Sir David Jason has reflected on the extraordinary TV career that made him one of Britain’s best-loved actors – and revealed why he doesn’t think Only Fools and Horses should be described simply as a comedy.
In a new interview with Radio Times columnist Caroline Frost, which you can listen to below, the star looks back on some of the roles that have defined his decades on screen, from wheeling and dealing Derek “Del Boy” Trotter to his work alongside comedy greats, including Ronnie Barker.
Listen to the full interview with Sir David Jason below.
Jason, who starred in Only Fools and Horses from 1981 to 2003, explains that the enduring appeal of the sitcom lies not just in its jokes, but in the emotional truth at the heart of the Trotter family.
The actor suggests that, while the series remains one of the funniest shows in British TV history, its power came from audiences recognising the characters’ struggles, hopes and relationships.
“Basically, it’s about family,” he says. “Not only was the writing brilliant, it had a classic structure of three people sharing a home. You have the governor/father figure, Derek Trotter, then Rodney the lad, plus the paternal figure in Grandad and then Uncle Albert. When we read the first script, we were all very excited because it was so funny and clever.
“I said, ‘The secret is, this isn’t a sitcom, it’s a situation drama. It’s the journey of these people living together. It just so happens that the characters do or say things to make us laugh. But it’s not joke-telling.'”
In the interview, Jason also discusses the lessons he learned from his great mentor Ronnie Barker, with whom he worked on Open All Hours. Barker, he recalls, was not only a master performer but a meticulous craftsman, showing him how timing, detail and generosity could transform a scene.
Jason also reflects on the performers who continue to make him laugh the loudest, revealing the classic double act whose work still delights him years later.
Across the conversation, the actor offers a warm and thoughtful look back at a career spanning some of the most cherished programmes in British television, while sharing the insight of someone who has helped shape the nation’s comedy landscape.
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