Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst will always be remembered for their on-screen chemistry, thanks to playing brother Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter and Rodney Trotter on Only Fools and Horses for 22 years, but do the pair get on as well in real life?
It hasn't always been plain sailing for the actors who played the roguish market traders, with reports emerging over recent years that the former co-stars have fallen out since last shooting Only Fools and Horses together and have vowed never to work with each other again.
Sir David, 83, and Nicholas, 62, both earned high praise for their roles in the much-adored BBC sitcom, last gracing our screens together for the Only Fools and Horses jubilant festive special back in 2003. The duo reunited for a one-off special and donned their Trotter brother personas once again in 2014, but Sir David has since admitted another reunion "will never happen".
On-set 'squabble'
David and Nicholas once shockingly acted out an argument during the filming of Only Fools and Horses - to the point that a producer was "fuming". Recalling the on-set incident from an episode shot in 1989, David stated: "One day, Nick and I were in our very small caravan on location. We were all fed up because nothing was happening so [we] said 'why don't we stage a huge row and you can storm out and say you're leaving and I can shout at you saying 'don't you ever come back again. I never want to work with you."
The BAFTA winning actor continued: "The whole crew went stiff. Five minutes later, the producer and director came to see me, looking terrified. They asked what was happening and I told them to go see Nick. When they did, I couldn't hold back my laughter any longer. Their faces turned from white to purple. I don't think the producer was very impressed."
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The Only Fools and Horses co-star aren't as close as they used to be these days (BBC)Drifting apart
While their pretend fight occurred in the late eighties, the once solid bond between David and Nicholas regrettably weakened over the next couple of years despite their past admissions of being great pals outside of the Only Fools and Horses set. David once referred to Nicholas as the perfect co-star in an interview, stating that they were "good friends".
Nicholas made this clear in an interview with Red Carpet News in 2017, saying: "We had a very similar work ethic and ethos - that we wanted to do our best as quickly as possible. You didn't have very long to record an episode [...] We didn't have much time to rehearse it so we had to have each other's back."
However, by 2022, the relationship seemed to have cooled off. Sir David openly admitted in an interview that he no longer spoke with Nicholas, saying: "He's much more, how can I say, self-contained, perhaps, than he used to be. So, unfortunately, we don't see each other as much as I'd like to. But that's how things work out sometimes."
It was widely known that Nicholas had chosen to live quietly after the unexpected death of his 20 year old son Archie in 2020. The young man died because of a brain haemorrhage brought on by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Representing himself and his wife Lucy Smith, Nicholas said in a statement at the time: "Lucy and I are utterly grief stricken and respectfully request privacy."
Feud dismissal
After David's comments in 2022, rumours circulated that he and Nicholas had a major fallout and were no longer communicating. However, that doesn't seem to be the case - with David reportedly standing by his on-screen brother following the tragic loss of his son in 2020.
After the heartbreaking loss of his son Archie at just 20 years old, it was reported that David had been a pillar of support for Nicholas Lyndhurst and his wife Lucy. An insider told The Sun at the time: "He's [David] been in regular touch [with Nicholas] ever since and like everyone else who cares for Nick and his family is just trying to provide whatever support he can."
Touch Of Frost actor David also put any rumours of a rift to bed last year during a Channel 5 documentary celebrating the success of Only Fools and Horses over the festive period. Heaping praise on his former co-star, David said: "You couldn't have had a better co-partner than Nic. We liked and respected each other so much, we were genuinely good friends. You couldn't have had a better co-partner than Nic."
Nicholas now has a close bond with a new sitcom co-star (Sarah Coulter/Paramount+/PA)New co-star bond
At the start of this year, news broke that David would jump at the chance to return as the iconic Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter one last time, but with the passing of Only Fools and Horses creator John Sullivan, it seems unlikely. However, there might be another reason an Only Fools reboot isn't on the cards - Nicholas's blossoming career stateside.
Nicholas stepped back into the limelight last year after the devastating loss of his son in 2020, securing a role in the revival of the classic sitcom Frasier. His debut in October as Alan, a British professor, saw the episode end with not only a nod to past stars but also a touching tribute to his late son Archie.
As the reboot of Frasier premiered, a heartfelt tribute appeared on-screen to Archie Lyndhurst, stating: "In loving memory of Gabrielle James and Archie Lyndhurst." A sentimental clip of John Mahoney, who passed away at the age of 77 in 2018 then played, with the late actor in character as Martin Crane as he said: "It all works out."
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Reflecting on the fresh series, Kelsey Grammar, best known for his role as Frasier Crane, praised his new co-star Nicholas. Speaking last year about the reboot, the iconic actor told Deadline: "And then, of course, there's Alan, played by a dear friend of mine, Nick Lyndhurst."
Painting a picture of their friendship and professional relationship, Kelsey gushed: "He's stealth warfare. He is just the sneakiest most talented actor I've ever worked with. We previously joined forces in London on the musical, Man of La Mancha. We made plans to unite [our partners] and we inevitably became best friends.
"When the concept of Frasier having a best friend stirred into the narrative, it was consistently Nicholas. I had asked him back in England before we officially started if he would be open to participating in the new Frasier. To which he replied, 'Are you joking? I would do anything to collab with you again each day' - a sentiment I resonate with completely."
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