We all are fully aware of the cuts that Only Fools and Horses have suffered, whether on the recent BBC repeats or more annoyingly on the DVD releases.
This week (5 Sep 2011) we see the very latest release from the BBC – Every episode in a very smart 26 disc boxset celebrating the 30 years.
Amazon has it here with free delivery Only Fools and Horses – The Complete Collection [DVD]
Features all the episodes and Christmas specials on 26 discs.
So will this set be different to all the others?
Fools Fans Complain to BBC
Fools fan Pete Manning told me ”
Thank you for contacting us regarding the BBC One programme ‘Only Fools and Horses’ broadcast on 12 July 2011.
I understand you’re unhappy because you believe episodes in the series were edited so badly that the stories no longer made sense and that many cuts weren’t necessary.
We raised your concerns with those responsible for managing this content in our Comedy department. They passed the following reply:
“The recent screenings of Only Fools and Horses have been a big success with the BBC’s Daytime audiences, which is no surprise considering it is such a well-loved show. Unfortunately the limited amount of time in the Daytime schedule meant that edits had to be made to fit the episodes into the available time-slot. This is also the reason why the episodes were run together in pairs – removing the opening titles from the second episode in the “double-bill” and combining the credits of the two episodes ended up saving valuable minutes that we then didn’t have to remove from the shows’ content.
Very occasionally an edit was also made because some of the language was considered too strong for that time in the afternoon. The family of the show’s writer, John Sullivan, were heavily involved in the entire process, agreed with every edit made, and were, like us, happy with the state of the final episodes.”
I appreciate that you may continue to feel it somewhat becomes in parts, nonsensical and I’d like to assure you that I’ve registered your complaint on our Audience Log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that’s made available to all BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive board, channel controllers and other senior managers.
The Audience Logs are seen as important documents that can help shape decisions on future BBC programmes and content.
Once again, thank you for contacting us.
Kind Regards
Philip Young
BBC Complaints
www.bbc.co.uk/complaints
I then took the opportunity to build on this by sending another complaint regarding the DVD releases:
Titled : Only Fools and Horses Cuts – please respect the comedy
From the outset – I understand that certain cuts have to be made when fitting in with TV schedules etc
But I cant understand why we get so many cuts when purchasing the Only Fools and Horses DVDs for a good price
Only Fools and Horses is a British institution
It wins nearly every voting pole going including Best Sitcom ever
I’m sure you’re proud of Only Fools and Horses and John Sullivan’s amazing work as much as I am, but how do you justify cutting so many scenes in the Only Fools and Horses DVDs?
I know you speak of music royalties etc – but pay for them!
That’s why we purchase the DVD in the first place – to see the original comedy, not parts cut out by a limited budget
Also Only Fools and Horses is one of the only DVDs you can purchase that have no extra scenes or footage or clips or bonuses, or directors comments.
For years I’ve heard fans complain, again and again about this issue
I know they have written to you, emailed, you and I know you have given replies with the above comments.
- But what do you need to charge for a DVD box set so the directors/ teams comments are there for the fans?
- But what do you need to charge for a DVD box set so the uncut scenes and background music are kept in tact?
- But what do you need to charge for a DVD box set so the fan gets some genuine extra footage off the original clippings (I know there are loads as I’ve been to the studio filming)
Come on BBC, its our Sitcom, please stop destroying it and listen to the public
Most are prepared to pay for the DVDs and a good price for them if you gave us the respect and provided at a minimum the original broadcast and some bonus footage really would be appreciated
Having had the Formula One footage cut in half for the coming years – its little to ask that Britains Best Sitcom gets more than the usual respect
Your sincerely
www.ofah.net
The reply from the BBC:
Thank you for contacting us regarding ‘Only Fools and Horses’.
I understand you’re disappointed with the content included on the DVD version of this series.
All of our commercial products, including DVDs, are handled by BBC Worldwide so you should contact them directly with your concerns and this can be done using the information provided below:
http://www.bbcworldwidetv.com/
About/ContactUs In the meantime, I can assure you that I’ve registered your comments on our audience log. This is a daily internal report of audience feedback which is made available to all BBC programme makers and commissioning executives, including their senior management. It ensures that your concerns are considered across the BBC.
