for poor behaviour is summed up in his dialogue (possibly my favourite of all series), “Bloody family! I’ve finished with them. What do they do to you, eh? They hold you back, drag you down…and then they break your bloody heart.”
Royal Flush Del is…hmmm. Uncharacteristically over-selfish, greedy, self-serving and grim. It’s a really unpleasant depiction of him, and John Sullivan even agrees.
The programme seller at the Opera was also the lady at the Bowling green who spots the Urn left by Del 😊
think Rodney should have kept all this to himslef maybe tell uncle albert by now you think he would not be that niave to trust Del boy whom he met so he really deserved what he got he knows what his like by now!
Having just watched the 2004 version of ‘A Royal Flush’ today, I decided to have a look at the script on here to pick out the lines missing from the cut. I then went on to YouTube to watch an upload of the original version to watch the missing parts from the scene in the flat before they go to the opera. It definitely appears to be the original episode as there is no laughter track (although I don’t whether it’s been sourced from Gold, the original VHS or the Only Fools and Horses DVD magazine) but there is a part missing. The following section is not present, just after Del tells Rodney he will get him tickets for the opera-
When you see that little tar… her ladyship, tell her you’ve got tickets for the opening night! And it’s my treat Rodney.
Rodney- Oh cheers Del Boy! You’re a pal! You are a real pal!
Del produces a wad of money.
Del- And I want you to pay for her to get into that art gallery tomorrow.
Rodney- No, art galleries are f… cheers Del!
Rodney takes the money.
Del- Then I want you to take her for a right slap up meal. Steak, wine, the works. I mean, don’t get her Oliver Twist or nothing! We don’t want a scandal!
Rodney takes the rest of the money.
Rodney- Leave it to me, Del.
Del- And when you see that Leonardo Da Vinci cartoon – you laugh!
Rodney- Why?
Albert- Let her know you get the joke!
Rodney- Oh, of course!(Counting themoney)Well, don’t you worry. I’ll be laughing alright! I’m gonna whip down the pawn shop and liberate me evening suit. See you later.
Rodney exits through hall door.
Albert- Well, that’s a turn up for the book, Del! Young Rodney marrying into the Royal family. How d’you think the Queen’ll feel about it?
Del- Dunno really. I s’ppose when she first hears the news she’ll be a bit gutted. But once she meets him I think she’ll like him. I mean, he’s a nice boy. Friendly, polite, respectful. He’ll have to knock them roll-ups
on the head. You can’t waltz round a garden party with a packet of Green Rizla sticking out of yer morning suit!
Albert- Here, we might be able to wangle ourselves a winter cruise on the old Britannia!
Del- No Albert, No! We’re not gonna ponce off ’em! That sort of thing causes family rifts. And another thing, let’s not count our chickens before we’ve crossed ’em? I’m starting to get a funny feeling.
Albert- What, something might go wrong?
Del- If we leave it in Rodney’s hands it’s a guarantee! He ain’t got a clue when it comes to women! That boy’s been blown-out more times
than a wind-sock! Sometimes you have to help Rodney to help himself.
Albert- Yeah, but what can we do?
Del- We can help him to make the right impression! That is the most important thing – the impression! He’s gotta prove that he appreciates
the finer things of life. Show that he’s au fait with gracious living.
Albert surveys the debris of the flat.
Albert- How’s he gonna do that?
Del shakes his head in a superior, smug way.
Del- This is where I come in! Simply to add that element of good breeding. A little touch of refinement, a sprinkle of sophistication!(Checks watch)Right, I’d better phone Limpy Lionel and sort these
tickets out.
Does anyone know what that’s about? Were these lines present on the original broadcast and subsequently edited out of future broadcasts and/or VHS/DVD releases even before the 2004 version was made? I’ve only ever seen the original version of ‘A Royal Flush’ about twice, once on the BBC and once on Gold, and it was quite a long time ago, and I don’t remember seeing this part.
I’ve been wondering the same for ages but not about that part, you have only just brought that bit to my attention, there’s another missing scene in the van the day after the opera with Rodney moaning about the smell of disinfectant after June had been sick the night before. And then there’s the ending back at the flat which is much longer and has Uncle Albert in it.
I have seen what I believed to be the original version on VHS some years ago and none of these scenes where in that. But now I’m wondering if that was actually the original broadcast version?
I have noticed though on a couple of the other downloadable scripts on this site there are scenes in that were never broadcast. One example is at the beginning of ‘Class of ’62’, the scene for the audition where Raquel sings ‘Chapel of love’ is there in the script.
Judging by the fact that the script here has a completely different ending to what you see on telly I’m beginning to think that the scene I’m talking about was either never filmed, or filmed and then edited out before the original broadcast because of time constraints. That is unless anyone can come on here and say they’ve seen it.
Note also the use of the joke ‘That boy (Rodney)’s been blown out more times than a windsock’ in this section of the script. If indeed this scene was never used, it would make sense as they obviously decided to reuse that line in the later episode, ‘Chain Gang’, and then again in ‘Rodney Come Home’.
are they available on u tube?
