Only Fools and Horses

Only Fools and Horses follows the misadventures of Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter and his younger half-brother Rodney, two market traders from Peckham who are always chasing the next deal that might make them rich. Del Boy is loud, fast-talking and endlessly optimistic, while Rodney is more cautious and often the voice of reason, which creates a constant comic tension. Their household, later joined by Uncle Albert and a shifting cast of friends and love interests, mixes get-rich-quick schemes with everyday family life. The show balances broad comic set pieces and quieter moments of character-driven humor, keeping the focus on relationships and ambition without resolving every problem neatly.

Created and written by John Sullivan, the sitcom first aired on BBC One in 1981. It ran for seven series through 1991, with sixteen intermittent Christmas specials broadcast up to 2003, becoming a staple of British television.

The series and its performers picked up multiple award nominations and wins in Britain, reflecting praise for the writing and acting. Cast members and the production team received recognition from television bodies over the years, highlighting the show as a standout in its era.

Only Fools and Horses left a big mark on British culture, contributing catchphrases and memorable character moments to everyday speech. The 1996 special "Time on Our Hands" drew a record UK sitcom audience of 24.3 million viewers, and scenes and lines from the series are still referenced in popular media and comedy today.

Critics and audiences generally rate the show highly, reflected in a solid fan vote average of 8.0/10. Its strengths lie in sharply observed social detail, the chemistry between leads David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, and a mix of slapstick and quieter, emotional beats. At heart it focuses on family loyalty, aspiration, and the stubborn optimism of its central characters.