Only Fools star who played Raquel had relationship with on-screen son for nearly 30 years

Only Fools and Horses star Tessa Peake-Jones was in a relationship with the actor who played her on-screen son for nearly 30 years.

The classic BBC sitcom originally aired from 1981 to 1991, with regular Christmas specials continuing up until 2003, and focused around the lives of Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter (David Jason) and Rodney Trotter (Nicholas Lyndhurst) - a pair of ambitious market traders from Peckham, London.

As the series progressed it expanded to feature a whole host of recurring characters, including love interests for Del Boy and Rodney which were introduced in 1988.

Del Boy's partner Raquel was played by Peake-Jones, with the actress remaining in the show until its finale episode in 2003.

Raquel and Del Boy would go on to have a child together - named Damien - who was played by six actors across the years, notably Ben Smith and Jamie Smith.

However, it was actor Douglas Hodge, who briefly played an adult Damien in 1996 Christmas special Heroes and Villains.

In the episode, Damien's uncle Rodney had a nightmare of a dystopian future in which his adult nephew ruled the Western world.

This was Hodge's only appearance in the series as Damien went back to being a child after the episode.

Meanwhile, Peake-Jones, now 67, and Hodge, now 64, were already well acquainted by this time, having first met in 1984. They would go on to date for another 29 years before splitting up in 2013.

The couple also share two children together, a son and a daughter named named Charlie and Mollie Rose.

(Don Smith/Radio Times)

While Hodge only had a cameo in the sitcom, he has since gone on to have a successful career in theatre, winning the Laurence Oliver and Tony awards for his performance in the play La Cage aux Folles.

He has also appeared in several films, most notably Joker, The Report and Red Sparrow.

Meanwhile, Peake-Jones has a smaller filmography in comparison to her former partner, notably playing the main role of Mrs. Maguire in ITV detective drama Grantchester since 2014. She has also appeared in Doctor Who, Holby City and Doctors.

Douglas Hodge as Adult Damien. (BBC)

So there you have it, Peake-Jones and Hodge were already in an established relationship by time he made his cameo appearance as a grown up Damien.

Not as creepy as it initially sounds, but perhaps more of an interesting piece of trivia to pull out next time you you're watching Only Fools and Horses together.