Sir David Jason has spoken candidly about a moment during the filming of Open All Hours that left him feeling depressed, revealing how his friend and co-star Ronnie Barker helped him through it. The 86-year-old actor made the admission during a recent talk in London titled An Evening with Sir David Jason, where he shares behind-the-scenes stories from his career in shows such as Only Fools and Horses, Open All Hours, The Darling Buds of May and A Touch of Frost.
A Depressing Realisation on Set
Sir David explained that while filming Open All Hours, the cast would rehearse all week and then film an episode to a live audience on Sunday. He said: "I realised that's how the comedy was shaped. I was the guy that fed Ronnie the lines in order for him to get the laughs—to get the joke."
After a few episodes, Sir David became aware that Barker was receiving the laughs, and he admitted: "I became a little depressed."
Barker's Supportive Response
The comedy actor eventually pulled Sir David aside to ask why he had been feeling down. When Sir David explained, Barker told him he had to "learn the trade".
That evening, Barker went home and wrote a sketch for Sir David that placed him centre stage of Open All Hours. This allowed the Granville Arkwright star to make his mark on the BBC show and ensured Sir David received plenty of laughs from the audience, for which he remained grateful to his friend and co-star.
Remembering Ronnie Barker
Barker, who starred in Porridge and The Two Ronnies, died peacefully at his home aged 76 in October 2005 after a long period of heart trouble. He was one of the most loved and respected comedy performers of his generation, best known as one half of a double act with Ronnie Corbett.
At the time of his death, Sir David said: "He was a very dear friend and someone for whom I had the greatest respect. Working with Ronnie was always a joy and were without doubt some of the best years of my career. The world of entertainment has lost a huge talent."
