British TV icon David Jason reveals why he almost didn’t get cast as Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses

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Sir David Jason has been a beloved figure on British television for many years, bringing joy to viewers in popular shows like Only Fools and Horses, The Darling Buds of May, Porterhouse Blue, and A Touch of Frost.

He became known for playing Granville alongside Ronnie Barker in the popular TV show Open All Hours from 1976 to 1985. He reprised the role in the 2013 revival, Still Open All Hours, and now he’s revisiting the character one last time in a special documentary, Open All Hours: Inside Out.

Thinking back to when you first started playing Granville 50 years ago, what initially interested you in the game?

Ronnie Barker. Just saying his name brings things to mind. I’d had the pleasure of working with him a few times before, even on a fantastic show called Porridge, and I admired him immensely. Honestly, I just wanted to be near him and learn by observing his talent.

What made him so special?

He was a truly gifted comedian, and I hoped I could learn something by working with him – you never know what might inspire you. But what I admired even more than his talent was how humble he was, because he understood that great comedy comes from more than just performing.

As a film buff, I’ve always believed that making a movie or show isn’t a solo act. You absolutely need the support and trust of everyone involved – the costume designers, makeup artists, prop masters, the set crew… they’re all crucial to bringing the final product to life. When you find that collaborative joy, when you’re truly communicating and working with your fellow creatives, that’s when it stops feeling like a job and starts feeling like you’re getting paid to do something you genuinely love.

Who inspired Granville?

All of that wonderful writing is thanks to Roy Clarke. Writers are often the backbone of any show – they lay the groundwork for everything else. Roy created Granville as a seemingly mature man, but really a sensitive soul who longed for his mother. Combining that emotional depth with humor is what made the character so endearing.

What was it like returning in 2013 and wearing the work clothes of your former mentor, now that Granville was the one leading things?

I’d often thought about what became of Granville after Arkwright moved on, and that curiosity led me to start looking into it. Seeing him perform for the first time, it was clear he’d truly grown up.

Following the success of Open All Hours, Only Fools and Horses became an even more popular comedy. What made this sitcom so well-loved?

At its heart, the show is about family. Beyond the fantastic writing, it featured a classic household setup: a father figure, Derek Trotter, his brother Rodney, and the two older paternal figures, Grandad and Uncle Albert. We all immediately loved the first script because it was both hilarious and brilliantly written.

I explained that the show wasn’t a typical sitcom focused on jokes. It was a drama about the lives of people living together, and while it was funny at times, the humor came naturally from the situations they faced – it wasn’t the main point.

Did you ever change a line?

I’d been performing comedy – things like theatrical farces, pantomimes, and summer shows – for years, so I naturally used that experience in my work. One time, during rehearsal, I casually suggested, “Could Derek and Rodney head into the kitchen?” We hadn’t even considered using it before. That simple idea led to Albert entering and making a sandwich, which sparked a fantastic joke that hadn’t occurred to anyone previously.

You’re well known for playing Pop Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, and it was a remarkably successful series. What do you think was the key to making the role work so well?

Throughout my career, I often found that working on one show would lead to offers on others. People would see my work and think I’d be a good fit for their projects. The only exception was John Sullivan, the writer of ‘Only Fools and Horses’. He initially didn’t want to cast me, remembering me from a previous role as a somewhat hapless character named Granville. He didn’t think I could play a smart, resourceful character, but the director persuaded him to give me an audition.

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You’re known for both comedic and dramatic roles, like Skullion in Porterhouse Blue and DI Jack Frost. Do you approach those different types of characters with different physicalities?

I always start by understanding what motivates each character. For example, Skullion’s personality – efficient and direct – was inspired by the many military men who later became university administrators. With Frost, I was fascinated by the fact that detectives used to have a minimum height requirement of 5’8”, and since my actor was two inches shorter, I built that struggle into the character – he’s always trying to appear taller than he is. These kinds of details are what I really enjoy working with.

You’ve given a lot of laughs over the years, but what makes you laugh?

It’s a classic comedic setup, similar to Laurel and Hardy, involving a character who pretends to be clueless and another who genuinely isn’t. The combination of those two types of characters is where the humor really shines.

You could be describing Derek and Rodney, or Arkwright and Granville…

Absolutely! And it’s crucial to create characters that readers will care about. I need to feel a strong connection to them myself, because if I don’t, it’s hard to get the audience to connect with them too.

Authors

Caroline Frost

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2026-04-27 20:09