10 Things You Didn't Know About Only Fools & Horses
8. David Jason Was Not First Choice For Del Boy
It’s
hard to imagine anybody other than David Jason playing the role of Derek ‘Del
Boy’ Trotter. Jason is a well-respected British actor who is known for a
variety of roles in shows such as Open All Hours and A Touch Of Frost, although
it is his iconic performance as Del Boy, which he is most known for.
However, he wasn’t the producers’ first choice to portray the patriarch of the Trotter family, creator John Sullivan originally wanted Jim Broadbent for the role.
Jim Broadbent is obviously an incredible actor in his own right, but it’s difficult to picture him as the cheeky Derek Trotter we all know and love.
Sullivan did eventually cast Broadbent in Fools & Horses as Del’s slimy, former classmate, Roy Slater. Broadbent’s portrayal of the crooked cop made Slater one of the most memorable supporting characters from the show, despite only appearing in three episodes.