Only Fools and Horses’ forgotten minor character who almost had a huge storyline when David Jason nearly quit the show
The series could have taken a very different turn
Only Fools and Horses is a British institution, with a dedicated fanbase of adoring viewers. Naturally with any sitcom, there are a multitude of potential storylines from the show that never saw the light of day. With a programme that ran for 22 years, it’s no surprise that there were alternative plots and character endings considered.
Within the sixty-four episodes, broadcast from 8 September 1981 until 25 December 2003, the characters experienced highs and lows, and, it turns out there was once the idea that they would go their separate ways. In 1986, David Jason, who plays Del Boy, considered leaving the show. As a result, the writers found a way to write the character out of the show which would have given a minor character a huge role to play.
The plan was for Del Boy’s friend, Jumbo Mills – played by Nick Stringer – to ask Jason’s character to emigrate to Australia with him, but unlike in the episode which eventually aired, this time Del Boy would accept the offer. The minor character Jumbo Mills had previously appeared in episodes of the tv show but he would have played an even bigger part in the story arc had David quit. David decided to stay on the show and the writers changed the storyline so that Del Boy would reject the idea to start a business in the land down under.
In what would have been the final episode of the show, in series five, Del’s old business partner and friend Jumbo Mills returned to Peckham and asked Del to go into business with him in Australia. Del had previously given Jumbo his last £200 and by way of returning the favour, Mills offered Del the chance to invest in his car business.
The initial plan, when David Jason wished to leave the show, was for Del to accept the offer meaning Jumbo (a previously minor character) would have had a huge role to play as his new business partner. The episode is called “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” but dedicated fans will know that the episode ends very differently and the series continues for another two seasons with David Jason still present.
When he decided to stay on the show, the writers altered the episode’s ending so that Del declined the offer, instead choosing to stay in the UK with family, harping that: “The real opportunity lies here.” Del ends the episode by lamenting his lost opportunity for wealth by singing “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”.
Had David Jason stuck to his plan to quit Only Fools and Horses, the producers intended to continue the series with Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played Rodney, as the lead role. The new spinoff would have been called ‘Hot Rod.’
It would have followed Rodney and Mickey Pearce taking over Trotters Independent Traders, and would have also featured the other Only Fools and Horses cast members. Writers reportedly would have kept the option for Del to return at a later date.
How different the show would have been without Del Boy! Can you imagine the show without David Jason? Luckily, that alternate reality never materialised and we didn’t have to watch Only Fools and Horses without its beloved main character.
