11 Best One-Off Only Fools And Horses Characters

Even though actor Nick Stringer portrayed another Australian character earlier on in Episode 2 of the first series of Only Fools and Horses, this is Jumbo Mills’ only appearance in the sitcom. In the episode, Jumbo, a longtime friend of Del, has returned from Australia to offer Del a new job overseas in the used car market. As Jumbo wants to repay his old friend for his previous financial assistance, Mills is adamant Derek takes his offer of emigrating.

Uncle Albert refuses, saying he wishes to remain in one place, and Rodney is unable to emigrate due to his prior conviction for cannabis possession. Despite being torn, Del initially agrees to take up his friend’s business proposal. However, by the end of the show, Derek remains loyal and stays put in Peckham.

While the proposition adds tension to the episode, it also reflects the real-life thoughts of David Jason behind the scenes. Feeling worn out from the routine of Only Fools and Horses, and realising that he was becoming typecast in prospective roles, Jason wanted to leave the successful sitcom.

Writer John Sullivan wrote this episode with the show’s main character leaving London for new pastures. The plan was for Del to be gone, but still able to return should Jason wish to reprise the character at a later date, while Rodney, Grandad, and Mickey Pierce would continue as the hapless wheeler-dealers in a spin-off titled ‘Hot Rod.’

David Jason remained with the sitcom, but its format and style changed dramatically following this episode. The thirty-minute episodes were scrapped, and soon, it became an exclusively Christmas Special series. He may not have had much time on screen in the series, but Jumbo Mills changed it entirely.