Sir David Jason made a heartbreaking confession about ageing during a live appearance on BBC Radio Leeds, telling presenter Gayle Lofthouse there are things he simply “can’t do” anymore. The 86-year-old actor was promoting his upcoming live tour, An Evening with Sir David Jason, which begins in September 2026 and runs into next year.
Memories of Only Fools and Horses
When asked if he remembers performing iconic moments from Only Fools and Horses, such as falling through the bar, or if he has “just seen them so many times on the telly,” Sir David shared the story behind the famous scene. He explained that writer John Sullivan had witnessed a similar incident in a wine bar, where a man leaned on a bar counter with the lid open, but managed to recover himself.
Sir David insisted on performing the fall himself, telling Sullivan: “No, I want to fall through the bar. I will fall.” He revealed that his theatre background taught him the tricks that make the fall work and amuse audiences, adding: “There are things you are probably not aware of that are very important to make that work.”
Age and physical limitations
Reflecting on his past, Sir David said the memory makes him think: “Yeah, I remember, I used to do that 10 times a week in the summer season at Weston-Super-Mare. Those days are no longer!” When Lofthouse asked how the stunts impacted his body over time, he replied: “You’re absolutely right, I couldn’t do it nowadays! But I’m not going to tell you that! Come and see the show.”
