OFAH: It's Beckham in Peckham for Sport Relief
Voted Britain’s favorite sitcom in the 2004 Britain’s Best Sitcom poll, Only Fools and Horses will return for a one-time-only special on 21 March on BBC One as part of Sport Relief.
While original creator and sole writer on the series, John Sullivan, passed away in 2011, the new Sport Relief sketch has been written by his sons, Jim and Dan Sullivan, based on notes their father left behind. While the task of re-creating brilliance was a daunting one, they were helped along from interest by retired ex-England footballer David Beckham to be a part of the Sport Relief sketch. Beckham will be seen joining Del Boy and Rodney in a greasy spoon café in Peckham. Filmed last week, the sketch will reportedly see market trader Del marking his 65th birthday.
Even though the series has been a part of endless conversations and rumors of a return, its been over a decade since anyone has witnessed south London market trader Del Boy and his brother Rodney’s hourly attempts to strike it rich. The 2003 Christmas Day finale, “Sleepless in Peckham”, was seen by over 16 millions viewers.
It’s not surprising that there would be interest in resurrecting the most-popular British situation comedy of all-time given the recent success story of another Sir David Jason vehicle, Still Open All Hours, which aired on Boxing Day this past year to the delight of over 10 million viewers. The Sullivan brothers have, on numerous occasions however, stated just the opposite. Jim Sullivan reconfirmed the brothers feelings recently, “…we would like to make it clear that it is just this once, and that we are not, and never have been, looking to write any new episodes. There was only ever one writer of Only Fools And Horses, and it is going to stay that way“.
