Iconic Only Fools and Horses scene made funnier by change to script on day of filming

One of the most iconic scenes from Only Fools and Horses was supposed to go differently, but thankfully we got the version we all know and love.

As if the below video doesn't give it away, we're talking about the moment Del Boy falls through the bar, while telling Trigger how they should be impressing women.

You surely know how the scene goes, Del Boy (David Jason) is giving it all that about how modern women want 'mature men who've made it in life' to Trigger (Roger Lloyd Pack).

Del tries to lean on the bar seductively before leaning over to Trigger after spotting a woman in the pub who doesn't seem to mind his attention.

Just as Del's doing this, the bartender goes by and opens up the bar so he can get through.

BBC

Del tells Trigger to be cool and goes back to leaning on the bar, only it's not there any more and he just falls right through the gap and onto the floor.

It's pretty much perfect, one of the best moments in any British sitcom ever, but it turns out that things were meant to play out differently originally.

According to the Daily Star, a rehearsal script for the episode 'Yuppie Love' went up for auction and showed that Trigger wasn't supposed to be in the scene originally.

However, the story goes that Roger Lloyd Pack was there on the day and Only Fools and Horses boss, John Sullivan, decided he should be there after all.

Fellow actor John Challis, who played Boycie in the show, appeared to once confirm that the story was true as he told the Telegraph that they took advantage of Lloyd Pack being around at the time of filming.

BBC

The actor said they got Trigger's blue suit and stuck him in the scene, which was mostly improvised.

While all the stars of Only Fools and Horses have their favourite moments, Del Boy falling through the bar was apparently Roger Lloyd Pack's pick of the bunch.

Del Boy going through the bar is up there with the show's other legendary moments, including Trigger's broom, dropping a chandelier, Del Boy and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) appearing as Batman and Robin, along with the moment they auction off the pocket watch and finally become millionaires.

That's part of the magic about truly great sitcoms like Only Fools and Horses, you might be able to see the joke coming a mile away, but it's still brilliantly funny.

Topics: BBC, TV and Film

Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

@MrJoeHarker