Fans of Only Fools and Horses have been left furious after an iconic landmark building, which served as a backdrop for many episodes of the beloved eight-season sitcom and its one-off specials, was unexpectedly demolished. The site, known as Boyce Autos & Car Accessories, or simply Boyce Autos, has reportedly been flattened to make way for a new sports complex.
Boycie's Showroom Gone
Throughout the BBC series, the showroom owned by the snobby Boycie, played by John Challis, was where he sold his dodgy secondhand cars. It was known to fans as the garage that supplied Del Boy, played by David Jason, and the rest of Peckham with overpriced and unreliable motors.
Boyce's Autos made a memorable appearance in the 1996 Christmas Special titled Time On Our Hands. In that episode, the Trotters finally became millionaires after years of working on the market to sell dodgy gear.
Fan Reaction to the Loss
In a monumental moment, Rodney, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst, finally repaid his brother for helping him throughout his life and bought Del Boy his dream Rolls-Royce with their fortune.
Addressing the landmark's demolition, superfan Jason Allen, 35, said he was taken aback by the news, which "came out of nowhere." According to The Sun, Jason said: "The building was brought down surprisingly fast. As soon as I heard, I drove over immediately to document the site and photograph the progress of the demolition. For many, the loss felt like another piece of British television heritage disappearing, a building that some argued deserved listed status given its role in cultural history."
The fan, who runs tours of the remaining locations for other viewers, claims it is the latest in a long line of filming spots that have been destroyed.
Other Filming Locations at Risk
This comes after it was revealed that the familiar tower block where Del Boy 'lived' was granted a confirmed demolition date and is set to be replaced by £850m flats. In 2024, the famous Nelson Mandela House, one of the most recognisable fictional homes on British television, is actually Harlech Tower, located in South Acton Estate, London, and is set for demolition in 2027, reports MyLondon.
The three-bedroom flat housed the Trotter family, including Del Boy, his younger brother Rodney, and other relatives throughout the show's run from 1981 to 2003.