Thanks again for taking the time to contact us.
Leo Westoby also recently sent a complaint to the BBC on Re-released DVD edits….
Hi, i am a huge fan of OFAH and have been reading the complaint letters on your fantastic website about the new re-edited DVDs. I have written an email to the BBC complaining about the new DVDs. This is what i sent “Only Fools and Horses is a fantastic comedy and is still watched by millions of people around the world. Everytime the BBC re-releases DVDs of the surperb comedy it gets re-edited! Alot of huge fans, including myself, wants an original series on DVD without any edits being made. I do understand about there are legal issues about music. Everytime a complaint of this nature is brought to the surface it seems that no one is really listening and get fobbed off. I understand by reading a previous complaint letter that John’s family were involved in the editing process. I also have videos of ‘Only Fools’ and have been comparing them. One on feature length episode the DVD version was nearly 6 minutes shorter than the video version. Please can you explain why everytime Only Fools gets re-released on DVD it gets re-edited?”
Keep up the good work as this website is the best around and long live OFAH!
Conclusion
So still none the wiser – but do give them a call and at least it is noted – if not it may turn things around
BBC Worldwide Limited
Media Centre
201 Wood Lane
London
W12 7TQ
UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8433 2000
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8749 0538
I don’t know if anyone here has heard this, but on the OFAH IMDb page, a poster commented that he/she had wrote to the BBC to ask whether they would consider releasing the uncut eps anytime in the near future. According to the poster the reply received seemed rather promising:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081912/board/thread/252969848
That’s very interesting, very promising!!!!!
I will never ditch my VHS uncut set. Does not surprise me that BBC are being so petty. I was looking for the ep which had Manfred Mann’s Mighty Quinn in it, which was of course The Class of 62. It’s on my VHS set but cut from the DVD release boxset that someone very thoughtfully bought for me one christmas. BBC Worldwide are con merchants.
Hi,
What is the name of this boxset and is there a pic you could upload to imgur or find on Google and copy and paste the link??
Would love to know, cheers.
This one by any chance mate?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001NXQG0G/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=
I love OFAH ’cause I’ve been a big fan of the show since I was 12 and started getting VHS of series 1-3 for my birthday followed by the rest of the series right up til 2003. The one special I didn’t get was the last ever one that got released in 2004 because when it did come out in shops, I couldn’t find it. In 2008, I watched the last 3 specials from 2001-2003 on GOLD and all of the shows from 1981-1996 cause I haven’t seen them in order before. This was due to watching them on video as series 4-7 were in a sending order across numerous tapes, plus the feature length specials came on their own. When I got the 26 disc DVD boxset for my birthday in 2008, I watched it all over again and was gutted it was edited, like missing some scenes, dialogue, and music (which may vary changed). But after I heard in May 2011 that the Writer John Sullivan had died and another boxset had been released later that year to celebrate 30 years of the show, I was not happy as I notched I had the same edits as the previous one ’cause of the pictures on the discs and the box was different (despite there being no extras as well like outtakes, interviews, trailers, the missing shows and more). If there’s gonna be a re-mastered boxset to be released to celebrate 40 years of Only fools and Horses please can they release the whole collection it’s uncut format as it was officially broadcast with no edits and special features.
I love fools and horses and own the complete boxset. The other night i watched A royal flush and it was missing 16 minutes it really spoilt the show. I was totally discusted. I paid over £100 for the set. Please please please will you bring a uncut set out. I’m not bothered about extras just uncut would be nice.
I have just been researching the purchase of a complete set of OFAH and to say I’m disappointed is an understatement.
The BBC just don’t care a rats about our national heritage and OFAH is a national treasure so to find it butchered is insulting, but the fat cat nobs at the BBC don’t care because they are too busy swilling bolly at our expense.
Hi guy’s!
I need your help please!
Like other fans here I also own this series 1-7 box set without the specials –
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-Fools-Horses-Complete-Series/dp/B003ZYE93C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1370418535&sr=8-2&keywords=only+fools+and+horses+box+set
I also saw the full box set (including specials) pictured above in this article also on Amazon for £35 which is an absolute steal until I read a few reviews saying it had been cut to shreds! *starts to cry*
My question to you guy’s would be – Which is the best complete box set for me to buy? I am a huge OFAH fan & would really like the closest I can get to an original cut.
Thanks for your help!
Bonjour,
Chris
Hiya,
Any chance you managed to get the OFAH boxset that had the least amounts of cuts.
I am looking to purchase something similar for my partner… any help or suggestions on where/what to purchase would be sincerely appreciated.
Thanks
Hello,
Does anyone know if there are any differences in regards to cuts between the new box set pictured above and the older series 1-7 box set? It’s just I have none of the specials & Amazon have the complete box set for £35!!!
Thanks,
Chris
I have the complete collection which includes all of the 7 series and 15 Christmas specials.Haven’t been watching it for years and years because i’m 22 but to my knowledge this set is the closest to being uncut according to some people. I love Only Fools And Horses and can watch them again and again!
Hi there, Tony here in New Zealand. Can you please tell me if “To Hull and Back” was only produced as a single DVD? I can only find it in this format. Thanking you for your time, regards, Tony Lawson.
that is correct
one dvd
I fell for the ‘Complete’ box-set con and bought the box set thinking it was all the shows but instead found it was just the series episodes, and so there are huge gaps in the story-line.
Can anyone tell me what I should buy to fill in the gaps? I see there is now a true ‘complete’ box set, but I don’t want to pay for the series 1-7 episodes again, and even that ‘complete’ box set says there are only three Christmas specials – I’m sure I read somewhere that there are ‘numerous’ specials, which I take to mean more than just three.
So, what do I need to buy to fill in the story-line?
hi Max
here are the episodes you are probably missing in order
To Hull and
Back
A Royal Flush
The Frog’s
Legacy
Dates
Jolly Boy’s
Outing
Rodney Come
Home
Miami Twice Part1 – Oh to
be in England
Miami Twice Part2 – The
American Dream
Mother Nature’s
Son
Fatal
Extraction
Heroes &
Villains
Modern Men
Time on our
Hands
If They Could See Us
Now
Strangers on the
Shore
Sleepless In
Peckham
more details on https://www.ofah.net/blog/collectors-list/
Don’t forget Only Fools and Horses is available on I-Tunes, most episodes are uncut.
Is there an equivalent source that doesn’t mean I have to use Apple software (since doesn’t run on Linux)? I wonder if Amazon, for example, have equivalent somewhere. Does you or anyone else have any experience of other sources?
I live in Serbia and OFAH has been popular here since the late 80’s. I have VHS tapes of the uncut airings. Still I bought the local DVD releases and to my surprise I found that some episodes were uncut, while some were cut just like the UK releases. For instance ‘Tea for Three’ and ‘Miami Twice’ are fully uncut while ‘Watching the Girls Go By’ and ‘Royal Flush’ are cut. Strange eh ?
Tuco,
I have seen one of the boxsets and I knew it was cut to bits before I actually read about it on the Internet, as they were not the way I remember watching them with my dad.
I have just brought the collection that came with a magazine every two weeks and had all the episodes.
I am sure there are some cuts but not nearly as many as the two new boxsets that have been released.
I brought the whole collection from eBay for £42 and I’m absolutely delighted with them. The picture quality is basic DVD quality but just as good as any other DVD you would buy.
Until the BBC release a TOTALLY unedited boxset then this is the best thing available I would say, but obviously others may know better. :-)
As Graham asks, I wonder if anyone can tell me if there are any differences between the two 26 disc boxsets (one released in 2006 & the other in 2011 I think)? Are there any differences in terms of cuts or picture quality?
Also is there any news on this “less cut” version that Lee mentioned being released? I love this show, but the cuts really seem to jar.
Cheers :-)
Sorry to resurrect an old post but I wonder if Someone could help me?
Out of the two boxsets that I believe are available which is the least uncut? I have series 1-7 and some of the specials on single DVDs but sometimes feel like I’m going mad as I know that the episode is just not how I remember it :(
Any help would be great. Thanks
My husband and I are huge fands of OFAH, andI’ve been thinking about buying him (us!)the 30th Anniversary box set for his birthday next month. After reading all about the cuts and edits though, it’s really put me off big time! I’m so terribly disappointed and will probably now wait to see if a new uncut/complete collection gets released. Any future info on this would be very greatly received, thank you!
I agree with everything you put and I am still wondering if BBC will ever release/create an official digitaly remastered ‘Lost Episodes’ DVD with Licence to Drill on it and all the mini clips.
I posted the following message on the ‘BBC SHOP’ Facebook page;
“Is it possible to re-release the ‘Only Fools and Horses Complete Collection’ DVD boxset, but this time every episode being either UNCUT, or almost uncut?
I have heard that UK Gold are broadcasting newly remastered episodes, so why are these versions not being repeated on BBC One, and being released on DVD as well?
It would be great to have some extra content like documentaries, deleted scenes, and outtakes, which could be released as special features on the DVD set. Does any of this exist in the BBC archives? and is it possible to release the lost episodes?
It would also be brilliant if the music rights were obtained, and some of the dialogue restored, as this classic comedy series needs to be released, as originally broadcast, or almost as originally broadcast.
Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.”
————————————————————–
… and this was their reply;
“Hi Lee, we do have some good news for this. New agreements in place mean that work is definitely underway to source as much of the original material as possible along with extra content in order to bring together a true ‘Collectors Edition’. Whilst no specific dates have been given a release next year is planned.”
————————————————————–
Finally things seem to be looking up, and hopefully there will be another DVD release of Only Fools and Horses next year, but is this just more false hope? Will it be another edited version? We will just have to wait until 2012 to find out …
don’t hold your breath about the bbc releasing a complete uncut boxset, i along with many other fans have complained to the bbc over the years, always felt that my complaints were falling on deaf ears.
Stephen could you also contact me.
Thanks, Ronnie.
how?.
Sounds good.
Is this plan for a new DVD release next year, worth looking forward to?
Maybe we should wait to find out more information about this first, before we get our hopes up that this will be the boxset we are all looking for, containing the uncut episodes.
If this is just a re-release yet again, it will be just as disappointing as the special DVD set which was released for the 30th anniversary, earlier this year.
If they say a “true ‘collector’s edition'”, then I think it might mean a much better version of the DVD releases we have now. Hopefully the episodes will be uncut, but then again the question is, will the BBC sort out all edits fully, before re-releasing this onto a brand new DVD set?
We can only wait until next year to find out, what the BBC/2entertain is planning to do next …
Only Fools and Horses needs a proper complete collector’s edition boxset. Every other TV show has its own complete boxset eventually, so why not Only Fools and Horses?
Hi Lee, can you contact with the e-mail below:
contact@onlyfoolsandhorsescuts.net
Thanks, Ronnie.
Great news Lee
thanks for the post on the potential for a Collectors Edition from the BBC
If we keep writing it will happen
I’ve just written on the BBC complaints page requesting they be honest with us and list what editing has been done on past and future releases. I’m hoping for the best (but expecting the worst!) and holding out on purchasing a box set until something worthwhile appears.
They told me that the people that did the cuts are no longer working for them. But they must know.
I get the feeling the BBC will end up selling the rights to another DVD company, And thats when we will get a new release.
Check out the great reply from Jim Sullivan to why these cuts took place and how badly of mark the Only Fools and Horses cuts have gone
https://www.ofah.net/blog/jim-sullivan-on-only-fools-and-horses-cuts/
Can anyone tell me where or how I get a totally uncut version of all the episodes? Are any of the Dvd’s uncut for example maybe the individual ones or one of the older boxsets?
Some of the DVDs of Only Fools and Horses are uncut, but most of them are edited. This website may help you out;
http://www.british-tv-cuts.co.uk/only-fools-and-horses.html
Once again I am dissapointed. As a very big only fools and horses fan I have watched the programme from it’s very inception way back in 1981,I have seen the characters grow and Empathised with thier plight. It has given me enourmous veiwing pleasure over the years. I have some of the programmes on VHS but would like a COMPLETE set as I am always prepared to watch them again and again. I have noticed that relevant parts have been cut from the DVD’s and this reduces the enjoyment considerably. I think the writer of this programme and no doubt the actors would be very dissapointed in the DVD box set because it reduces the enjoyment (and value for money) to the very people who made the programme so popular: The fans.
I hope people do not buy this set but wait for the REAL complete sets to come out. Maybe this will force the company who are releasing these sets to think again.
Kanti
Because of this new DVD release, which seems to be badly edited again, I have decided to contact 2 entertain again, and they sent me this reply;
“Thank you for your feedback. Thank you for your email. 2 entertain are also considering other potential releases next year.
As specified on the product packaging of the new release, there have been some edits made to certain programmes in the series due to clearance reasons. Unfortunately we are unable to rectify this at the current time.
We are constantly updating our catalogue of titles and really appreciate all of the feedback we receive from the viewing public, so thank you again for your correspondence.
Please note there is a limited range of titles previously transmitted on http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive
Yours sincerely,
2Entertain DVD Enquiry Team”
yet again same old reply from 2entertain,i wish they would change the record.
Will the uncut episodes of Only Fools and Horses, ever be released on DVD?
If 2entertain are considering other potential releases for next year, I wonder what they mean by this. Maybe another edited collection of episodes re-released again on DVD. Hopefully not! We need the uncut episodes on DVD, so how much longer are we expected to wait before we get them?
i have complained to 2entertain many times over the years about there treatment of the only fools releases and the pointless edits they keep making, there reply is always the same that it would cost too much money to release an unedited individual release or even a complete dvd boxset release, as long as 2entertain have the rights for only fools they will always put out the same old content, the only thing that will change over the years is the packaging,i believe fans everywhere should just keep keep emailing or telephoning 2entertain to complain non stop about the terrible treatment of only fools, i believe if say NETWORK had the rights they would make every effort to bring out a really complete boxset with extras.
So, any word on the cuts in this new collection yet?
all of us ONLY FOOLS fans are just wasting our time with the BBC and 2ENTERTAIN, all we get are the same old halfsoaked responses, surely they must make money from the ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES dvd releases, i believe they could put out a complete uncut collection with extras if they really wanted, but they won’t because they just can’t be bothered.
The first response does look like somebody has actually sat down and put some effort into it. The second is a standard reply as I have seen it before. 2Entertain sent a response to me,
Dear Mr XXX
Please accept my apologies, having looked through the correspondence between yourself and the DVDenquiry line in October, your very last e-mail did not receive an answer from 2e. Let me now try to answer your numerous questions. I can not give you specific details of what was deleted from each episode, nor is there anyone still working at 2E that was involved in the earliest of our VHS releases, but I do hope my explanations will go some way towards closing this matter, to your satisfaction.
The bleeping or removal of swear words would have been done, at the time, to ensure BBFC certification remained at a level to ensure the DVD’s were available to largest audience possible.
Music deletes would have been done, at the time, due to clearance issues with the record companies i.e. either refusing 2E permission to release the specific track on VHS or simply requiring too much money for the right to do so. This situation has greatly improved with the new BBC PPL agreement which means we are able to release more current programming without any edits at all. Unfortunately to go back to the original TX versions of each and every episode – to re-clear and then to incur new costs to encode, re-subtitle, resubmit for BBFC, re-author, re-DLT and replicate new stock (making existing stock redundant) is simply not cost effective. I’m sure you understand that our contracts with various suppliers who provide the services mentioned above, that their charges are highly confidential and I am therefore unable to share with you what it would cost 2E to basically destroy stock and start again.
There are no special features on the DVDs and to understand why let me explain that we first released the individual episodes onto VHS in 1998. We began to re-release this material onto DVD format in the early 2000s and at that time the market did not really recognised special features/VAM as an important selling tool. We call each series “The Complete” because they contain every televised episode. Yes there may be seconds, possibly even minutes deleted from a particular episode due to the issues previously mentioned but they are as “complete” as we could make them, at that time, bearing in mind the clearance restrictions of that era. Our Box Set release, containing Series 1 – 7 is simply a repack of the individual DVD releases, hence no Value Added Material again as none was included in the previous DVDs.
I do hope this explanation has gone some way to resolving your issues and once again, my apologies for the delay in responding.
Kind regards
XXX