Sir David Jason has hit out at “extremely difficult” Hollywood actors.
The ‘Only Fools and Horses’ actor, 84, shot to fame on sitcoms such as ‘Open All Hours’ and ‘Only Fools and Horses’, but has never able to break into America’s showbiz world.
He hit out at diva Tinseltown stars as he paid tribute to his late ‘Open All Hours’ co-star Ronnie Barker, who died in 2005 aged 76 – and who David said he nicknamed “The Governor”.
David revealed on Radio X’s ‘The Chris Moyles Show’: “Well, it’s a well-known fact that I used to call (Ronnie) ‘The Governor’.
“And he was. What was really good about Ronnie Barker, and why he was so lovely – he and I became very good friends during ‘Open All Hours’ – but the main reason why I liked him so much is that he had time for everybody.
“And he was the nicest guy that you could possibly meet, and he was at the top of his tree, for me, which is comedy acting, and I just got used to calling him ‘The Governor’.
“And so, because of that, later on when he retired, he wrote me a certificate, if you like, in wonderful old-fashioned writing.
“And it’s all done – and it’s about a foot wide by about two foot long.
“And it was, ‘It’s all done here, here by Sir Ronnie Barker, here with under following messages will give to his honourable friend, Sir David Jason, the title of ‘The Governor’ I shall now relinquish’.”
David added: “But the great thing about Ronnie B was, which I learned, which was so generous with the whole team.
“He knew that the only way you can get a successful show is to incorporate and encourage the team that you have.
“So, he had time for everybody, and he was generous of spirit and of time.
“And because you do hear – no names, no pack drill – mainly some of the big names coming out of Hollywood who can be extremely difficult and a pain.”
