We always love any new Only Fools and Horses missing scenes. So we were very excited when super fan Ronnie found an old lost clip for the Thicker Than Water episode.
Back in 1983, the Only Fools & Horses christmas special “Thicker Than Water” was broadcast. Following the death of Lennard Pearce less than a year later in 1984, the episode was edited out of respect. The edit removed a couple of lines with Del and Rodney. Since the original transmission on the 25th December 1983, the cut part of the scene has never been seen again. Its also missing on DVD, VHS and TV repeats world-wide. Today we are able to bring you the lost lines, recovered from a 1983 betamax recording of the original transmission. After finding the tape, a working betamax machine was harder to find, then it had to be transferred to digital. The picture is quite good considering its age.
The actual lines missing are (The scene occurs after Del returns from the Nags head, just having learned his father has returned)………..
After Del says:“What do you mean judge him? He deserted you when you were five years old. And not only that, he walked out on his own father.
Current versions of the episode jump straight to grandads face and audience laughter, the missing part of the scene occurs before the laughter. The laughter scene is also slightly longer.
Del: “In all that time he didn’t know whether grandad was alive or dead.”
Rodney: “Well we’re never sure, are we?”
Betamax Tape
It may only be 10 seconds or so, but after 29 years many will have forgotten it, some will have never seen it. Below you can see the missing scenes:
R.I.P Lennard Pearce
I can supply you with this Rob but don’t know if I’m allowed to link here.
Is anybody able to reupload this clip please?
Missed it the first time around and all the links now dead but would love to see it. Would be very much appreciated if anybody can oblige
Thanks
Apologies for the multiple posts. Didn’t seem to accept my message first time so I tried again and even assumed it may be my email address it didn’t like so tried my other email address instead
I guess there is just a delay on them showing up. Apologies again
Is anybody able to reupload this missing scene please?
Would love to see it but unfortunately both the links are dead. If anybody could reupload it, would very much appreciate it
There does not to be any line missing when Rodney says please to meet you, it must of been cut before broadcast. There are a few other lines in other episodes which are in the script but were never broadcast.
Yes, a good example is to read the final part of the ‘a royal flush’ script on this website, there are even jokes in it that are used in later episodes so obviously it must have been in the original script but never filmed.
looks like this wasnt aired just in 1983. in the only fools and horses britains best sitcom in 2004 skip to 16:10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LYj7yNrXLk
Yes, there is another small cut to this episode, when Rodney realises it’s his father at the door – he says ‘please to meet you’ – for some reason this line is cut.
I always found it rather strange why that was cut – because the line had no swearing or mention of someone’s skin colour, or anything else that could offend.
Hi, This is not in the beta recording, so it must of been cut for timing before broadcast. But it was not taken out of the script maybe. Did you ever see it?
I saw it years ago in the mid 90s BBC broadcast
Really?
il have to take a look.
The text for the line is on this websites ‘Thicker than water’ script page.
just watched the dvd today and realised that 3 lines are missing
ORIGINAL
Del : he walked out on his own father
CUTS
Del: in all that time he didnt know whether grandad was alive or dead
Rodney: well were never sure are we
Rodney: alright del he left(UNCUT)>>>but hes back now
DVD
Del: he walked out on his own father
Rodney: but hes back now
I wish so too, they’ve even edited out ‘paki shop’ its ridiculous, that was common parlance when the episodes were written, in the good old days prior to ‘political correctness’
i saw an OF AH the other night and Del said Paki Shop
Where the boy let down the tyres on a 3 wheel van
I am white and i flinched when i heard it
i saw an OFAH the other night the one with the boy who let
down the tyres on a 3 wheel van . Del said paki shop you just cant talk like that nowdays, i flinched when he said it
Totally agree,
I know the line was used by Del in the Russians Are Coming, has the term been edited out of any other episodes?
No, in another episode with Albert, Rodney is arguing with Del, which Rodders ends it by saying ‘You won’t give me any credit will ya?’ Albert chips in with ‘and neither will that Paki’! I think it’s from Hole in one.
wait a minute you forgot something in the page ‘more ofah cuts’ you said that there was a line missing when reg is at the door i think rodney nice to meet you or something
Don’t think there was anything else missing, might have been another episode maybe?
no im positive someone wrote it but its gone apparently the cut was after grandad said id like you to meet your dad and then rodney said nice to meet you
can you get the scene when he says please to meet you if you dont believe me read bible of peckham
Correct. It’s even on this website’s ‘Thicker than water’ script page.
Wonderful.
I dream the day that somebody uploads every episode that was recorded from the original transmission.
Wonderful to see this! Love Grandads reaction. Priceless.
Is anybody able to reupload this clip please?
Missed it the first time around and all the links now dead but would love to see it. Would be very much appreciated if anybody can oblige
Thanks