Only Fools and Horses: Secrets and Scandals on Channel 5 has revealed that one episode was banned by writer, John Sullivan, after it portrayed Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter (David Jason) in a bad light. The episode in question, festive special 'A Royal Flush', was broadcast in 1986 but wasn't well received by viewers or critics.
During the episode, Rodney Trotter (Nicholas Lyndhurst) meets the daughter of a duke, with brother Del Boy then trying to help him make a good impression. The episode drew in a large audience with 18 million people sitting down to watch it on Christmas Day, 1986. Despite this, John Sullivan apparently "hated" the episode.
In the new Channel 5 documentary, which airs on Friday, July 22, Sullivan's distaste for the episode comes to the forefront. It is described how the episode was "cruel and dark" with a drunk Del Boy being "nasty" to his brother. David Jason portrays his character in a hostile manner in 'A Royal Flush'.
Author Mike Jones described how there are some sequences in 'A Royal Flush' that would have been suited better if they were filmed in the studio. He said: "If that scene had been recorded in the studio, [David Jason] would have been able to work his performance and react to the audience."
Commenting on the unedited version of the episode, TV producer Richard Latto said: "The original where Del Boy is being quite cruel to Rodney [...] is a hard watch."
An article in The Daily Record reveals that it is understood that the original version of the episode was released on VHS in 1998 - almost a decade after it had first aired - with it later issued in DVD format in 2005. The DVD version however is said to have been heavily edited at Sullivan's request, with audience laughter added over it and around 18 minutes of footage purportedly cut.
The edited version reportedly featured in subsequent releases and TV repeats, though both versions of the episode were remastered for a Blu-Ray collection last year.
Only Fools and Horses: Secrets and Scandals will air on Channel 5, Friday, July 22 at 9pm. The episode is likely to be available for catch-up on My5 after broadcast.
READ NEXT:
