Sir David Jason in Only Fools and Horses. Photo: BBC

File this one under ‘reason #(I’ve lost count)’ that I would love to live in the UK. In keeping with their long-standing tradition of airing brilliant telly on Christmas or Boxing Day, Sir David Jason hosts The Story Of Only Fools and Horses at Christmas, the 90-minute feature documentary reflecting on the show’s Yuletide episodes, including “To Hull And Back”, which reportedly contains the most expensive joke in BBC history.

Seven series and 64 episodes later, and airing a full two-decades after the final episode premiered in 2003, the holiday documentary will air on Channel 5 in the UK on Christmas Eve and will also feature Tessa Peake-Jones, who portrayed Del Boy’s wife Raquel, and other cast and crew.

Sir David will also reveal his favourite Christmas special, while celebrity fans of the show including Strictly’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Bendiorm’s Sherrie Hewson, will share their appreciation for the beloved comedy.

Unfortunately, with each day that passes, the chance of a revival of the series hovers somewhere between slim and none. While the two main characters, Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney Trotter) and Sir David Jason (Del Boy Trotter) are still quite active in the acting world, much of the cast has passed away with OFAH writer John Sullivan having died at age 64 in 2011. Roger Lloyd Pack (Trigger), Kenneth MacDonald (Mike the Landlord), Lennard Pearce (Grandad), John Challis (‘Boycie’ Boyce) and Buster Merryfield (Uncle Albert) have all died since the show ended its run 30 years ago.

The original series was broadcast on the BBC from 1981 until 1991, with sixteen sporadic Christmas specials aired until the end of the show in 2003.

The Story Of Only Fools and Horses at Christmas will air on Channel 5 in the UK on Christmas Eve.