Only Fools And Horses: Ranking All The Main Characters From Worst To Best

2. Grandad

Having the honour of uttering the first line in Only Fools and Horses, Grandad was the bedrock of the early episodes of the show. Always to be found in his armchair in front of two televisions, Grandad was the main critic of the Trotter brothers.

Work-shy and lazy, Grandad’s interests laid more in watching his televisions and having a nag at the two brothers. The grumpy old man would usually mock Rodney’s attempts at independence, and encourage the cheating side of Del Boy’s personality. Despite his seeming malevolence, Grandad provided much sentimentality to the show, and it was clear he had his family’s best interests at heart. Regularly trying to cook for the brothers, Grandad would usually humorously fail in his attempts.

Grandad’s drive for a stable family home rang true in the Series 3 Christmas Special, ‘Thicker Than Water.’ Del and Rodney’s estranged father, Reg, returns after eighteen years and immediately drives a wedge between the two. As Reg spends more time with Rodney and Grandad, Del Boy is pushed aside, spending Christmas alone.

At the end of the episode, Derek reveals Reg’s lies and the father quickly leaves the flat. Grandad is scornful at his son for trying to split the three up in the show’s moving climax. The angry Grandad is calmed by Del, goes into the kitchen and reveals he’s burnt Del’s pizza, proving that all would return to normal.