Sir David Jason was left feeling "quite depressed" upon seeing his younger self during an emotional reunion with his Only Fools and Horses co-stars, Tessa Peake-Jones has revealed.
A Stroll Down Memory Lane
The legendary cast of the beloved BBC sitcom are reuniting for a special two-part documentary series titled Only Fools and Horses: The Lost Archive. The project celebrates the show's incredible 45th anniversary and will feature new interviews with key cast and crew members.
Appearing on ITV's Lorraine, Tessa Peake-Jones, who played Raquel Turner, shared the poignant moment Sir David experienced. "It was very odd though, and David Jason was very, very poignant about it all," she said. "There was one bit he watched and he said 'Oh we were so young and successful back then,' so it was quite depressing."
Unseen Treasures Rediscovered
The documentary is built around a treasure trove of unseen footage discovered in a drawer at the BBC. This includes cut scenes, outtakes, and extended sequences that were originally removed, often for not being deemed funny enough.
"They found unseen footage in a drawer at the BBC and they've put together two or three episodes," Tessa explained. "Some of it was quite long scenes that were sad or moving... it just wasn't funny enough so it got cut. But people are going to see it now!"
The resurfaced material, which has been digitally scanned and restored, comes from over 10 classic episodes. Fan favourites featured include:
- The Jolly Boys' Outing (first aired Christmas 1989 to 20.1 million viewers)
- Miami Twice
- Mother Nature's Son
- Class of '62
- Time On Our Hands
For the first time, viewers will see the cast in high definition in these classic scenes. The documentary will also feature multiple outtakes of Bee Gees star Barry Gibb and an unseen opening scene from Class of '62 thought lost forever.
A Fitting Tribute
The series will serve as a heartfelt tribute to the show's creator, John Sullivan, who passed away in 2011. Alongside main cast members David Jason (Del Boy), Tessa Peake-Jones (Raquel), Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra), and Sue Holderness (Marlene), supporting actors like Steven Woodcock (Jevon) and Denis Lill (Alan Parry) will also contribute.
Other contributors include co-author Mike Jones, society chairman Perry Aghajanoff, director Tony Dow, and editor Chris Wadsworth.
Discussing the project, Sir David Jason said: "The love for Only Fools has never faded. It's incredible to see how many people still hold it close to their hearts. Revisiting these rediscovered moments reminded me just how special the show was - and still is."
Viewers will be able to tune into the documentary when it airs on UKTV's Gold channel in 2026.
