How a sitcom about market traders became the most-watched show in British television history.
In short: Created by John Sullivan, Only Fools and Horses followed the ambitious, get-rich-quick schemes of the Trotter brothers in Peckham. Though it began with lukewarm reviews and little promotion, it evolved into a cultural phenomenon, eventually setting a record for the largest audience ever recorded for a single British sitcom episode.
The series, which ran from 1981 to 1996 with later specials through 2003, centers on Del Boy Trotter and his younger brother Rodney. Del Boy, a smooth-talking market trader, serves as the family leader, raising Rodney after their mother died and their father abandoned them. Their lives in a council flat are defined by constant, often unsuccessful, attempts to become millionaires through the black market and their three-wheeled Reliant Regal van.
The show's path to success was not immediate. The first series, which premiered in September 1981, averaged seven million viewers, a figure that was considered underwhelming at the time. However, the show gradually gained momentum, eventually dominating television ratings. By the time the 1996 episode 'Time on Our Hands' aired, it drew a record-breaking 24.3 million viewers. This success was bolstered by a cast of recurring characters, including the dopey Trigger, the pretentious car dealer Boycie, and the elderly relatives Grandad and Uncle Albert, who provided the voice of experience.
John Sullivan, the show's creator, drew inspiration from the unlicensed traders he observed in markets. He insisted on the title Only Fools and Horses, derived from a 19th-century American vaudeville saying, despite initial resistance from those who feared the audience would not understand it. The show's influence on British culture was profound, contributing new phrases to the language and earning the title of Britain's Best Sitcom in a 2004 BBC poll. Even when key actors like Lennard Pearce passed away, the show adapted, integrating the losses into the narrative to maintain its focus on the enduring bond between the brothers.
The production faced several near-misses, including David Jason's near-departure during the fifth series, which would have ended the show with a move to Australia. Jason ultimately stayed, and the series continued to evolve, eventually introducing long-term love interests for the brothers and expanding the Trotter family. Today, the series remains a staple of British comedy, frequently repeated and celebrated for its unique blend of working-class struggle and aspirational humor.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Only Fools and Horses
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