Fans 'can't wait' for David Jason to return for Only Fools and Horses Christmas special released tomorrow

Fans are excited to see the legendary actor David Jason back on their screens this Christmas in a one-off Only Fools and Horses special.

The 83-year-old, who is best known for playing lovable wheeler dealer Derek ‘Del Boy' Trotter in the long-running sitcom, will be returning to TV tomorrow (Christmas Eve) in a brand new show.

Airing on channel 5, The Story of Only Fools and Horses at Christmas will be a reflection on the festive episodes of the sitcom, including 'To Hull and Back', and Sir David will also be sharing his favourite of the 20 Christmas episodes he starred in.

The 90-minute show will see David joined by other members of cast and crew, including Tessa Peake-Jones who played his on-screen partner Raquel, as well as famous fans of the show such as Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Sherrie Hewson.

A source told the Sun earlier this year: “It wouldn’t be Christmas without the Trotters, so this is a great way for viewers to get their Only Fools fix.

“Producers were delighted when David was passed fit to appear following his surgery, so the special will be cushty for fans.”

BBC

As you can imagine, fans of the original show are thrilled that they’ll get to see David back on their screens, with one person taking to Facebook to say: “Omg I’m so excited for this to happen, love it.”

While a second wrote: “Brilliant news.”

Only Fools and Horses ran from 1981 to 2003, when it bowed out with the Christmas episode 'Sleepless in Peckham'.

Speaking in 2022, David admitted that he would ‘love’ to get the chance to play the character again.

“I’ve always loved Del Boy, who is such a wonderful loser,” he told the Sun.

“I would love to revisit him; I need someone to write me a script.”

BBC

However, Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played his on-screen brother Rodney, has counted himself out of any possible reunions saying it wouldn’t be the same now that Only Fools and Horses creator John Sullivan has died.

Sullivan, who created and wrote the show, passed away in 2011 aged 64; while other cast and crew members, including Roger Lloyd Pack, who played Trigger, and Kenneth MacDonald, who starred as the Nag’s Head pub landlord Mike.

Shutting down any talks of a revival, Lyndhurst said: “We can’t. John is no longer with us. John was the driving force of the show, and we have also lost quite a few cast members now.

“I don’t think I could do it without them and I certainly couldn’t do it without John.”