No. That’s why I’m assuming they were either filmed and then edited out later or were cut from the script before filming.
Also isn’t there a very small missing scene to this episode?
when Victoria leaves Sid’s cafe, what you sadly dont see is Rodney accidently picking up the tramps cup of tea and drinking it (as theres a tramp sitting next to Rodders)
it just gets to the bit – where Rodney begins to pick up the cup, and it’s cut.
theres more info about this in the scripts of Peckham book, I think he calls the tramp ‘a dirty old bark’ aswell.
I remember reading this, but have unfortunately never seen this bit. Maybe it was only broadcast the first time?
It’s all in the script available above. There’s also an unused scene with Rodney moaning about the smell of disinfectant in the van the day after June was sick in it.
Plus the ending has a lot of different dialogue.
Not sure if the rumour was true – but apparently John Sullivan wasn’t available to watch this episode be filmed, as he supposedly had the flu really badly, and wasn’t on the scene while the episode was being recorded.
hence the reason Del comes across a bit nasty towards Rodney in this episode, due to the fact John wasn’t there to tell David Jason to tone the nastyness down.
again – not sure if this is 100% true – but I’ve heard quite a few people say this story.
From a review of ‘a Royal Flush’ by Nathan Lloyd on this site :
“While he did write the episode, John Sullivan was away in Paris shooting the third series of Just Good Friends when ‘A Royal Flush’ was filmed, so he was not on the set and could not write re-drafts for the episode.”
Either way it shows that John Sullivan’s presence was missed.
People go on about Del’s so-called nastiness. He wasn’t nasty in my opinion. Just played the part of a drunk opening his gob.
It was a funny storyline and I liked it. The only weak part for me was the last scene when it ended on a sad note.
If there was any scene that John was absent from, it would definitely have been that one.
They’re showing this episode on BBC One on Christmas day if anyone is interested, it’s the watered down edited version though, as expected.
Seems like an odd episode to show as it’s generally considered one of the weakest, would have preferred to see Jolly Boys outing or Dates.
They’re showing this episode on BBC One on Christmas day if anyone is interested, it’s the watered down edited version though, as expected.
Seems like an odd episode to show as it’s generally considered one of the weakest, would have preferred to see Jolly Boys outing or Dates.
They’re showing this episode on Christmas day if anyone is interested, it’s the watered down edited version though, as expected.
Seems like an odd episode to show as it’s generally considered one of the weakest, would have preferred to see Jolly Boys outing or Dates.
Come on Perry give us this years convention line up?
Popped on here to have a look at the Convention info and thought I’d add this…
Re the ice cream stain on Rodney’s jacket, I asked about this when we were filming the Opera scenes because it wasn’t mentioned in the script, and Tony Dow said it was something they liked to do for the fans to pick up!
Also, I’m sure the couple in the queue (filmed in London) aren’t the couple from the dinner party scene (filmed in Wiltshire about a month earlier). But the woman from the dinner party was also one of the people watching Del flog his silverware in the market – she was wearing a grey beret, if I remember rightly.
Sarah,
Lovely to be given first hand info!
If you popped on to look at convention info, any chance of you twisting Perry’s arm to invite you as a guest for the day ?! :-)
Hi Craig
Perry’s invited me and I’ve said yes!
ATB Sarah
That is great news Sarah! You were BRILLIANT as Lady Victoria! Can’t wait to meet you!
Sarah, I can’t find your last post on here that says you have said yes to convention ?! :-)
for those looking to see the original uncut version with no laugh track click this link http://www.novamov.com/video/f1969f7dcafdb
observation: the a royal flush dvd menu has a picture of rodney come home
Where Was The Laugh Track!!
There wasn’t one originally. There wasn’t time to organise an audience screening as the programme was still being edited on Christmas Day! Its tight production was one of the reasons John Sullivan was unsatisfied with the episode…
In A Royal Flush, When they get back to the flat at the end of the episode, Rodney moans to Del that “you only went and told the joke about the Irish bloke on the skiing holiday”. But Del never told the Joke– the Duke interrupted him before he was able to tell it.
Del never told all the joke but del said the joke was a real ‘killer’ Vicky’s mum died on the slopes, which Del knew.
See my previous comment…
Sarah Duncan (played ‘Victoria’) was a contestant on the BBC2 quiz show ‘Pointless’ this week – she was introduced as a ‘novelist’ and her appearance in OFAH was not mentioned.
She appears in Pointless episodes 14 and 15 (25 and 26 March 2010) which are available on BBC iPlayer for the next 4 or 5 days:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00rq3h4/Pointless_Series_2_Episode_14/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00rq3hl/Pointless_Series_2_Episode_15/
I watched the two Pointless shows knowing that I had seen her before somewhere, but couldn’t place her face. It was bugging me for a day or so, then the penny dropped and I was so pleased to have remembered where I had seen her before that I decided to post here.
It is interesting to see actors who played the minor characters from OFAH re-surfacing years later.
my apologies, I’ve just noticed you already answered Janet’s question, I didn’t spot that. Sorry
please could you tell me who plays vicky in royal flush as i am sure she was on pointless today
Victoria was played by Sarah Duncan