On This Day In History - 1981…..

[mushroom25]

…..was broadcast the first episode of a then obscure sitcom, that eventually grew to become one of the most popular programmes of the late 20th century -
Only Fools and Horses…..

the BBC must have known they had a winner, they just needed to give viewers the time to catch on.

[New Judge]

Amazingly the first choice of producer Ray Butt to play Delboy was Enn Reitel, but he was otherwise engaged. Next choice was Jim Broadbent but he also turned the part down. So, would the OFAH been the success it very clearly was if either of those two had played Delboy?

[Sam1960]

And when the viewers did, they done it in style. (24.3 million) tuned in on 29/12/1996 to watch "Time On Our Hands" .... Phenomenal achievement for a British sitcom.

[LadyCG]

OFAH was genius, sheer genius.

[Barsel]

Can't imagine anyone else playing David Jason's role I mean, he is Del Boy.

[Barsel]

I meant to add, that there's only one Trigger, he was so funny.

[LadyCG]

[Redhelen72]

That program along with Monty Python and Faulty Towers is on my list of things I cannot abide

[Barsel]

Helen, must admit I wasn't a fan of Fawlty Towers, but OFAH still makes me laugh even though I know what's coming next.