David Jason has sent fans into a frenzy as he unexpectedly reprised his role as Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter.
The actor, 85, harped back to his days on Only Fools and Horses during an appearance on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X on Thursday.
He was discussing how he used to get into character as the brash South London market trader when he cheekily took on Del Boy’s iconic voice once again.
Host Chris Moyles eagerly asked him: ‘Can I say hello to Del Boy?’
Prompting David to respond in Del Boy’s accent: ‘Yeah, go on then, pal,’ sending the entire studio into a frenzy.
Chris squealed in excitement, adding: ‘Ah see, even that! That is just amazing!’
David Jason has sent fans into a frenzy as he unexpectedly reprised his role as Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter on Radio X’s The Chris Moyles Show on Thursday
Listeners were beside themselves at hearing David put on the iconic accent once again as they took to Instagram to praise him for getting involved with the joke.
Comments included: ‘Loved this’; ‘Nothing but love for David Jason’; ‘Absolute icon’; ‘Such a legend’; ‘What a beautiful soul that man possesses.’
David also discussed how easily he finds it to become Del Boy and rubbished some actors’ claims that they need hours to sit in silence and summon their character.
‘I can put on the costume and I’m in the character, virtually. In other words, I don’t think about it too much. It gives me five or 10 minutes to, you know, to start getting in there,’ he shared.
‘A lot of that is the bravado, is the character that I based it on. Well, the point of that story is that all of my characters that I play – Pop Larkin, Del Boy, and any of the others – is basically putting on the coat, and you put on the character.
‘Now, it works for me. One of the things that irritates me greatly, is when I read or hear stories about some actors who have to be quiet, ”Don’t talk to me, stay there. I want to be on my own”.
‘Why is that? ”I’ve got to get into character, and I need this morning to get into my character.” And I think, you know, do me a favour.
‘And that irritates me, because you’re lifting yourself above everyone else that is part of the team. It’s like you here, you are part of the team.’
He was discussing how he gets into character as the brash South London market trader when he cheekily took on Del Boy’s iconic voice once again (he is pictured in character in 1983)
David said it annoys him when he’s not allowed to talk to his co-stars while they get into character and insisted that any good actor wouldn’t need to do such a thing.
He added: ‘I’ve always thought of myself as part of the team, the head of the team say, but the ones that irritate me beyond is they put themselves on this strange area that they call ”they’re getting into character, don’t talk to them,” and all sorts of reasons that they give.
‘And you think, ”Why are you behaving in such a way?” Because if you’re a good actor, you’re able to put on the costume, and as you put on the costume, you’re putting on the character that you’ve invented, if you see what I mean?’
It comes after the opening night of the Only Fools And Horses: The Musical was forced to a halt last month after a ‘medical emergency’.
Theatergoers at The Winter Gardens in Blackpool were evacuated during the interval and the second act of the show was postponed after a member of the audience fell ill, with paramedics called to the scene.
Only Fools And Horses: The Musical, featuring Paul Whitehouse as Grandad, is currently touring the UK following a four-year sold-out run-in London’s West End.
The Winter Gardens issued a statement about the incident as they revealed all those affected would be able to transfer their tickets to another night or request a refund.
Attendees were quick to praise the theatre – which hosted the musical until May 3 – for the staff’s quick reaction and calm response to the incident.
David played the iconic South London market trader on the BBC sitcom from 1981 to 1991 (he is pictured on the show alongside Nicholas Lyndhurst as Rodney)
It comes just days after the opening night of the Only Fools And Horses: The Musical was forced to a halt at The Winter Gardens in Blackpool last month after a ‘medical emergency’
A statement from The Winter Gardens read: ‘During last night’s performance of Only Fools and Horses The Musical, a medical emergency involving a member of the audience occurred during the interval in the front stalls area of the auditorium.
‘Due to the nature of the incident and in accordance with venue protocols, the decision was taken to evacuate the theatre and postpone the remainder of the show.
‘All affected ticket holders will receive an email today with full details on how to transfer their tickets to another performance this week, or how to request a refund if they are unable to attend an alternative date.
‘We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our staff, the visiting company, and the emergency services for their swift and professional response.
‘Our thoughts and well wishes are with the individual involved and their family at this time.
‘We thank everyone for their patience and understanding during these exceptional circumstances.’
Tune into The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X weekdays from 6:30am – 10am and on Global Player.
