Two renowned actors rejected the iconic Del Boy role in Only Fools And Horses before Sir David Jason was given the part.
Oscar-winning actor Jim Broadbent, 75, revealed he was the second star in the running to play Del Boy but had to turn it down due to work commitments.
Before Jim and David was offered the famed part, Enn Reitel, 74, was bosses’ first choice to play Del Boy, but he didn’t fancy playing the role.
During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Jim disclosed the real reason why he and Enn were replaced.
He said: ‘Originally, I was the second choice for Del Boy.
Two renowned actors rejected the iconic Del Boy role in Only Fools And Horses before Sir David Jason (pictured) was given the part
It comes after Sir David Jason (pictured) revealed his ‘real regret’ over Only Fools And Horses character
‘The first choice was Enn Reitel, but he didn’t fancy it and I couldn’t do it because I was doing a show in the West End.
‘Luckily, David Jason was available, so my biggest contribution to British culture is not being available!’, he joked.
It comes after Sir David revealed his ‘real regret’ over his Only Fools and Horses character and admitted he feels haunted by the role.
The actor, 84, revealed his true feelings in a candid interview on BBC Breakfast with Jon Kay on Tuesday.
The Touch of Frost star explained that the character has overshadowed his other work.
David told the show that he feels the ‘ghost’ of Derek Trotter is following him and explained that he feels the character hangs over him.
He said: ‘That Derek Trotter thing, he’s a bit of a ghost that comes along behind me like A Christmas Carol.’
The star expressed frustration that despite a decades-long career in film and television he is most know for playing Del Boy.
Oscar-winning actor Jim Broadbent, 75, (pictured) revealed he was the second star in the running to play Del Boy but had to turn it down due to work commitments
Before Jim and David was offered the famed part, Enn Reitel (pictured), 74, was bosses’ first choice to play Del Boy, but he didn’t fancy playing the role
David revealed that while he isn’t disappointed with his career, there are still so many goals he hasn’t achieved and put that down to being followed by the ghost of his most iconic character
The star revealed to BBC Breakfast’s Jon (pictured right) that his only real disappointment si that he always wanted to be a National Theatre player
He said the character ‘only hangs me back, only upsets me slightly is because that seems to be the only thing that people remember me for.’
‘I’m delighted in one way that it’s reached so many people and they’ve enjoyed what I’ve done with the character, but I’ve done so many other things that everybody seems to have forgotten about. It’s like I’ve only ever played Derek Trotter.’
David revealed that while he isn’t disappointed with his career, there are still so many goals he hasn’t achieved and put that down to being followed by the ghost of his most iconic character.
The star explained: ‘My real disappointment or regret, if you like, is I always wanted to be a National Theatre player.
‘I always wanted to be on the stage of the National Theatre. It was just that romantic image of playing those big productions with all those big, wonderful actors. That never happened.’
When host Jon suggested he still had time to realise his dream of taking to the stage, Jason replied that his time may have run out, explaining that his memory is not what it was.
He said: ‘Well you wonder whether the old memory would be quite good enough. I could do it with the autocue things.’.
But seeming to shake off his melancholy mood, he then playfully turned to the camera and said: ‘Hey! Yes, National Theatre, I’m available!’.
His admission comes after the star revealed he would take up his famous role again in an interview at the start of the year
His admission comes after the star revealed he would take up his famous role again.
At the start of the year David said he would be happy to take on the role of Del Boy again but added that a reboot would be unlikely after the main writer of the hit TV series, John Sullivan, tragically passed away in 2011.
He told The Sun of a potential reboot: ‘Well, to be honest with you, we would like that to happen very much because not only did we enjoy it so much, but so did most of the British public. Because of that, we would love to do it.
But he added: ‘I don’t think we could do another episode of Only Fools And Horses because the brains behind it, Mr John Sullivan, is unfortunately no longer with us.’
